Ewa Aulin
Encyclopedia
Ewa Brigitta Aulin is a Swedish actress who appeared in a number of Italian and some American films in the 1960s and 1970s. She is remembered for playing the title character in the cult film Candy
where she appeared alongside such stars as John Huston, Ringo Starr, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, Richard Burton and Marlon Brando.
Ewa Aulin first rose to fame in her native Sweden when she won the title of Miss Teen Sweden in 1965 at age 15. In the same year Ewa had been approached by Gunnar Fischer to appear as the young girl in his short film, Djävulen's Instrument (The Devil's Instrument). Subsequently, she went on to represent Sweden in the first ever Miss Teen International pageant, which was held on April 6, 1966 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Ewa won; thereby earning the title of Miss Teen International 1966.
Ewa's success as Miss Teen International attracted attention not only in Sweden, where she appeared on the popular entertainment show, Hylands Hörna, but also of Italian film producers, and in 1967 aged just 16, she made her feature film debut with a supporting role in the comedy Don Giovanni in Sicilia (Don Juan in Sicily), based on the novel by Vitaliano Brancati. This was quickly followed by leading roles in two notable giallo films; the pop art-style Col cuore in gola (With Heart in Mouth, 1967) directed by Tinto Brass, and the bizarre avant-garde-inspired La morte ha fatto l'uovo (Death Laid an Egg, 1968) directed by Giulio Questi. Ewa's co-star in both these films was the acclaimed actor Jean-Louis Trintignant
.
In late 1967, Ewa was cast as the title character in her most famous film, the American-Italian-French co-production Candy, directed by Christian Marquand
. Ewa only learnt that she had the role the day before filming began in early December 1967. The story involves Ewa's character's search for the meaning of life, which leads to encounters with a variety of different men and always ends in a sexual situation. In spite of the presence of such big names as Marlon Brando
, Ringo Starr
, and Richard Burton
, the film did poorly in America and failed to make an international star out of Ewa. It was more successful in Europe and has gained some popularity as a cult film in later years. Ewa, in particular received praise for performance in the film; earning a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer but she lost to Olivia Hussey for Romeo and Juliet. As a consequence of her appearance in this role, Ewa was unfairly typified as something of a 'Blonde Nymphet' by people in the film industry, who seriously failed to see through the façade of her young, beautiful and elegant image and appreciate her desire to be accepted as a professional actress. This ridiculous stereotype would be something that would overshadow the rest of her career and cause her to only appear in predominantly Italian films as of 1970.
The only other American film Ewa appeared in was Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), a comedy of errors set during the French Revolution. Ewa played a supporting role as Christina of Belgium, and the film starred Gene Wilder
and Donald Sutherland
, but just like Candy, the film did little business in America.
Later in the same year Ewa starred in the experimental film Microscopic Liquid Subway to Oblivion, which was written, produced and directed by Ewa's husband, British writer-director John Shadow, whom she had married secretly in Mexico in early 1968 and who was the father of her son, Shawn, born in 1969. The film itself was barely released anywhere in the world, and Ewa and John Shadow later divorced in 1972.
After this, Ewa only appeared in Italian films. Many of her films were sex comedies set in the Middle Ages but she also managed to make more impact in drama and thriller films. She played one of the leads in the giallo La controfigura (The Double, 1971) directed by Romolo Guerrieri, as well as leading role in Quando l'amore è sensualità (When Love is Lust, 1973) and played an undead avenging angel in Joe D'Amato's gothic horror film La morte ha sorriso all'assassino (Death Smiles at Murder, 1973) and also appeared in the thriller Una vita lunga un giorno (Long Lasting Days, 1973) all in the same year.
However, feeling unfulfilled with acting, Ewa remarried a builder named Cesare Paladino in 1974 and abandoned her acting career to enrole at university and fulfill her childhood ambition of becoming a teacher.
Candy (1968 film)
Candy is a 1968 sex farce film directed by Christian Marquand based on the 1958 novel by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, from a screenplay by Buck Henry. The film satirizes pornographic stories through the adventures of its naive heroine, Candy, played by Ewa Aulin...
where she appeared alongside such stars as John Huston, Ringo Starr, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, Richard Burton and Marlon Brando.
Ewa Aulin first rose to fame in her native Sweden when she won the title of Miss Teen Sweden in 1965 at age 15. In the same year Ewa had been approached by Gunnar Fischer to appear as the young girl in his short film, Djävulen's Instrument (The Devil's Instrument). Subsequently, she went on to represent Sweden in the first ever Miss Teen International pageant, which was held on April 6, 1966 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Ewa won; thereby earning the title of Miss Teen International 1966.
Ewa's success as Miss Teen International attracted attention not only in Sweden, where she appeared on the popular entertainment show, Hylands Hörna, but also of Italian film producers, and in 1967 aged just 16, she made her feature film debut with a supporting role in the comedy Don Giovanni in Sicilia (Don Juan in Sicily), based on the novel by Vitaliano Brancati. This was quickly followed by leading roles in two notable giallo films; the pop art-style Col cuore in gola (With Heart in Mouth, 1967) directed by Tinto Brass, and the bizarre avant-garde-inspired La morte ha fatto l'uovo (Death Laid an Egg, 1968) directed by Giulio Questi. Ewa's co-star in both these films was the acclaimed actor Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant is a French actor who has enjoyed an international acclaim. He won the Best Actor Award at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.-Career:...
.
In late 1967, Ewa was cast as the title character in her most famous film, the American-Italian-French co-production Candy, directed by Christian Marquand
Christian Marquand
Christian Marquand was a French director, actor and screenwriter working in French cinema. A native of Marseille, he was born to a Spanish father and an Arabic mother his sister was film director Nadine Trintignant, and he can be seen as a heartthrob in French movies of the 1950s.His first film...
. Ewa only learnt that she had the role the day before filming began in early December 1967. The story involves Ewa's character's search for the meaning of life, which leads to encounters with a variety of different men and always ends in a sexual situation. In spite of the presence of such big names as Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, and Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
, the film did poorly in America and failed to make an international star out of Ewa. It was more successful in Europe and has gained some popularity as a cult film in later years. Ewa, in particular received praise for performance in the film; earning a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer but she lost to Olivia Hussey for Romeo and Juliet. As a consequence of her appearance in this role, Ewa was unfairly typified as something of a 'Blonde Nymphet' by people in the film industry, who seriously failed to see through the façade of her young, beautiful and elegant image and appreciate her desire to be accepted as a professional actress. This ridiculous stereotype would be something that would overshadow the rest of her career and cause her to only appear in predominantly Italian films as of 1970.
The only other American film Ewa appeared in was Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), a comedy of errors set during the French Revolution. Ewa played a supporting role as Christina of Belgium, and the film starred Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder is an American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author.Wilder began his career on stage, making his screen debut in the film Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers...
and Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland
Donald McNichol Sutherland, OC is a Canadian actor with a film career spanning nearly 50 years. Some of Sutherland's more notable movie roles included offbeat warriors in such war movies as The Dirty Dozen, , MASH , and Kelly's Heroes , as well as in such popular films as Klute, Invasion of the...
, but just like Candy, the film did little business in America.
Later in the same year Ewa starred in the experimental film Microscopic Liquid Subway to Oblivion, which was written, produced and directed by Ewa's husband, British writer-director John Shadow, whom she had married secretly in Mexico in early 1968 and who was the father of her son, Shawn, born in 1969. The film itself was barely released anywhere in the world, and Ewa and John Shadow later divorced in 1972.
After this, Ewa only appeared in Italian films. Many of her films were sex comedies set in the Middle Ages but she also managed to make more impact in drama and thriller films. She played one of the leads in the giallo La controfigura (The Double, 1971) directed by Romolo Guerrieri, as well as leading role in Quando l'amore è sensualità (When Love is Lust, 1973) and played an undead avenging angel in Joe D'Amato's gothic horror film La morte ha sorriso all'assassino (Death Smiles at Murder, 1973) and also appeared in the thriller Una vita lunga un giorno (Long Lasting Days, 1973) all in the same year.
However, feeling unfulfilled with acting, Ewa remarried a builder named Cesare Paladino in 1974 and abandoned her acting career to enrole at university and fulfill her childhood ambition of becoming a teacher.
Selected filmography
- With Heart in Mouth (1967, director: Tinto BrassTinto BrassGiovanni Brass , better known as Tinto Brass, is an Italian filmmaker. He is noted especially for his work in the erotic genre, with films such as Così fan tutte , Paprika, Monella and Trasgredire...
) - CandyCandy (1968 film)Candy is a 1968 sex farce film directed by Christian Marquand based on the 1958 novel by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, from a screenplay by Buck Henry. The film satirizes pornographic stories through the adventures of its naive heroine, Candy, played by Ewa Aulin...
(1968, director: Christian MarquandChristian MarquandChristian Marquand was a French director, actor and screenwriter working in French cinema. A native of Marseille, he was born to a Spanish father and an Arabic mother his sister was film director Nadine Trintignant, and he can be seen as a heartthrob in French movies of the 1950s.His first film...
) - Death Laid an Egg (1968, director: Giulio QuestiGiulio QuestiGiulio Questi is an Italian film director and screenwriter.Questi wrote short stories and filmed several documentaries before he started as assistant director and script writer in the movie business....
) - Start the Revolution Without MeStart the Revolution Without MeStart the Revolution Without Me is a 1970 film directed by Bud Yorkin, starring Gene Wilder, Donald Sutherland, Hugh Griffith, Jack MacGowran, Billie Whitelaw, Orson Welles and Victor Spinetti. The comedy is set in revolutionary France where two peasants are mistaken for the famous swordsmen, the...
(1970, director: Bud YorkinBud YorkinBud Yorkin is an American film and television producer, director, writer and actor.Yorkin was born Alan David Yorkin in Washington, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in engineering from Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsbugh, Pennsylvania...
) - Microscopic Liquid Subway to Oblivion (1970, director: John Shadow)
- The Double (1971, director: Romolo GuerrieriRomolo GuerrieriRomolo Guerrieri is an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 17 films between 1961 and 1992.He was born in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Detective Belli...
) - When Love is Lust (1973, director: Vittorio De Sisti)
- Death Smiles at a MurdererDeath Smiles at a MurdererDeath Smiles at a Murderer is a 1973 Italian horror film directed by Joe D'Amato, starring Klaus Kinski and Ewa Aulin.-Plot:A rich couple take in a young girl who was in an accident and has amnesia, and both have an affair with her. Meanwhile, Dr...
(1973, director: Joe D'AmatoJoe D'AmatoJoe D'Amato, was a prolific Italian filmmaker who directed roughly 200 films, usually at the same time acting as producer and cinematographer, and sometimes providing the script as well...
)