Valentina Cortese

Acting

Valentina Cortese

Born — Died

1923-01-01 — 2019-07-10

Place of birth

Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Known for

Acting

Credits

67 titles

Valentina Cortese (January 1, 1923 - July 10, 2019) was an Italian film actress. The Milan-born actress starred in The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) directed by Robert Wise, and costarring Richard Basehart and William Lundigan. Cortese, aged 28, married Basehart in 1951, and had one son with him before they divorced in 1960. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1975 for her performance in François Truffaut's Day for Night. Cortese appeared in Jules Dassin's Thieves' Highway (1949), Joseph L. Mankiewicz's The Barefoot Contessa (1954), Michelangelo Antonioni's Le Amiche (1955), Gérard Brach's The Boat on the Grass, Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron M…

Known for

Lux Video Theatre poster
6.7

Lux Video Theatre is an American anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1959. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.

Lux Video Theatre

1950

Jesus of Nazareth poster
7.8

Dramatizes the Birth, Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, largely according to the Holy Bible's New Testament Gospels.

Jesus of Nazareth

1977

The Secret of Santa Vittoria poster
6.9

During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

1970

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen poster
7.0

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

1988

Juliet of the Spirits poster
7.2

Middle-aged Giulietta grows suspicious of her husband, Giorgio, when his behavior grows increasingly questionable. One night when Giorgio initiates a seance amongst his friends, Giulietta gets in touch with spirits and learns more about herself and her painful past. Slightly skeptical, but intrigued, she visits a mystic who gives her more information -- and nudges her toward the realization that her husband is indeed a philanderer.

Juliet of the Spirits

1965

The Barefoot Contessa poster
6.8

A washed-up filmmaker gets a second chance at stardom when he discovers stunning peasant Maria Vargas dancing in a Madrid nightclub. Goaded by his producer, the director convinces Maria to screen test for, and then star in, his next big picture. But as the producer's possessive nature and the realities of stardom weigh on Maria, she seeks a genuine lover with whom she can escape.

The Barefoot Contessa

1954

Film credits

1990s · 2 titles

1970s · 20 titles

The Secret of Santa Vittoria poster
6.9

During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

1970

Brother Sun, Sister Moon poster
7.1

In his delirium from his return from war, Francesco Bernardone goes back in his memories to the days when he lived for parties and carnal pleasures. He slowly recovers, but after the illness he is no longer the Francesco that everybody knew. Instead of spending hours in taverns, he meditates on the beauty of God's creatures, soon renouncing his riches and his family with plans to rebuild an abandoned church and his life.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

1972

Appassionata poster
5.6

Two teenage friends conspire to find out how much their youthful sensuality can disrupt one of their households, headed by a dentist and his mentally-ill wife.

Appassionata

1974

Day for Night poster
7.8

A committed filmmaker struggles to complete his latest project while coping with a myriad of crises, personal and professional, among the cast and crew.

Day for Night

1973

Kidnap Syndicate poster
6.8

After his son is kidnapped, a millionaire industrialist seeks revenge, in spite of the potential danger that his rash actions will bring about for his child and another kidnapped boy, the son of a poor mechanic.

Kidnap Syndicate

1975

Give Her the Moon poster
5.8

Marie, a young provincial girl, is seduced by an American billionaire. She agrees to stay with him if he moves her village to New York.

Give Her the Moon

1970

The Assassination of Trotsky poster
5.3

A Stalinist assassin tracks exiled revolutionary Leon Trotsky to Mexico in 1940.

The Assassination of Trotsky

1972

Ring of Darkness poster
4.8

Once a Satanist who surrendered her soul and body to the devil himself, Carlotta Rhodes begins to regret her tryst with Lucifer when her teenage daughter, Daria, starts showing the evil influence of dear old Dad. Convinced that she can stop the devil's power on earth, Carlotta calls upon an exorcist for help.

Ring of Darkness

1979

First Love poster
5.5

The story of two young lovers takes a tragic turn as the girl falls in love with the boy's father.

First Love

1970

Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza poster
6.2

A boorish, snobish toothpaste factory owner, Constantino Nicosia, gives his wife and everyone a hard time having let success and wealth go to his head. But after the superticous Nicosia has an encounter with an elderly gypsy aunt, and a business trip to Romania results in another encounter with a suave vampire, named Count Dragalescu, Nicosia returns with blood-sucking like qualities which makes him re-examine his life and existence.

Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza

1975

Chronicle of a Homicide poster
5.5

Roma.During a clash between demonstrating laborers (whose fight the students have joined) a policeman and a student are both killed. The investigating magistrate - in charge of the case with two commissioners - wants to believe to the version of the police: the student was killed by one of the laborers, while the policeman would have been killed by Massimo Trotti.

Chronicle of a Homicide

1972

The Love Mates poster
4.6

Julien and Agatha appear to be a great couple, loving, caring and seem to feel complete with each other. Though Julien often gives the impression of being interested in other girls, his lover doesn't care all that much and sometimes even looks like she's encouraging him to do that. It all changes when they meet an American woman who'll change their lives and their perception of love.

The Love Mates

1970

The Boat on the Grass poster
5.1

Despite their social differences, poor David and the rich Olivier are the best friends. David took the young Eleanor in Olivier's Paris apartment. When Olivier meets her there, he takes her to the country, where the three build a boat on the meadow. Eleanore divided the friends.

The Boat on the Grass

1971

The Big Operator poster
4.6

The aging villain Émile Morland talks his old friend Aristide into helping him with to kidnap the son of a millionaire.

The Big Operator

1976

The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire poster
5.3

In Dublin, the acid-scarred, razor-slashed corpse of a young woman is discovered in the boot of the Swiss Ambassador's limousine. The Ambassador, his family and employees all become immediate suspects. Faced with the problem of diplomatic immunity, the police officer in charge of the case brings in John Norton, an ex-Inspector known for his brutal methods, to carry out an "unoffical" investigation. While Norton develops a relationship with the Ambassdor's attractive daughter, several more gruesome murders occur...

The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire

1971

Nick the Sting poster
6.8

Nick Hezard, a young con man, wants to avenge the death of a friend of his and organizes a swindle trying to cheat Robert Turner, an American businessman he thinks responsible for his friend's death. He succeeds in getting a hundred thousand swiss francs and uses them to carry out the second part of his plan.

Nick the Sting

1976

Son tornate a fiorire le rose poster
5.8

The birth of a nephew upsets the life of Paolo and Carlo who, unable to grow old, try to prove that they are lively.

Son tornate a fiorire le rose

1975

The Kiss poster
3.5

Countess Elena marries the charming Guido Rambaldi, only for him to be seduced by dancer Nara during their Venice honeymoon.

The Kiss

1974

Tender Dracula poster
4.2

Two writers and their girlfriends visit the castle of an actor who specializes in playing vampire roles. As the night progresses, they begin to wonder if the man is an actor playing a vampire, or a vampire playing an actor.

Tender Dracula

1974

Amore mio non farmi male poster
5.1

Anna and Marcello, two wealthy high school students. they would like to consume their Platonic love so far, going against the directives of their parents ... who get in the way to prevent their sexual initiation.

Amore mio non farmi male

1974

1960s · 10 titles

Juliet of the Spirits poster
7.2

Middle-aged Giulietta grows suspicious of her husband, Giorgio, when his behavior grows increasingly questionable. One night when Giorgio initiates a seance amongst his friends, Giulietta gets in touch with spirits and learns more about herself and her painful past. Slightly skeptical, but intrigued, she visits a mystic who gives her more information -- and nudges her toward the realization that her husband is indeed a philanderer.

Juliet of the Spirits

1965

Barabbas poster
6.9

Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pilate offered the Israelites a choice to pardon Barabbas or Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.

Barabbas

1961

The Legend of Lylah Clare poster
6.0

A dictatorial film director hires an unknown actress to play the lead role in a planned movie biography of a late, great Hollywood star.

The Legend of Lylah Clare

1968

The Visit poster
7.2

Carla Zachanassian had a child by Serge Miller as a teenager. When Serge refused to marry her, she was driven out of town. By her own wit and cunning, she has returned as a multi-millionaire for a visit. The town lays out the red carpet expecting big things from Carla, only to learn that her sole purpose is to see Serge Miller killed...

The Visit

1964

The Girl Who Knew Too Much poster
6.9

A tourist witnesses a murder and finds herself caught up in a series of bloody killings.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

1963

The Possessed poster
6.8

While visiting his favorite resort village during winter, a writer investigates the apparent suicide of a woman he was infatuated with.

The Possessed

1965

Listen, Let's Make Love poster
4.5

When his father dies, young lad travels to Milan to attend the funeral and decides to follow in his father's footsteps as a gigolo. He is successful at finding rich women to prey on, but finds himself caught up in a bidding war.

Listen, Let's Make Love

1968

Story of San Michele poster
6.5

A biographical drama is based on the 1929 autobiography of Swedish doctor Axel Martin Fredrik, The Story of San Michele. It follows the physician, psychiatrist, and adventurer as he travels the distances from Lapland to his Villa San Michele on Capri, with special stops in Paris and Rome. Personal physician to Queen Victoria, also physician to the Swedish royal family (he spent his last years living in the Royal Palace in Sweden), "Axel Munthe" knew everyone from the poorest clients to the most well-endowed. His love of animals, his support of bird sanctuaries, his involvement with architecture as he constructs his impressive villa throughout five summers, and his interests in archaeology and hypnotism are all explored.

Story of San Michele

1962

Oh, Grandmother's Dead poster
5.7

Relatives brawl over the estate of a deceased grandmother who owned an insecticide factory.They stop at nothing, including bumping each other off.

Oh, Grandmother's Dead

1969

Reporter’s Diary: 'Zoom on Fellini' poster
7.5

Documentary about the making of Federico Fellini's film JULIET OF THE SPIRITS, with behind the scenes footage and interviews with the director.

Reporter’s Diary: 'Zoom on Fellini'

1965

1950s · 11 titles

The Barefoot Contessa poster
6.8

A washed-up filmmaker gets a second chance at stardom when he discovers stunning peasant Maria Vargas dancing in a Madrid nightclub. Goaded by his producer, the director convinces Maria to screen test for, and then star in, his next big picture. But as the producer's possessive nature and the realities of stardom weigh on Maria, she seeks a genuine lover with whom she can escape.

The Barefoot Contessa

1954

Angels of Darkness poster
3.6

When "Tamara" throws herself from the window of their brothel, her colleagues are made to realise that a new law will close down the source of their livelihood. The girls must now find honest work.

Angels of Darkness

1954

The House on Telegraph Hill poster
6.4

Concentration camp survivor Victoria Kowelska finds herself involved in mystery, greed, and murder when she assumes the identity of a dead friend in order to gain passage to America.

The House on Telegraph Hill

1951

Magic Fire poster
5.0

In the middle of the 19th-century, when the social structure of Europe is about to be reshaped, the world of music is shaken by one man: Richard Wagner.

Magic Fire

1955

Le Amiche poster
6.7

Clelia, a self-made woman coming from humble means, travels back to Turin, her hometown, to scout locations for the successful Roman atelier she works for. At the hotel, she encounters some upper middle-class women and she finds herself drawn into their friendships.

Le Amiche

1955

The Rocket from Calabuch poster
7.5

Professor Hamilton, a naive Nuclear scientist who once thought bombs were good for humanity, realizes his mistake and runs away from his inventions. He hides in Calabuch, a beautiful seaside town where people still believe in humor and friendship.

The Rocket from Calabuch

1956

Shadow of the Eagle poster
6.5

During the eighteenth century the Empress of Russia sends her lover to kidnap her rival for the throne.

Shadow of the Eagle

1950

Kean: Genius or Scoundrel poster
7.3

England, first half of the 19th century. Edmund Kean is a celebrated theatre actor, notorious for his tumultuous private life. He is in love with the beautiful countess Koefeld, wife of the Danish ambassador, to the consternation of his friend, the Prince of Wales. He is also hounded by Anna Damby, who wants to become an actress to escape a marriage to Lord Mewill.

Kean: Genius or Scoundrel

1957

Love and Troubles poster
6.3

Three vignettes about couples trying to get together and the problems that continue to keep them apart.

Love and Troubles

1958

La passeggiata poster
8.0

A meek and simple-minded boarding school teacher falls in love with a prostitute and gets the boot from school. He tries to have her change her way of living but she is very hard to convince. When she finally realizes he really loves her it is too late.

La passeggiata

1953

Il matrimonio poster
6.8

An Italian historical comedy film consisting of three segments, based on three stage plays by Anton Chekhov.

Il matrimonio

1954

1940s · 11 titles

Thieves' Highway poster
7.3

Nick Garcos comes back from his tour of duty in World War II planning to settle down with his girlfriend, Polly Faber. He learns, however, that his father was recently beaten and burglarized by mob-connected trucker Mike Figlia, and Nick resolves to get even. He partners with prostitute Rica, and together they go after Mike, all the while getting pulled further into the local crime underworld.

Thieves' Highway

1949

Black Magic poster
6.4

A hypnotist uses his powers for revenge against King Louis XV's court.

Black Magic

1949

The Glass Mountain poster
6.8

An aspiring composer, in the British Air Force for WWII, is downed in Italy and rescued by an Italian girl. He returns home to his wife, inspired to write an opera and aware that he's fallen in love with his rescuer.

The Glass Mountain

1949

Girl of the Golden West poster
6.5

No synopsis available yet.

Girl of the Golden West

1942

Malaya poster
6.9

Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, cynical former newspaper correspondent John Royer devises a scheme with his old editor and government agents to return to the Far East and smuggle out a vast amount of rubber for the war effort. Demanding the freedom and company of his ex-friend, Carnahan, whom he betrayed in an exposé years earlier, Royer sails off into the hands of the Japanese with a motley crew, gold, and the promise of covert government aid.

Malaya

1949

Un americano in vacanza poster
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Un americano in vacanza

1946

Les Misérables poster
6.0

In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.

Les Misérables

1948

The Jester's Supper poster
6.1

In Florence, at the time of Lorenzo de Medici, known also as Lorenzo the Magnificent, the aristocrat brothers Chiaramantesi rule with an iron fist the streets of the city. Ruthless and fierce, the two brothers have chosen as their special victim the innocent and harmless Giannetto. Even though determined to not react to the cruel pranks of the brothers, Giannetto is forced to take a stand when Ginevra, a beautiful girl that works in the Chiaramantesi household, is dragged into the game. To defend his honor and protect the girl, Giannetto works out a fiendish plot that will end in blood and madness.

The Jester's Supper

1942

Rome: Free City poster
5.4

In a post-war Rome (1946) a cat burglar inadvertently saves the life of a would-be suicide man who returns from the war to find that he has been betrayed by his fiancée while fighting in the war. From that moment the thief takes the ex-soldier under his wing. They leave house together for a night full of misadventures. In a streets of Rome they meet the struggling typist who can’t pay her rent and opts to street life; a wandering amnesiac who lost his memory and keeps asking everyone “Do you recognize me?”. Thieves, gamblers, hookers, policemen, soldiers and endless chain of cigarette-smoking and alcohol/espresso-drinking.

Rome: Free City

1946

Il corriere del re poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Il corriere del re

1947

Crossroads of Passion poster
9.0

Lisbon, the capital of Neutral Portugal, is a hotbed of spies. Mario, a cabaret singer working for the Allies is responsible for the death of an Italian agent. His widow Irène heads to Portugal and in her desire for revenge she agrees to work for the Nazis.

Crossroads of Passion

1948

Series credits