Maria Callas “biopic” in the works
Callas and Ghiringhelli at the Milan premiere of “La dolce vita.”
From two sources (Screen International and the website of De Angelis Group) comes the news that Niki Caro is to direct an English-language biographical film about Maria Callas based on the “novel” by Alfonso Signorini, Troppo fiera, troppo fragile.
Apparently without irony, the De Angelis site identifies Signorini, the editor of the tabloid Chi, as a “profound connoisseur of local and international gossip (or gossips).”
Andrea Zoso of De Angelis states, “the source material provided by Mr. Signorini’s book is the most in-depth to date about the life of the controversial opera star.”
Does Mr. Zoso mean depths of idiocy? depths of shamelessness?
I wrote about the “novel” earlier.
The photo shows Maria Callas at the Milan premiere of Fellini’s La dolce vita in February 1960. According to Nicholas Gage, whose theory of a “secret son” Signorini more or less adopts as his own, Callas was in her seventh month of pregnancy when this photo was taken—at a time when adultery was a crime in Italy.
Ciao Marion! Shalom Alayhem!
I’ve known about this film for ages. But I only recently discovered in the Opera shop in Paris that this stupid book actually has a chapter called “First Christmas with Omerino.” It is written too poorly in an autobiographical style which no real human being would ever write in. Are you also aware of the “Greek Fire” movie starring Eva Mendes? Of all the biographies about her, why do the major Hollywood blockbusters have to be COMPLETELY fictional?!! What on EARTH are the general, non-opera loving public, going to make of our Maria?!
As far as I know, the Mendes movie (is it “Greek Fire”?) has been announced and denied a dozen times already… Is it “on” again? (There doesn’t seem to be anything in IMDb.)
The Signorini movie, too, has been in and out of the press, but this is the first time I have seen an announcement from actual producers.
What an idea: that the sources of a self-proclaimed “gossipparo” should be worthy of respect!
“Mondo reo. Non c’è più virtù. Tutto declina.”
Assolutamente d’accordo. Whatever happened to Faye Dunaway’s “Master Class?” There’s also meant to be an “Untitled Maria Callas TV Project” for 2012 (it’s on the IMDb). Anyway, let’s hope neither of the Hollywood vehicles get anywhere. I will hopefully write the first decent picture on Maria Callas – no dirt, no gossip, no speculation and unnecessary melodrama. I think there’s enough just on stage to explore, even if one didn’t enter Maria’s life at all!
By the way, the British actress Stephanie Beacham was quite good as Maria. I saw her in “Master Class” in a local theatre (to the Americans she’s only known for “Dynasty”, but I don’t know who she played because I haven’t watched it). She was better than Fanny Ardant, though I admire the latter’s work immensely.
The Dunaway “Master Class” is still in production. (I have this information via a cast member’s publicist.)
I know nothing about the 2012 TV project, not even the country of origin.
We’re waiting (in bocca al lupo, touchons du bois, toi toi toi) for your project, Sophia!
I hadn’t heard about this film before, but I have read something on IMDb about Eva Green playing Maria Callas (it’s still on Eva Green’s profile).
The ‘Greek Fire’ movie is no longer on Eva Mendes’ profile; it is however still mentioned on the profile page of the supposed screenwriter, Julian Fellowes.
Thank you, Emma. I now see the “Greek Fire” under development on Fellowes’ screen but don’t see anything under Eva Green…
Eva Mendes, Eva Green… so much slippage!