MovieChat Forums > Never So Few (1959) Discussion > Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida

posted 11 years ago by thepixinator
5 replies | jump to latest

I don't really understand the appeal of Gina Lollobrigida . Underneath all that makeup I think she might have looked rather pedestrian, like a suburban housewife. I don't think she was "the world's most beautiful woman" by any stretch of the imagination. Sophia Loren holds that title for me; with no makeup at all she has the most amazing face ever captured on film. I think of Gina Lollobrigida as a poor man's Sophia Loren.

Why I specifically made the point of starting a whole imdb discussion board thread around the subject is another matter entirely. Maybe because the film's too dull to keep me engaged? I think the script is missing some key element of development to take it from serviceable to riveting. In theory, with the cast and director it should add up to a good picture, but in reality it just doesn't.

A life lived in fear is a life half-lived

... Strictly Ballroom

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 11 years ago

She fit the character . . . and she is lovely . . . they went with her . . . she is very photogenic . . .

[–] ZolotoyRetriever 11 years ago

I like the way she fit the bill of being the sharp-looking lady-friend "decoration" that Paul Henreid's character (Nikko) needed to complete his image. His true relation with her does seem to be a matter of speculation.

[–] Ethereal-Cloud 10 years ago

I understand why they cast Gina Lollobrigida, she was a hot property at the time and they thought they needed a love interest character for Frank Sinatra. I think it was a mistake and a disaster. If I was the editor on the film, I would have left those scenes on the cutting room floor.

-How about this?: The 'native' girl that turned out to be a spy (Isabel Cooley),...they could have eliminated the spy angle and made HER the love interest character. She didn't have a speaking role so I don't know if she was a capable actress, but she was hot enough to play the part.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 10 years ago

Well, Gina is sort of a spy already . . . she works for Henreid . . . and has links to military intel . . . so she says later . . . she was planted on him!

[–] mariakelly-04164 8 years ago

Weird plot twist about Carla. It turns out she's working for allied intelligence (Huh?) But you have to admit, those dresses she wears are gorgeous.

I know love's realities.