Dedications: My four late friends Rory, Stan, Bryan, Jeff - shine on you crazy diamonds, they would have blogged too. Then theres Garry from Brisbane, Franco in Milan, Mike now in S.F. / my '60s-'80s gang: Ned & Joseph in Ireland; in England: Frank, Des, Guy, Clive, Joe & Joe, Ian, Ivan, Nick, David, Les, Stewart, the 3 Michaels / Catriona, Sally, Monica, Jean, Ella, Anne, Candie / and now: Daryl in N.Y., Jerry, John, Colin, Martin and Donal.

Sunday 20 September 2015

Happy birthday, Sophia!

She is 81 today !  and has collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana on a new lipstick: Sophia Loren No. 1 Red - a shade of raspberry.  Here's the promo clip: https://youtu.be/EdeqIsNuFng
Below: Sophia at Cannes last year, and below, taking a break on LEGEND OF THE LOST in 1957, and photographed by LIFE photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1969 (right).
She has been in my life ever since I was a kid in 1954, seeing those early movies. I got to see her up close in 1979 when she was signing that first autobio, at Selfridges crowded department store in London - as per other posts at label.. Perhaps she is the most enduring superstar of all ...
Some old style glamour for a rainy afternoon then.
Favourite Lorens? How about 15:
TOO BAD SHE'S BAD / WOMAN OF THE RIVER / SCANDAL IN SORRENTO / BOY ON A DOLPHIN / LEGEND OF THE LOST / HOUSEBOAT / IT STARTED IN NAPLES / THE MILLIONAIRESS / TWO WOMEN / EL CID / FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE / YESTERDAY TODAY & TOMORROW / MARRIAGE ITALIAN STYLE / ARABESQUE / MORE THAN A MIRACLE.  She is terrific too in MAN OF LA MANCHA in 1972 and sings her own songs, if only the film was as good. 

2 comments:

  1. Michael, beautiful photos of one of the landmark beauties of the century. I always remember that my dad, who was never attracted to earthy types of women (he loved the girl next door type like Teresa Wright), was always soooo complimentary about La Loren. Turns out he had gone to see Two Women when it first came out and was absolutely blown away by her powerful performance. This was remarkable as my dad was a meatloaf loving, white bread, I only like John Wayne and don't watch movies with subtitles kind of guy. Turns out his experience with Sophia compelled him to seek out other arthouse movies and thus started a love affair with cinema for our whole family. I think I was the only kid in grade school in the small Steel making town I grew up in to have seen La Dolce Vita, The Loneliness of A Long Distance Runner, Breathless and Persona. Sophia is that kind of woman. Long may she reign!

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  2. What a fabulous reply -many thanks. Loren is indeed one of the great beauties of our era and continues to fascinate us.

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