La Dolce Vita. 1950-1960. Stars and Celebrities in the Italian Fifties

Between charm and fame, the Italian Fifties show themselves in New York. The exhibition La Dolce Vita. 1950-1960. Stars and celebrities in the Italian Fifties, features 84 images, almost completely unpublished and shown for the first time to the American audience, pictures stolen of the next great international movie stars, and in the background, the Italy of the fifties that reflects itself over the frenzied fans looking for autographs as well as the rites, characters and personalities that rendered the Italian Fifties a period of great charm and Italy itself an unique place in the world.

This exhibition is curated by Marco Panella, and promoted by Ministro del Turismo, Cinecitta-Luce and Artix. After the success of its Roman preview last year, the exhibition is currently on view at Eataly New York, the highly appreciated made in Italy store on Fifth Avenue.

New York is an elective location for this exhibition, ideal in order to witness and pay homage to that strong link that, in the fifties, Italian habits and society has had with United States.
~~ Marco Panella

1959, Rome. Anita Ekberg

1956, Rome. Brigitte Bardot

1957, Venice. Maria Callas with Aristotle Onassis and American journalist Elsa Maxwell

1957, Rome. Esther Williams

1958, Rome. Frank Sinatra

1958, Rome. Zsa Zsa Gabor

1958, Rome. Kirk Douglas with his wife

1959, Rome. Joan Crawford

1959, Rome. Clark Gable

1960, Rome. Joan Collins

1961, Rome. Roger Moore and Luisa Mattioli

1961, Rome. Warren Beatty with Natalie Wood

La Dolce Vita. 1950-1960. Stars and Celebrities in the Italian Fifties

Eataly New York

October 7 - November 14, 2011

Courtesy Marco Panella 
@http://www.mostradolcevita.it/
Via Trouvaillesdujour

 

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Comments

[SgtMom]

12:35 AM on 10/25/2011

I just stayed at the Mojave in Palm Desert, and the Kirk Douglas pic made me do a double take. While it isn't Rome, it certainly was "Old Hollywood", or at least "Old California". I felt very VERY Movie Star.

It's hard to find "Old Hollywood" anywhere, nowdays, but the desert still has a few remnants of it's Lucy & Ricky days....

[SgtMom]

12:27 AM on 10/25/2011

Crying out loud, I need to get myself to ROME! People look GOOD in Rome!

Poor BB, didn't age too well.....

[Cassandra45]

10:12 PM on 10/24/2011

I'd like to add that the real magic of these photos is they are not photoshopped, they are not posed, there was not a team of "stylists" setting the whole thing up, and Liz Taylor's eyes really were violet with a double row of lashes, not contact lens and fake lashes. Things were REAL then, which is what made them special. Now anybody with money can buy contact lens, extra-large breasts, and someone to dress them. It's BORING. These people were special because they really WERE special. We won't see the like again.

[SgtMom]

12:28 AM on 10/25/2011

No implants, either. It was the real deal, baby.

[3fingerbrown]

07:02 AM on 10/24/2011

Love the period details: The perfect cut of Frankie's suit, right down to the cuffs; Douglas, in sans-a-belt slacks and a polo, reminding us there's a difference between casual and sloppy; Gable's slave bracelet; the unmistakable look of real silk stockings on Collins; those classic Cinzano ashtrays; flashbulbs!

[yathome]

02:11 PM on 10/23/2011

It was such a stylish era. Wish I could have been there...

[Halsey]

01:18 PM on 10/23/2011

Warren Beatty was cool before cool was co=opted by the masses. I wish there'd been a photo of Sophia Loren. I assume there are in the exhibition. I think that was THE best time to be a star. It is just so perfectly glamorous without being in your face sex-tape type faux-celebrity.
ALL these people had talent; remarkable talent. Oh to be there for ONE day in that era, with my arm through any male star of that day. Heaven! Dolce indeed. LOVE it!

[naschkatze]

11:10 PM on 10/22/2011

What a post! Thank you. I wish there were more pictures, but maybe I could buy a catalog of the show down the line.

[bealebkk]

09:57 PM on 10/22/2011

Time, what a time it was...!
...and we are left with the photoshop kids

[zuzuzpetals]

08:36 PM on 10/22/2011

Please do this more often!

[Evelyne Politanoff]

09:48 PM on 10/22/2011

Thanks everyone for your nice comments. Yes, it was a great era. I can't remember how many times I have seen Antonioni's movies. Monica Vitti was fabulous in L'Avventura.

[HamletsMill]

10:57 PM on 10/22/2011

Thank you Dear Lady! Wonderful!

[rob2007]

10:57 PM on 10/22/2011

Monica Vitti was fabulous eating a donut.

[HamletsMill]

10:55 PM on 10/22/2011

x2!

[prestonsturges]

07:46 PM on 10/22/2011

Doubt if we'll see the likes of these and all those glorious stars of the 30s, 40s and 50s again, based on what has been seen to date. They are great photos indeed. Ah well. It's a different time, Children.

[naschkatze]

11:13 PM on 10/22/2011

Notice how they are all dressed up, no sloppy casual for them.

[WmBlackstone]

07:32 PM on 10/22/2011

Clark Gable had such class and style and "Old World" charm. Sinatra knew how to be tailor-perfect in a suit as Kirk Douglas in casual (look at the straightness of his pants creases!). The ladies look elegant and class. They were so much more conscious of their image as good role models back then. Yum!

[Demitasse]

07:21 PM on 10/22/2011

Old Hollywood glamour, often imitated, never duplicated. (Great photos)

[LMPE]

06:32 PM on 10/22/2011

The eternal city.

[Hardyman1966]

05:36 PM on 10/22/2011

Italy in the 50's, how could you POSSIBLY go wrong? (Great photo collection)

[meanlady21]

03:57 PM on 10/22/2011

The clothes the woman wore back than were so classy and femine.