Nine films documenting Italian entertainment from the twentieth century to nowadays, that summarize the major scenes of cinema, theater, music, television.
A journey through extraordinary characters, films, voices, testimonials. An itinerary reconstructed across the images assembled by the Istituto Luce and Rai Teche with texts, which respect and revive them into our current period.
The Festival of Spoleto, which has hosted and promoted international and Italian culture since its birth,  takes advantage of this opportunity to propose a wide-ranging vision of an artistic and historical adventure.
Vivacity, passion and intensity are the ingredients of a fascinating look into the past to better understand the present and to pinpoint the future that awaits us.

 

The choice of presenting my work at the Festival dei Due Mondi will provide an opportunity to revisit “Italian Entertainment " and its stars:  a tribute but also a hope for the future, namely that “Italian Entertainment” may rediscover all of its talents and its marvellous story. 
Italo Moscati

Italo Moscati, director and writer, scriptwriter, teaches History of Media and Visual Arts. For cinema he wrote “Il portiere di notte” and five other films with Liliana Cavani, and screnplays with Luigi Comencini, Silvano Agosti, Giuliano Montaldo and others;  he directed the TV movie “Gioco perverso”, the serial “Stelle in fiamme” and doc films like  “Il sogno del futuro”, “Le mille e una Venezia”, “Risvegli d’Italia”, “La ciociara e le altre”, “Occhi sgranati”, “Via Veneto Set”, “Passioni nere”, “Il paese mancato”,  “Viziati 1”, “Viziati 2”, “Viziati 3”,“Non solo voce- Maria Callas”, “Luciano Pavarotti, l’ultimo tenore?”, “Luci di Natale”, “Donne & Donne”, “Gli anni del 9”, “Gianburrasca & C”.
Among his recent books, “Gioco perverso. La vera storia di Osvaldo Valenti e Luisa Ferida”, “I piccoli Mozart”, “Sophia Loren ”, “Sergio Leone- Quando il cinema era grande”, publisher Lindau; “Le scarpe di Jack Kerouac” and “Pasolini passione” published by Ediesse; “Anna Magnani” and “Vittorio De Sica”, published by Ediesse-Eri.
Mocati  has received prestigious awards including the St. Vincent, the Tuscania, the Biella, the Leone di Pietra ,  and the  Cinemadamare for radio programs: the participation in “Hollywood Party”, “Il Ritorno di Belfagor” , screenplay, “Alle 8 della sera” (portraits  dedicated to great actors and directors, including Hitchcock), “Ma com’era il  ´68”, “1989 – il crollo del muro” (chosen for the Prix Italia in 2009).

 

Via Veneto Set (86 ´), 2007
subject, screenplay, director Italo Moscati

The “Dolce Vita” era as we know it and how we have never seen it, with unpublished, lost, forgotten documents. The Roman road as limelight of the world in pictures and the satire of newsreels. Celebrities, Fellini, extras, magicians, crime, tabloids, political plots. But also people who had lost kingdoms and fortunes, and sought refuge in the dolce vita like the deposed ruler Farouk, Arabian princes and Soraya, repudiated by the Persian shah, noblemen, poets like Ungaretti and Cardarelli. An absorbing and  lively narrative.
The film was selected for the Prix Italy.

Black Passions (102 ´), 2000
subject, screenplay, director Italo Moscati

The spectacular and moving story of cinema that begins in the Thirties and changes its aspect in a few years, those at the end of World War II, 1943-45. From the  comedies of the white telephones to epic films. From the Olimpo in Cinecittà (Roman film studios) and from the stars (Clara Calamai, Doris Duranti, Louise Ferida, Osvaldo Valenti, Amedeo Nazzari, Gino Cervi and others) to the reckoning with a difficult civil war. And so  darkness descended upon cinema as the brief, but fruitful season of neorealism was being prepared. Rare images of Italy at war and the immediate postwar are interwoven with the sequences of famous films.

Not only voice: Maria Callas (72 ´), 2007
subject, screenplay, director Italo Moscati

The myth, the legend of the great Greek singer who became famous in Italy told thirty years after her death, through opera, films, news, love, happiness, pain. Presented on TV at La Scala Opera in Milan and the Opera in Rome. A touching biography with the most prestigious performances, from Tosca to Carmen. But also unfamiliar things such as the accusation of collaborating with the Nazis, fleeing to America, the restless débuts. And above all the love stories: with the industrial manufacturer Meneghini, who helped her conquer the Arena of Verona, the powerful Greek ship tycoon Onassis; the poet-filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini and his attraction for her. The painful end in Paris in complete solitude.
Presented at the Art and Culture Film Festival of Israel in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

 

Luciano Pavarotti - The  last tenor? (66´), 2008
subject, screenplay, director Italo Moscati

The life and career of the great tenor, Big Luciano, the Tenorissimo. His humble origin, the choice of singing, the first success, his marriage and children, the encounter with Nicoletta, his  business as singer-entrepreneur of concerts in the capitals of the world, from London to New York. An all-out activism among theaters, films, big squares for memorable concerts. The last few years and the great commotion for his death. The document was presented at the Rome Film Festival of Musical Cinema 2008. TV Blog Award Winner 2009 for documentary and docufiction category.
Presented at the  Art and Culture Film Festival of Israel in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

 

The protagonists (5p. x 40 ´), 2000
subject, screenplay, director Italo Moscati
Indro Montanelli, Vittorio Gassman, Alberto Sordi, Sophia Loren, Monica Vitti.
Five great personalities “talk about  themselves” only through interviews and appearances on shows and television programs. A mine of fun and curiosity where we see the emerging of the character’s talent, and his ability to “make the history” of our country. Strong central personalities  in  showbusiness  life and customs. A real authentic rediscovery. Ironical and satirical zest.  A description of  Italy recreated by  television editing, giving spice to  “involuntary portraits”, the protagonist’s portrayals, without adding comments. The best of journalism, films, theater, television in a quick tour full of content and stories.
Presented at the Festival of Salerno.