Gino Cervi (1901-1974) One of the greatest actresses of Italian cinematography. He was born with the name Luigji Cervi in Bologna on May 3, 1901. An actor of great stage presence, with a marked sharpness of interpretation, being one of the most fruitful and versatile performers in the history of the Italian spectacle, from the serious theater , in cinema and radio and television. The son of Antonio, a prominent theater critic, was born in the historical district of Bologna, Santo Stefano, in Via Cartolerie. As a child, he is passionate about the theater, even insisting that his father takes him with him to attend any show of the time. Stately, connected, with the gift of a graceful presence, with the demeanor of a refined gentleman, he soon began his activity with the amateur theater to become an official deputy in 1924 alongside the well-known Alda Borelli in "La vergine" by Henri Diamant Berger. In 1925, he was called by Luigji Pirandelo as the first young actor in the company of the "Teatro d'Arte" in Rome, alongside the first stage actresses Marta Abba, Lamberto Picasso and Ruggero Ruggeri, successfully performing performances such as: "Sei personaggi in cerca di autore", performances with which he goes on tour in the loudest cities in Europe such as Paris, London, Basel, Berlin, etc. In 1928, he met the young actress Angela Rosa Gordini in the theater, whom he would marry, and after a few months of marriage, a son Antoni named Tonino was born, among other things, a future director and film producer. Even their daughter Valentina will later follow the art of the stage as an actress. 
Gino Cervi will reach such a remarkable speed that within 10 years he will work in Italy's largest film company, to become the first leading actor of the "Tofano-Maltagliati" company (1935-1937). The deep and wonderful voice, the naturalness of the interpretation make him one of the most valuable in the works of Goldoni, Sophocles, Dostoevsky and above all those classics of Shakespeare where he will be the interpreter of "Othello" and will double the character of Hamlet starring Lorenc Olivieri. In 1938, together with other names of the Italian stage art Andreina Pagnani, Paolo Stoppa and Rina Morelli, form the theater company "Eliseo" in Rome, in which he will take the leading position in 1939. This same year he plays Tirsi in "Aminta ” (Tasso) directed by Renato Simoni and Corrado Pavolini. 
In fact, in the 1930s, Gino Cervi's name was known and noted in the Italian cinema. The deputy comes in 1932 with the film "Frontier" by the director Cesare Meano, but to make him a big name on the screen, the director Alessandro Blasetti will think by placing him in the role of the protagonist in several series of films with historical themes such as "Ettore Fieramosca" (1938), "Un'avventura di Salvator Rosa" (1939) and "La corona di ferro" (1941). And it is always Blasetti who directs it in the touching film with harsh and painful tones that accompany the "neorealism" of those golden years of Italian cinema, "4 passi fra le nuvole" (1942). 
Then in the 50s he achieved other successes by interpreting characters from the literature of the writer Guareschi. But among the highlights of the time will be his interpretation in the film series "Don Camillo" alongside the French actor Fernandel, with whom a close fraternal friendship will be born, together with that of the writer who will be a witness at the marriage of to his daughter Carlota. The friendship of the two actresses was so deep that when Fernandel changes his life, shortly before finishing the last film of the "Don Camillo" series, Gino Cervi refuses to continue with this film series. In fact, the other series continue with two different actresses. Cervi's successes on the screen continued until the 60s, even in the comedy genre, where we can mention: "Guardia, guardia scelta, brigadiere e maresciallo (1956), Anni ruggenti (1962) and Gli onorevoli (1963), but not forgetting a dramatic role in these years that of a fascist in the film "The Long Night of `43" (La lunga notte del `43) directed by Florestano Vancini. 
Then in the mid-60s you will work on television, where you can mention the performance in a police series of the film "Le inchieste del commissario Maigret" from 1964 – 1972. The series of this television will have an unimaginable success , which will be broadcast even after the actor's death on RAI channels and will be returned to record sales on VHS or DVD. In 1972, he made his last appearances on television in a "Caroselli" television show, advertising a well-known brand of "Vecchia Romana" brandy with the words: "il brandy che crea un'atmosfera". 
He withdrew from the stage this same year and two years later, on January 3, 1974, he changed his life in his house in Punta Ala due to a lung disease at the age of 72. 
His last home is in the "Flaminio" cemetery in Rome, together with his wife, Nini, and his son, Tonino. Translated by adm. P. B Previously published on the Facebook page in October 2016 _______________________ Albanian cinematography in activity since 2013
Discover more from Albanian Cinematography - Sport
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
