Valentina Cortese
Date of birth: 1923-01-01
Place of birth: Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Valentina Cortesa
Biography
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 Munchausen (1988), and in the Franco Zeffirelli projects such as the 1972 film Brother Sun, Sister Moon, his 1977 miniseries, Jesus of Nazareth and the 1993 film Sparrow.
Movie Credits
Day for Night
1973-05-24
A committed film director struggles to complete his movie while coping with a myriad of crises, pers
The Boat on the Grass
1971-04-16
Despite their social differences, poor David and the rich Olivier are the best friends. David took t
Ring of Darkness
1979-10-29
Once a Satanist who surrendered her soul and body to the devil himself, Carlotta Rhodes begins to re
Brother Sun, Sister Moon
1972-03-03
In his delirium from his return from war, Francesco Bernardone goes back in his memories to the days
Thieves' Highway
1949-09-20
Nick Garcos comes back from his tour of duty in World War II planning to settle down with his girlfr
The Assassination of Trotsky
1972-03-30
A Stalinist assassin tracks exiled revolutionary Leon Trotsky to Mexico in 1940.
Les Misérables
1948-01-10
In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless po
Barabbas
1961-12-23
Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pila
L'attore scomparso
1941-06-02
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
1963-02-10
A tourist witnesses a murder and finds herself caught up in a series of bloody killings.
The Barefoot Contessa
1954-09-29
Has-been director Harry Dawes gets a new lease on his career when the independently wealthy tycoon K
The House on Telegraph Hill
1951-05-12
Concentration camp survivor Victoria Kowelska finds herself involved in mystery, greed, and murder w
Jailbirds
1954-09-18
Three jailbirds - a surgeon, a robber and a wrongly convicted man must adjust to their lives once re
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988-12-07
An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfi
Malaya
1949-12-27
After living abroad for several years, journalist John Royer returns to the United States just after
Sparrow
1994-02-04
Catania, Sicilia 1854. A serious epidemic of cholera is hitting the region. Maria a 16 years old nov
When Time Ran Out...
1980-03-28
An active volcano threatens a south Pacific island resort and its guests as a power struggle ensues
Le Amiche
1955-11-18
Clelia, a self-made woman coming from humble means, travels back to Turin, her hometown, to scout lo
Juliet of the Spirits
1965-10-22
Middle-aged Giulietta grows suspicious of her husband, Giorgio, when his behavior grows increasingly
Appassionata
1974-05-22
Two teenage friends conspire to find out how much their youthful sensuality can disrupt one of their
Black Magic
1949-08-19
A hypnotist uses his powers for revenge against King Louis XV's court.
The Legend of Lylah Clare
1968-08-21
A dictatorial film director hires an unknown actress to play the lead role in a planned movie biogra
The Love Mates
1970-12-18
Julien and Agatha appear to be a great couple, loving, caring and seem to feel complete with each ot
The Rocket from Calabuch
1956-09-28
Professor Hamilton, a naive Nuclear scientist who once thought bombs were good for humanity, realize
Black Sun
1966-12-10
A young Gallic heiress Christine is looking for her long-lost brother in Algeria. She's not looking
Secret People
1952-02-05
This tale of intrigue finds Valentina Cortese involved in an assassination plot. She helps the polic
Blue Tango
1987-02-02
Tango blu is a night club in Milan where various bizarre characters meet. Among them a womanizing ph
Magic Fire
1955-06-30
Director William Dieterle's 1956 film biography of classical composer Richard Wagner stars Carlos Th
Il matrimonio
1954-02-25
An Italian historical comedy film consisting of three segments, based on three stage plays by Anton
Son tornate a fiorire le rose
1975-10-17
The birth of a nephew upsets the life of Paolo and Carlo who, unable to grow old, try to prove that
Tanto va la gatta al lardo...
1978-05-23
Film in four episodes, inspired by the chronicle of the time: three mature sisters give themselves t
Amore mio non farmi male
1974-07-13
Anna and Marcello, two wealthy high school students. they would like to consume their Platonic love
First Love
1970-10-07
The story of two young lovers takes a tragic turn as the girl falls in love with the boy's father.
Il passatore
1947-10-22
The story of the most infamous bandit in Romagna, who robbed from the rich to give to the poor.
Un americano in vacanza
1946-09-07
Buster's Bedroom
1991-05-09
A young woman who is obsessed with Buster Keaton stays in the sanatorium where the actor was once a
La passeggiata
1953-01-27
A meek and simple-minded boarding school teacher falls in love with a prostitute and gets the boot f
Square of Violence
1961-01-01
Set in Italy, the story takes place in this very country, during WW2, where German occupation army r
The Visit
1964-05-06
Carla Zachanassian had a child by Serge Miller as a teenager. When Serge refused to marry her, she w
Quarta pagina
1942-12-17
Story of San Michele
1962-09-28
A biographical drama is based on the 1929 autobiography of Swedish doctor Axel Martin Fredrik, The S
La regina di Navarra
1942-03-30
Girl of the Golden West
1942-02-09
Orizzonte di sangue
1942-01-02
Directed by Gennaro Righelli.
Chronicle of a Homicide
1972-02-04
Roma.During a clash between demonstrating laborers (whose fight the students have joined) a policema
Listen, Let's Make Love
1968-09-13
When his father dies, young lad travels to Milan to attend the funeral and decides to follow in his
The Jester's Supper
1942-02-10
In Florence, at the time of Lorenzo de Medici, known also as Lorenzo the Magnificent, the aristocrat
The Kiss
1974-08-22
Countess Elena marries the charming Guido Rambaldi, only for him to be seduced by dancer Nara during
The Glass Mountain
1949-03-09
An aspiring composer, in the British Air Force for WWII, is downed in Italy and rescued by an Italia
Adriana Lecouvreur
1955-08-11
L'ebreo errante
1948-01-24
Matthew, a rich nationalist Jew and a contemporary of Jesus, regards the latter as an obstacle in th
No One Comes Back
1945-01-05
A host of college girls take different life paths in the Italy of the 1930s.
Giorni felici
1943-01-01
Love and Troubles
1958-12-19
Three vignettes about couples trying to get together and the problems that continue to keep them apa
Les Misérables - Storm Over Paris
1948-01-21
The story of Jean Valjean, still pursued by Javert, continues with a love developing between Cosette
Crossroads of Passion
1948-08-04
Lisbon, the capital of Neutral Portugal, is a hotbed of spies. Mario, a cabaret singer working for t
Give Her the Moon
1970-02-25
Marie, a young provincial girl, is seduced by an American billionaire. She agrees to stay with him i
The Secret of Santa Vittoria
1970-01-02
During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.
Facciaffittasi
1988-05-01
Widows' Nest
1977-12-01
The arrival of some unwanted visitors interrupts the peaceful Cuban home life of sisters Dolores, Ca
Angels of Darkness
1954-01-27
When "Tamara" throws herself from the window of their brothel, her colleagues are made to realise th
Il bravo di Venezia
1941-09-17
Marco Fuser, an outlaw. returns to Venice after many years. His son who works in the studio of a cel
Kidnap Syndicate
1975-08-27
After his son is kidnapped, a millionaire industrialist seeks revenge, in spite of the potential dan
The Big Operator
1976-11-27
The aging villain Émile Morland talks his old friend Aristide into helping him with to kidnap the so
Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza
1975-08-21
A boorish, snobish toothpaste factory owner, Constantino Nicosia, gives his wife and everyone a hard
4 girls dream
1943-08-05
Oh, Grandmother's Dead
1969-10-09
Relatives brawl over the estate of a deceased grandmother who owned an insecticide factory.They stop
Federico Fellini's Autobiography
2000-09-05
Federico Fellini was one of the most individual and thought provoking directors who based most of hi
Soltanto un bacio
1942-05-14
Italian film from 1942.
Via Montenapoleone
1987-03-13
Via Montenapoleone in Milan is the ritziest street in the city and here the destinies of several cha
Diva!
2017-09-01
The moving life and international career of actress Valentina Cortese is acted out by eight Italian
Tender Dracula
1974-08-07
Two writers and their girlfriends visit the castle of an actor who specializes in playing vampire ro
Il corriere del re
1947-12-04
Shadow of the Eagle
1950-09-11
During the eighteenth century the Empress of Russia sends her lover to kidnap her rival for the thro
Antonioni: Documents and Testimonials
1965-09-12
A behind-the-scenes documentary about director Michelangelo Antonioni as he's shooting his segment o
Primo amore
1941-10-05
An Italian emigrant, who found fame and success in America, comes back to his hometown after over tw
Rome: Free City
1946-12-17
In a post-war Rome (1946) a cat burglar inadvertently saves the life of a would-be suicide man who r
Il Conte Aquila
1955-09-07
Nick the Sting
1976-09-14
Nick Hezard, a young con man, wants to avenge the death of a friend of his and organizes a swindle t
Kean: Genius or Scoundrel
1957-03-04
England, first half of the 19th century. Edmund Kean is a celebrated theatre actor, notorious for hi
Chi l'ha visto?
1945-09-01
La Classe américaine
1993-12-31
George Abitbol, the classiest man in the world, dies tragically during a cruise. The director of an
The Possessed
1965-07-24
While visiting his favorite resort village during winter, a writer investigates the apparent suicide
The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire
1971-08-24
In Dublin, the acid-scarred, razor-slashed corpse of a young woman is discovered in the boot of the
Lulù
1953-06-10
Mario, a student from a noble Milanese family, falls in love with Lulù, a young slender girl.
Reporter’s Diary: 'Zoom on Fellini'
1965-01-01
Documentary about the making of Federico Fellini's film JULIET OF THE SPIRITS, with behind the scene
Le ragazze di Milano
2007-09-14
Michelangelo Antonioni: The Eye That Changed Cinema
2001-01-01
A look back at the life and works of Michelangelo Antonioni.