Ten years ago died Carlo Ponti, one of the protagonists of the Italian cinema

Ten years died Carlo Ponti, one of the protagonists of the Italian cinema

On January 10, 2007 died in Geneva Carlo Ponti.

His name has always been inextricably linked to that of Sophia Loren. He had supported the her climb to the big screen and then she became his wife. With her shared an affectionate and long relationship  until his death.

But Carlo Ponti was above all a great producer, certainly among the best in the history of Italian cinema after the war.

Born in Magenta (MI) on December 11, 1912, Ponti studied law at the University of Milan.

He began immediately to bind to the movies. In the early 40's produced some films based on literary works such as Piccolo Mondo Antico, Sissignora, Giacomo l'idealista.

He worked as executive producer for the Lux Film of Renato Gualino, the largest production company of those years. In this capacity he realized films like Lost Youth by Germi, No pity and The mill of the Po by Lattuada, Flight into France by Soldati.

In 1950 he founded with Dino De Laurentiis, his colleague at Lux, the Ponti-De Laurentiis.

With De Laurentiis he produced films that have made the history of Italian cinema. Among others Cops and robbers by Steno and Mario Monicelli, Ann by Lattuada, Easy Years by Zampa, The road by Fellini, Rossellini's Europa '51, The Gold of Naples by De Sica, Ulysses by Camerini and War and Peace by Vidor.

Just some disagreements on the production of these last two films seem to have been the origin of the end of the association.

After the break with De Laurentiis Carlo Ponti continues to produce other important films. Among these Gwendolyn by Lattuada, The railwayman by Germi and Born on March by Pietrangeli.

The following years are characterized by two commitments, often converging.

The first is the support of the international success of Sophia Loren's career. Ponti in 1954 planned her launch with two films. The River Girl (Mario Soldati), written especially for her, and The Gold of Naples (Vittorio De Sica). He signed a deal with Paramount for the executive production of certain films by turning to Hollywood, starring Sofia Loren. But the international consecration of Loren is done with Two Women, with which the actress won an Oscar.

The second is a commitment to the internationalization of the market of the Italian film production. He was the most adept at exploiting rules that favored the relationship with the American majors. First with Paramount, then, starting from Two Women, with Embassy Pictures. In general the activities of Ponti was always strongly characterized by a strong push to international collaborations. With the American majors, but not only.

With his Compagnia Cinematografica Champion SpA, founded in 1959, he produced the greatest success of his career. Among these Marriage Italian Style and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Oscar for best foreign film in 1963). The films, directed by De Sica, have characters like Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, a pairing artistic definitely lucky. And then the English trilogy by Michelangelo Antonioni: Blow-up, Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1966, Zabriskie Point and Profession Reporter, The Ape Woman of Marco Ferreri and The mépris (Contempt) by Jean-Luc Godard.

But his greatest success was undoubtedly Doctor Zhivago by David Lean. Product with MGM, was one of the biggest hits of all time, winner of five Oscars.