Eugenia Grandet
Scen.: Aldo De Benedetti, Mario Soldati, (Non Accr.) Emilio Cecchi, Dal Romanzo Omonimo Di Honoré De Balzac; F.: Vaclav Vich; M.: Eraldo Da Roma, Vanda Tuzi; Scgf.: Maurice Colasson, Gastone Medin; Cost.: Gino C. Sensani; Mu.: Renzo Rossellini; Int.: Alida Valli (Eugenia Grandet), Giorgio De Lullo (Charles, Suo Cugino), Gualtiero Tumiati (Félix, Padre Di Eugenia), Giuditta Rissone (Madre Di Eugenia), Lina Gennari (Marchesa D’aubrion), Pina Gallini (Nanon), Enrico Luzi, Enzo Biliotti, Lando Sguazzini, Egisto Olivieri, Cesare Olivieri, Giuseppe Varni, Mario Siletti, Maria Rodi, Gabriella Bornura, Vittorio Blasi, Mario Soldati; Prod.: Excelsa Film; 35mm. D.: 100’. Bn.
Film Notes
For her role in this film, Alida Valli was awarded the Nastro d’argento for the best female performance of the year. This was her last Italian film before leaving for Hollywood where she debuted with Hitchcock’s The Paradine Case. Even if Soldati was never “blinded by the glamour of divas”, it is worth looking at the relationships he built with his actors and actresses. Think for example of the excellent relationship he established with a fiery and wilful actress like Alida Valli. If the height of their affinity was Piccolo mondo antico, the films that followed, Eugenia Grandet and La mano dello straniero, should not be ignored, even if they are rather imbalanced. Neither should the less successful La provinciale, as Soldati thought of the idea with Alida in mind, in 1946.
Orio Caldiron, Letterato al cinema: Mario Soldati anni ’40, Roma 1979