Manfredi, Nino

(1921-2004)

   Actor and director. An extremely popular actor who appeared in over 100 films in a career that spanned the entire postwar period, Nino (short for Saturnino) Manfredi graduated in law while also studying at the Rome Academy of Dramatic Art. A born and very versatile entertainer, he was soon appearing on stage with some of the most prestigious theatrical companies as well as creating comic characters on the radio and dubbing films, including being the voice of Marcello Mastroianni in Luciano Emmer's Parigi e sempre Parigi (Paris Is Always Paris, 1951) and Le ragazze di piazza di Spagna (Three Girls from Rome, 1952). His first film appearance was in the otherwise undistinguished Monastero di Santa Chiara (Monastery of Saint Clare, 1949). While continuing to work in revues and musical theater he played supporting roles in a handful of other minor films while also beginning to achieve a solid popularity through his appearances on television.

   Following more significant roles in comedies such as Guardia, ladro e cameriera (Maid, Thief and Guard, 1958) and Nanni Loy's Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti (Fiasco in Milan, 1959), Manfredi's film career blossomed during the 1960s when he became one of the regular and much-loved faces in many of the films of the commedia all'italiana. His multiple performances in Lina Wertmuller's caustic satire of Italian masculinity, Questa volta parliamo di uomini (This Time Let's Talk about Men, 1965), brought him his first Nastro d'argento, which was soon followed by a second one for his role in Luigi Magni's Nell'anno del Signore (The Conspirators, 1969). His greatest cinematic triumphs, however, came in the 1970s with his portrayal of Geppetto in Luigi Comencini's much-loved made-for-television Pinocchio (1972), his interpretation of the hapless Italian immigrant in Switzerland in Franco Brusati's Pane e cioccolata (Bread and Chocolate, 1973), and his most endearing performance as Antonio in Ettore Scola's C'eravamo tanto amati (We All Loved Each Other So Much, 1974). Having already tried his hand at directing with an episode of the compilation film L'amore difficile (Of Wayward Love, 1963), in 1971 he also cowrote and directed himself in Per grazia ricevuta (Between Miracles, 1971), an irreverent satire on religion that earned him a nomination for the Palme d'or at Cannes, a David di Donatello for his direction, and two Nastri d'argento for Best Story and Screenplay.

   His popularity continued unabated throughout the 1980s and 1990s when, alongside a host of successful films for the big screen, he starred in a number of extremely popular television miniseries including Un commissario a Roma (Police Commissioner in Rome, 1993) and the even longer-running Linda e il brigadiere (Linda and the Police Sergeant, 1997-1999).