Rossano Brazzi


Actor
Rossano Brazzi

About

Also Known As
Edward Ross
Birth Place
Bologna, IT
Born
September 18, 1916
Died
December 24, 1994
Cause of Death
Virus That Affected The Nervous System

Biography

Popular Italian romantic lead of the 1940s who worked with resistance groups in Rome during WWII and moved to Hollywood in 1949. Brazzi was fairly prominent in Hollywood and international cinema for a time, especially in the 50s, when he embodied a handsome, middle-aged Continental lover type. He was memorable as Katharine Hepburn's sensitive pursuer in David Lean's sumptuous "Summertime...

Photos & Videos

The Story of Esther Costello - Scene Stills
The Story of Esther Costello - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
The Story of Esther Costello - Publicity Stills

Family & Companions

Lydia Bertolini
Wife
Actor. Died in 1981.
Isle Fischer
Wife
Second wife; survived him.

Biography

Popular Italian romantic lead of the 1940s who worked with resistance groups in Rome during WWII and moved to Hollywood in 1949. Brazzi was fairly prominent in Hollywood and international cinema for a time, especially in the 50s, when he embodied a handsome, middle-aged Continental lover type. He was memorable as Katharine Hepburn's sensitive pursuer in David Lean's sumptuous "Summertime" (1955) and also appeared in such less distinguished but well-remembered efforts as "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954) and "South Pacific" (1958). Brazzi kept busy in leading roles into the 60s and continued playing character roles in mostly European films until the late 80s.

Filmography

 

Director (Feature Film)

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
Director

Cast (Feature Film)

Russicum (1989)
Formula For Murder (1986)
Dr Sernich
Final Justice (1985)
Don Lamanna
Fear City (1985)
La Voce (1982)
Priest
The Final Conflict (1981)
Io e Caterina (1980)
Arthur
A Time For Miracles (1980)
Fillipo Fillici
I Telefoni bianchi (1976)
I Tempo degli Assassini (1976)
Detras de esa Puerta (1975)
Ambassador Lara
Castello della Paura (1973)
The Great Waltz (1972)
Baron Tedesco
The Adventurers (1970)
Baron de Coyne
Psychout for Murder (1970)
Brigoli
The Italian Job (1969)
Beckerman
Krakatoa, East of Java (1969)
Giovanni Borghese
One Step to Hell (1969)
Dr. Hamilton
Guilt Is Not Mine (1968)
Carlo Rocchi
Woman Times Seven (1967)
Giorgio
The Bobo (1967)
Carlos Matabosch
The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
Phineas T. Prune
Engagement Italiano (1966)
Mario
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965)
Lorenzo
Dark Purpose (1964)
Count Paolo Barbarelli
Instant Love (1964)
Three Fables of Love (1963)
Leo
Light in the Piazza (1962)
Signor Naccarelli
Siege of Syracuse (1962)
Archimedes
Rome Adventure (1962)
Roberto Orlandi
Austerlitz (1960)
Count Your Blessings (1959)
Charles-Edouard de Valhubert
South Pacific (1958)
Emile de Becque
A Certain Smile (1958)
Luc Ferrand
Interlude (1957)
Tonio Fischer
The Story of Esther Costello (1957)
Carlo Landi
Legend of the Lost (1957)
Paul Bonnard
Loser Takes All (1956)
Angela (1955)
Nino Terrazzi
Summertime (1955)
Renato De Rossi
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Giorgio Bianchi
The Barefoot Contessa (1954)
Vincenzo [Torlato-Favrini]
La Chair et le Diable (1953)
Giuseppe
Vulcano (1950)
Little Women (1949)
Professor Bhaer
Passatore, Il (1947)
We the Living (1942)
Leo Kovalensky

Music (Feature Film)

Welcome to Woop Woop (1998)
Song Performer

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Christopher Columbus (1985)
The Far Pavilions (1984)
Rana Of Bhithor

Life Events

1939

Made film acting debut in his native Italy

1949

Played in first Hollywood film, "Little Women"

Photo Collections

The Story of Esther Costello - Scene Stills
The Story of Esther Costello - Scene Stills
The Story of Esther Costello - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
The Story of Esther Costello - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
The Story of Esther Costello - Publicity Stills
The Story of Esther Costello - Publicity Stills
The Story of Esther Costello - Lobby Card Set
The Story of Esther Costello - Lobby Card Set

Videos

Movie Clip

South Pacific (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair Mitzi Gaynor as nurse Ensign Nellie Forbush, created in James Michener’s WWII stories, first seen on Broadway (Mary Martin) and given voice by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, directed on stage and screen by Joshua Logan, with a song that was Martin’s idea, shooting in Hawaii, and Rossano Brazzi her subject, in South Pacific, 1958.
South Pacific (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Cockeyed Optimist Not a mistake, the screen turns yellow-gold, in a technique director Joshua Logan disliked but didn't have time to fix, as Ensign Nellie Forbush (Mitzi Gaynor) sings Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cockeyed Optimist" for Emile (Rossano Brazzi) in South Pacific, 1958.
South Pacific (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Rodgers And Hammerstein Following the overture but to similar effect, the opening credits from Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, 1958, starring Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi, directed by Joshua Logan.
Rome Adventure (1962) -- (Movie Clip) You Need No Lesson Librarian and temporary Roman resident Prudence (Suzanne Pleshette), rejected by her American lover, attempts to throw herself at Roberto (Rossano Brazzi), her benevolent instructor in all things Italian, in Delmer Daves' Rome Adventure, 1962.
Barefoot Contessa, The (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Maria's Funeral The distinctive opening of writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz's The Barefoot Contessa, 1954, starring Ava Gardner, and the initial narration by Humphrey Bogart, as writer-director "Harry Dawes."
Light In The Piazza (1962) -- (Movie Clip) San Giovanni At the crazy Florentine festival of San Giovanni, Fabrizio (George Hamilton) and Clara (Yvette Mimieux), then her mother Margaret (Olivia de Havilland) with his father (Rossano Brazzi), in Light In The Piazza, 1962.
Rome Adventure (1962) -- (Movie Clip) From The Caesars To Mussolini Fresh off the boat, American Prudence (Suzanne Pleshette) with companions Albert (Hampton Fancher) and Roman Alberto (Rossano Brazzi), who has arranged lodgings, meeting the countess (Iphigenie Castiglione), then leading man Troy Donahue, as distracted Don, in Rome Adventure, 1962.
Battle Of The Villa Fiorita, The (1965) -- (Movie Clip) Most Lovers Ask Each Other Top-billed Maureen O'Hara narrates director Delmer Daves' opening, as English housewife Moira, charmed by the visiting Italian artist, co-star Rosanno Brazzi, then chided by peers (Phyllis Calvert, Maxine Audley, Ursula Jeans), in The Battle Of The Villa Fiorita, 1965.
Battle Of The Villa Fiorita, The (1965) -- (Movie Clip) I'll Call My Solicitor Tight direction by Delmer Daves, as Moira (Maureen O'Hara) has just told husband Darrell (Richard Todd), home from a summer abroad, that she's fallen for the visiting Italian composer (Rosanno Brazzi), neighbors gossiping and children (Martin Stephens, Elizabeth Dear) worrying, in The Battle Of The Villa Fiorita, 1965.
Summertime (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Piazza San Marco Tourist Miss Hudson (Katharine Hepburn) affects distraction when she draws the attention of Venetian Renato (Rossano Brazzi) on the Piazza San Marco, early in David Lean's Summertime, 1955.
Summertime (1955) -- (Movie Clip) 18th Century Miss Hudson (Katharine Hepburn) is taken first with a piece of Venetian glass, then with the Venetian merchant selling it (Rossano Brazzi), whom she's seen before, in David Lean's Summertime, 1955.
Summertime (1955) -- (Movie Clip) I Have Four Sisters Renato (Rossano Brazzi) visits Miss Hudson (Katharine Hepburn) at her lodgings in Venice, where they, perhaps, misunderstand each other, in David Lean's Summertime, 1955.

Trailer

Story of Esther Costello, The - (Original Trailer) A bitter divorcee (Joan Crawford) works to educate a deaf and blind girl in The Story of Esther Costello (1957).
South Pacific - (Re-issue Trailer) Joshua Logan's movie version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Broadway musical South Pacific (1958) stars Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi.
Little Women (1949) - (Original Trailer) June Allyson is Jo and Elizabeth Taylor, Amy, seen here in the original theatrical trailer for the first color version of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, 1949, delivered by co-stars Peter Lawford and Janet Leigh.
Count Your Blessings - (Original Trailer) After a wartime separation, an Englishwoman discovers her French husband is a womanizer in Count Your Blessings (1959) starring Deborah Kerr.
Barefoot Contessa, The - (Original Trailer) A Spanish dancer becomes an international star but still longs to get her feet in the dirt in The Barefoot Contessa (1954) starring Ava Gardner.
Legend of the Lost - (Original Trailer) Three adventurers (John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rosanno Brazzi) search for a treasure in a forbidden desert temple.
Three Coins in the Fountain - (Original Trailer) Three American rommates working in Italy wish for the man of their dreams after throwing Three Coins in the Fountain (1954).
Italian Job, The (1969) - (Original Trailer) Michael Caine blows the bloody doors off in the original heist thriller, The Italian Job (1969).
Light In The Piazza - (Original Trailer) Olivia de Havilland's efforts to marry off her daughter are hindered by a family secret in Light In The Piazza (1962).

Companions

Lydia Bertolini
Wife
Actor. Died in 1981.
Isle Fischer
Wife
Second wife; survived him.

Bibliography