Gino Cervi
Encyclopedia
Gino Cervi was an Italian actor of international fame.
Cervi was born in Bologna
. His father was the theatre critic Antonio Cervi.
In 1928, he married Nini Gordini (one of his partners) and they had a son, Tonino Cervi. Gino Cervi later became the grandfather of actress Valentina Cervi
and producer Antonio Levesi Cervi.
Cervi was best known for his role of Giuseppe Bottazzi ("Peppone"), the Communist mayor in the Don Camillo
movies of the 1950s and the 1960s. He shared great complicity and friendship with co-star Fernandel
during the 15 years playing their respective roles in Don Camillo movies.
At the end of his career, he played Commissioner Maigret
for six years in the Italian version of those murder stories, which ended with a movie Maigret in Pigalle (Mario Landi, 1966), produced by his son Antonio Cervi.
He died at Punta Ala
in 1974.
He dubbed to Clark Gable
into Italian language in It Happened One Night
by Frank Capra
, 1934); and Laurence Olivier
in three films: (Henry V
, 1944, Hamlet
, 1948 and Richard III, (1955).
Cervi was born in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. His father was the theatre critic Antonio Cervi.
In 1928, he married Nini Gordini (one of his partners) and they had a son, Tonino Cervi. Gino Cervi later became the grandfather of actress Valentina Cervi
Valentina Cervi
Valentina Cervi is an Italian film and television actress.Cervi was born in Rome, Italy. She is the daughter of director Tonino Cervi and granddaughter of the famous Italian actor Gino Cervi. Cervi started her acting career at age ten in Carlo Cotti's 1986 film Portami la luna...
and producer Antonio Levesi Cervi.
Cervi was best known for his role of Giuseppe Bottazzi ("Peppone"), the Communist mayor in the Don Camillo
Don Camillo
Don Camillo is the main character created by the Italian writer and journalist Giovannino Guareschi , and is based on the historical Roman Catholic priest, WW II partisan and detainee of the concentration camps of Dachau and Mauthausen, Don Camillo Valota . Don Camillo is one of two protagonists,...
movies of the 1950s and the 1960s. He shared great complicity and friendship with co-star Fernandel
Fernandel
Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin , better known as Fernandel, was a French actor and singer. Born in Marseille, France, he was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues...
during the 15 years playing their respective roles in Don Camillo movies.
At the end of his career, he played Commissioner Maigret
Maigret
Jules Maigret, Maigret to most people, including his wife, is a fictional police detective, actually a commissaire or commissioner of the Paris "Brigade Criminelle" , created by writer Georges Simenon.Seventy-five novels and twenty-eight short stories about Maigret were published between 1931 and...
for six years in the Italian version of those murder stories, which ended with a movie Maigret in Pigalle (Mario Landi, 1966), produced by his son Antonio Cervi.
He died at Punta Ala
Punta Ala
Punta Ala is a frazione of the town of Castiglione della Pescaia, in the province of Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy. It is a famous seaside resort which lies on the northern slopes of promontory of the same name.-History:...
in 1974.
Selected filmography
He acted in more than 100 films. The most remembered are.- I due sergenti (1936)
- Ettore Fieramosca (1938)
- Un'avventura di Salvator Rosa (1939)
- Una romantica avventura (1940)
- The Iron CrownThe Iron CrownLa corona di ferro is a 1941 Italian award winning fantasy film written and directed by Alessandro Blasetti....
(1941) - I promessi sposi (1941 film) (1941)
- Four Steps in the CloudsFour Steps in the CloudsQuattro passi fra le nuvole is a 1942 Italian drama film directed by Alessandro Blasetti. Close to Italian neorealism.It was nominated for BAFTA as Best Film from any Source.-Remakes:...
(1942) - His Young WifeHis Young WifeHis Young Wife is a 1945 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati. It was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Carlo Campanini - Monsù Ignazio Travet* Vera Carmi - Madama Rosa Travet* Paola Veneroni - Marianin Travet...
(1945) - Le miserie del signor Travet (1946)
- I miserabili (1948)
- Cameriera bella presenza offresi...Cameriera bella presenza offresi...Cameriera bella presenza offresi... is a 1951 Italian film directed by Giorgio Pastina. Federico Fellini was one of its scriptwriters.-Plot:...
(1951) - The Forbidden ChristThe Forbidden ChristThe Forbidden Christ is a 1951 Italian drama film directed by Curzio Malaparte.-Cast:* Raf Vallone - Bruno Baldi* Rina Morelli - Mother Baldi* Alain Cuny - Antonio* Anna-Maria Ferrero - Maria* Elena Varzi - Nella* Gino Cervi - The Sexton...
(1951) - Don CamilloDon CamilloDon Camillo is the main character created by the Italian writer and journalist Giovannino Guareschi , and is based on the historical Roman Catholic priest, WW II partisan and detainee of the concentration camps of Dachau and Mauthausen, Don Camillo Valota . Don Camillo is one of two protagonists,...
(1952) - La signora senza camelie (1952)
- Il ritorno di Don Camillo (1953)
- Les Trois MousquetairesThe Three Musketeers (1953 film)Les Trois Mousquetaires is a 1953 film based on the French novel of the same name. This adaption is one of five films director André Hunebelle and screen writer Michel Audiard achieved together. Georges Marchal portrayed d'Artagnan...
(1953) - MaddalenaMaddalena (film)Maddalena is a 1954 Italian drama film directed by Augusto Genina. It was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Märta Torén - Maddalena* Gino Cervi - Don Vincenzo* Charles Vanel - Giovanni Lamberti* Jacques Sernas - Giovanni Belloni...
(1954) - Royal Affairs in VersaillesRoyal Affairs in VersaillesRoyal Affairs in Versailles is a 1954 French historical drama directed by Sacha Guitry, which tells some episodes through portrayal of the personalities who lived in Versailles' castle...
(1954) - Il Cardinale Lambertini (1954)
- Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone (1955)
- Wild LoveWild Love (film)Wild Love is a 1955 Italian drama film directed by Mauro Bolognini. It was entered into the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Antonella Lualdi - Adriana Latini* Franco Interlenghi - Franco* Sergio Raimondi - Nando Latini* Valeria Moriconi - Marisa...
(1955) - Frou-FrouFrou-FrouFrou-Frou, is a French comedy film from 1955, directed by Augusto Genina, written by A.E. Carr, starring Dany Robin and Louis de Funès. The film is known under the titles: "The Toy Wife", "Frou-Frou, die Pariserin" .- Cast :...
(1955) - Long Night in 1943Long Night in 1943Long Night in 1943, The Long Night of '43 or It Happened in '43 is an Italian film of 1960 set during the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943 during the Second World War. It was directed by Florestano Vancini and adapted by Vancini, Ennio De Concini and Pier Paolo Pasolini from a novel by Giorgio...
(1959) - Nel Segno di RomaNel Segno di RomaNel Segno di Roma is a 1959 historical drama film loosely pertaining to the Palmyrene Empire and its re-annexation back into the Roman Empire....
(1959) - L'assedio di SiracusaL' Assedio di Siracusa (film)The Siege of Syracuse is a 1960 historical drama film about the Roman Siege of Syracuse. It took place between 214 and 212 B.C., during the Second Punic War with Carthage.The film was directed by Pietro Francisci.-Cast:...
(1960) - Don Camillo monsignore ma non troppo (1961)
- The Joy of LivingThe Joy of LivingThe Joy of Living is a 1961 Italian-French comedy film directed by René Clément. It was entered into the 1961 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Alain Delon - Ulysse Cecconato* Barbara Lass - Franca Fossati* Gino Cervi - Olinto Fossati...
(1961) - Anni ruggenti (1962)
- Becket (1964)
- Il compagno Don Camillo (1965)
- Fratello ladro (1972)
He dubbed to Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
into Italian language in It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night is a 1934 American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy directed by Frank Capra, in which a pampered socialite tries to get out from under her father's thumb, and falls in love with a roguish reporter . The plot was based on the story Night Bus by Samuel...
by Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
, 1934); and Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
in three films: (Henry V
Henry V (1944 film)
Henry V is a 1944 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The on-screen title is The Cronicle History of King Henry the Fift with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France . It stars Laurence Olivier, who also directed. The play was adapted for the screen by Olivier, Dallas...
, 1944, Hamlet
Hamlet (1948 film)
Hamlet is a 1948 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, adapted and directed by and starring Sir Laurence Olivier. Hamlet was Olivier's second film as director, and also the second of the three Shakespeare films that he directed...
, 1948 and Richard III, (1955).