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Cinecitta': Hollywood on the Tiber

© Tracy Scarpino

Cinecitta' (literally "city of cinema") was opened in 1937 by Mussolini. With sixteen soundstages and state-of-the-art facilities, it was a landmark achievement for the Italian dictator, who is still applauded for his brilliant urban development, if not his politics. In those early days, the studio was a factory for propaganda films such as The Siege of the Alcazar (1940), a coproduction with the Spanish government.

During World War II things were pretty bleak for Italian cinema, but a few seeds were planted for the industry's blossoming future. Roberto Rossellini began his career directing Fascist-commissioned works before changing to a neorealist style, the most notable of which being his masterpiece Open City.

In the 1950s, Rome became the European Hollywood. Along with Italian directors such as Federico Fellini (whose film La Dolce Vita is the quintessential depiction of Rome's cinematic heyday), Hollywood directors, lured by the high quality of its equipment and the availability of cheap labor, filmed epics such as Ben Hur, Helen of Troy., and Cleopatra. After Cleopatra, however, the influx of Hollywood producers to the "Hollywood on the Tiber" slowed.

With the Hollywood honeymoon over, a new generation of Italians moved in and made profitable mini-epics, horror films, and spaghetti westerns.

Today Cinecitta' produces movies by directors like Roberto Benigni and television programs (everything from tv movies to typical Italian variety shows featuring scantily clad women and celebrity guests). It also restores aging films and has top-quality dubbing facilities. With the recent rejuvenation of Italian cinema at home and abroad, the studio's glamour and visibility is rising again. Visit their web site for a peek at their restoration projects, modern Italian director biographies, and interesting links.