Sophia Loren: Her Own Story
Sophia Loren: Her Own Story | |
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Genre | Biography Drama |
Based on | Sophia, Living and Loving: Her Own Story by A.E. Hotchner |
Written by | Joanna Crawford |
Directed by | Mel Stuart |
Starring | Sophia Loren Armand Assante John Gavin Rip Torn Theresa Saldana |
Music by | Fred Karlin |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Roger Gimbel Herbert Hirschman |
Producers | Peter Katz Alex Ponti |
Cinematography | Alberto Spagnoli |
Editor | Art Stafford |
Running time | 150 minutes |
Production companies | EMI Television Roger Gimbel Productions |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | October 26, 1980 |
Sophia Loren: Her Own Story is a 1980 American television film directed by Mel Stuart and starring Sophia Loren as herself. The film was written by Joanna Crawford based on the 1979 biographical book Sophia, Living and Loving: Her Own Story by A.E. Hotchner and originally aired on NBC on October 26, 1980.
Plot
A dramatization of the life of Italian actress Sophia Loren from her childhood in Naples to her international stardom. Loren plays herself during adulthood and her mother Romilda Villani.
The story begins in 1933, when Sophia's mother, Romilda Villani, wins a Greta Garbo look-alike contest, but is prevented by her parents from collecting the prize - a trip to America and a screen test. Angry and bitter, Romilda runs away to Rome where she looks in vain for work as an actress, and where she meets a charming rake, Riccardo Scicolone, and moves in with him. She becomes pregnant and when Riccardo refuses to marry her, she returns home in disgrace to her family with the infant Sophia. However, Romilda continues to see Riccardo and they have another child - Maria - yet Ricardo still won't marry.
During the Second World War, Romilda and the family are forced to flee to
Years pass and Sophia grows into a beautiful but shy teenager. Romilda does her best to shield her from men and plans to build the acting career for Sophia that she could never have for herself. At Romilda's insistence, Sophia enters a beauty contest and wins second prize, part of which is a trip to Rome. Once there Sophia starts her free acting lessons. Also as part of the prize, she and Romilda try out for parts in the American film production of
When Romilda has to return to Pozzouli to care for the ailing Maria, Sophia goes with friends to a restaurant where she meets
Carlo and Sophia start having an affair and it has gone well despite the fact that Carlo is still married and can never get a divorce under (the then) existing Italian law though his own wife is willing. Sophia however, becomes temporarily distracted by the attentions of Cary Grant who woos her. When Carlo expresses his concern that he will lose her, Sophia tells him that he cannot offer her marriage and children, which is the one thing she wants in life. Soon after, Carlo is told by his lawyers that a divorce is possible and Carlo and Sophia are
Sophia's career progresses and against her better judgement, she consents to do "
Soon Sophia finds that she is pregnant again and finds a miracle doctor who specializes in bringing women to term in their pregnancies. Sophia takes to her bed for the entire nine months of her pregnancy and finally gives birth to a healthy baby boy, and indulges the dozens of photographers awaiting the birth in the hospital lobby with pictures for the papers. Sophia reaches what she believes to be the pinnacle of her life, and has the security of family and children to take the place of the torturous and traumatic memories of her childhood.[1]
Cast
- Sophia Loren as Sophia / Romilda Villani
- Ritza Brown as Sophia (aged 16)[2]
- Chiara Ferraro as Sophia (aged 4–7)
- Armand Assante as Riccardo Scicolone
- John Gavin as Cary Grant
- Rip Torn as Carlo Ponti
- Theresa Saldana as Maria Scicolone
- Edmund Purdom as Vittorio De Sica
- Riccardo Cucciolla as Dominico Villani
- Anna Miserocchi as Louisa Villani
- Francesca De Sapio as Dora
- Cyrus Elias as Guido
Production
"I thought it was an extremely dangerous thing to do", said Gavin of playing Cary Grant. "I wouldn't have touched the role if I thought it wasn't done in good taste... I realise I'm laying myself wide open to criticism. All I can say is I'll do the best I can."[3]
References
External links