...He drived them crazy and suffered from love, he swore and deceived, and his only guilt was that there wasn't enough of him for all those women.
Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni was born at 28 of september 1923 in Fontana-Liri, Italy, in a family of farmers. During II World War he has got in German labour camp, then he run and disappeared in Venice. After War in Rome he worked as accounter in a small firm. He was spending his evenings in studios of actors and on scenes of small theatres.
In that time he have started his first serious romance with 17 years old Silvana Mangano, who was very beautiful girl from a poor block. She dremt about career of actress and Marcello was mad about her.
They hoped to find any role even in masses. And they often came on cinema studio Cinecita together. Soon Silvana got luck. Producer Dino di Laurentis was impressed with sensible lips, steep hips, and thin waist of young beautiful girl and gave her role. She left Marcello and soon he could see her - such seductive and inaccessible - on posters and play-bills.
He would have much more love, women, helloes and good-byes in his life after, but he would never loose sharp feeling and sentimentality of young boy. Till the end of his days the "experienced secular wolf", "Don Juan", who had played in 160 movies and had replaced tens of mistresses, remained the quivering young man, who was capable to pace under windows of his new beloved for hours.
I NEVER PLAYED TEMPERS
To the middle of 50-th Mastroianni already has got the world popularity as the most charming temper and the lover number 1 in Europe. Once in press someone had named him as Kasanova of our days. Marcello smiled and said "It's not about me". He tried so many times to assure public, that roumours about his donjuan' behaviour are too exaggerated, but nobody listened to him - in his "hot" arms there were such beautiful actresses as Brigitte Bardot, Claudia Cardinale, Sofia Loren, Monica Vitti, Katrin Deneve, Anouk Aimee... And each of those women called him as ideal partner.
He drived them crazy and suffered from love, he swore and deceived, he tirelessly looked after and arlfully betraid. He always was impudent handsome man, the ardent lover, the unfaithful husband.. He gave huge number of hopes to his spectators and fans. He was the one, he was named as naughty spoilt whimsical boy, who always escape punishment. Even if he got awfullest situations - he was forgiven for all he had done.
There were combined many legends and myphs about him. His fans married him to each star from movie. But he never caused journalists on duel. Probably because he really loved women and women loved him. One of them loved him 46 years...
LEAVING - ALWAYS COME BACK
Having already played in several films, he met a very young actress in drama school. Her name was Flora Carabella. He had no money that day, but he invited her on dinner. She payed the bill - he had to marry her. Flora was his first and only wife, who born a daughter Barbara and dedicated life to her "dear Marcello".
Flora was very wize woman. Soon she has understood that her husband phisically can't be faithful and she forgave him everything - deceivings, betraings, lies and long years of lonelyness. And Marcello kept to her fidelity of the most unfaithful husband.
Flora suffered much when, during his new love-story he promiced to leave her, but she found a chance to be happy when he came back to her and licked his wounds after separation with his new lover. The main thing for her was 'his coming back'.
"SHE HAS DECIDED THAT I'VE GONE MAD!"
In the end of 60-th everybody loved this face from "Dolce Vita", "8 1/2" and "Divorce - Italian style". And Marcello was still young with soul.
In 1968 his partner was Fay Dunaway in movie "Lovers".
"I was struck with her ease, her constantly fluttering hair, her spontaneity" - said Mastroianni. She has answered an appeal of his black eyes with her light sight. They have fallen in love with each other instantly, but swore to refuse personal relations to not to spoil professional.
They kept oath just for two days. On third day they became lovers. Their romance was a big secret, which tormented rectilinear and temperamental Fay very much. She has demanded to legalize their relations. It was too unexpected step, because Marcello didn't want to refuse wife and daughter. Once he even has offered Fay to live three together. "She has decided that I have gone mad" - he said. In general while he played for time, she has declared break. Marcello strongly experienced that and even asked his daughter Barbara to intercede for him before cruel actress. But it was vain.
KATRIN AND MARCELLO. LOVE STORY
"Flora, she has given up to me!" - signora Mastroianni has heard a sad cry of her husband. "She said so, though you have allowed! I want to die!" - shouted in tube Marcello, ignoring resonable advice of his wife: "instead of spending money to trunk calls from Paris, better come back home to Rome quickly!"
However, in the same night Mastroianni, looking like stricked dog, already was hited at the family center, which didn't manage to be destroyed by any of his passions yet. And there was a legion of them! But if her husband - such hand-written handsome man, and moreover an idol of public, then to wife, who all her life was in love with him up to unconsciousness, it was necessary to be clever. Flora, from youth having acquired, that Marcello physically is not capable to keep faith to one woman, beforehand has forgiven to him his every last and future betrayings. She became first of all the adviser and a friend for her husband. Besides Flora kept in mind popular wisdom: "the italian adore a wife, easily get mistresses, but the only woman he really loves - is his mother".
In truth, relationships with his last mistress - Katrin Deneve - "this foreigner" - as Katrin was contemptiously called by Flora, from the very beginning accepted too serious revolution. For the first time of twenty years of their marriage, Flora has felt, that her husband is ready "to bet everything" for this woman and it means to leave his wife and daughter. Mastroianni entreated at Flora half-year, begging to agree a divorce. Signora Mastroianni appealed to his conscience, brought to reason, threatened, swore to make light of the novel at last.. and he just dimly repeated in his 49 years "Flora, please, set me free". Poor Flora has surrended at last. And so!? This Superstar has dared to reject her treasure! Now Flora gave vent on her husband all the pity as impetuously as still recently perfect abuse. "Maybe she's not normal? - asked signora Mastroianni - However, what could you wait from this French!"
Marcello couldn't understand why his happy romance with Katrin has come to such ending.
Somebody told Marcello rumours about his new partner - 27 years-old Katrin Deneve, though he never asked about it. It appeared, that she had very simular story - she has just separated with director Francois Truffo. However Mastroianni was warned: do not ask Deneve about her private life - she hate such questions.
She was called as "cold" and "closed". She was a full contrast of Mastroianni.
After "Sherboug umbrellas" French called Katrin as standart of feminity, but she also had chaste shyness - it was strange for a woman, who has many lovestories in past. If she had, for example, appearance of Greta Garbo, it would be easier to suspect haughty and unappproachable customs. But these warm radiant eyes with bronze outflow, long and soft blond hair, a timid half-smile - it seemed, that here is no place for coldness to be hidden. Contrast of her appearance with underlined constrained manner of behaviour seemed to Marcello as very appeal. "Just give me time - I will kindle her!" - swore skilled tempter of female hearts.
Their relations have sharply changed during shooting one of episodes. In movie Deneve and Mastroianni played the spouses who have lost the child. Director of a movie Nadin Trentignan wanted them to feel that condition of painfull lonelyness and despair and so, she left actors in an empty dark apartment almost without furniture, without the phone, without books and magazines, without TV set and with poor meal. She left them alone with each other. When "imprisonment" was finished they went out with a little bit feral feverish shine in their eyes and convincingly exhausted. A stage was excellently complete from the first double, but imprisonment of actors had far-reaching consequences.
Once in a Katrin's room where she was spending time between shootings, light and water were disconnected. Actress has imediately moved in Marcello's room. Their secret became obvious. And while Katrin unperturbably settled down on a new place, Mastroianni hardly tried to get the same expression on his face. But it was vain - amazement and held were tearing him apart: Katrin - such closed, such cold - how she could be the first who has dared to give publicity to their relations? "I certainly, have chained this act with my charm and that's why I was so much struck to comment of Katrin: "The best protection is an attack. So it is more reasonable if we declare our relations rather than others begin gossip about us behind our backs"
Mastroianni has not estimated then fatal sense of the word "protection". He would understand it later. And for then both forgot about their nearest lovestories, being in each other's arms. "We have found a new source of forces and energy which can be only love and nothing except love" - recalled that happy time Marcello Mastroianni.
He lives in Rome. She lives in Paris. He calls every day, thinking up thousand tender names in ridiculous French, achieves meetings, demanding that she has to cancel all her shootings. "I bought flowers daily - recollected Mastroianni, - it wasn't matter which: camomiles, narcissuses, asters, and, tearing off petals, tried to guess if she loves me or if she loves me not...". In Rome people stacked, watching their idol Mastroianni - he was passing by the streets, tearing off petals with mad pensive eyes. And she - his cold Katrin speaks with equal voice: "You want to meet me? Tomorrow? You are going to come by a special train? No, I can't. I've shooting. When will I have a free time? In one week. Marcello, why you keep silence? Is something wrong with you" - after a three-minute pause he answer - "No, I feel good. I've died". At night all Marcello could do is to spray his pillow with her favourite parfume and to surrender on favour to the played imagination: infrequent appointments and avaricious caress of Katrin drived him crazy and he desired for her more and more. Marcello never had deal with such woman before. All his previous mistresses - all as one were temperamental ladies, who paraded their sensuality. But Katrin was another kind of woman. Her sensuality was hidden, inaccessible to an another's sight. She relighted a big fire in Marcello's heart.
Eventually he couldn't bear constant separations, he began to hate trains and soon he rented the apartment in Latin quarter of Paris. Flora, by then, has given all up and only has shouted: "I hope up to fast!". Now Marcello could stay much closer to his beloved Katrin, but their meetings didn't begin a thricket. Except for shootings, a handicap for appointments appeared seven-year Christian - son of Katrin. Marcello liked children and wanted to communicate with her boy. He bought to him toys and other gifts. Marcello couldn't understand why Katrin accept his gifts with such cold sight and presistantly doesn't want to meet him with her son. Once Mastroianni even dropped for fan in a conversation with Fellini, that he started to be afraid, whether Katrin hiding in her case jealous husband.
However gradually verbose love recognitions of Mastroianni and his ardent passion have conceived action. The eternal hermit, carefully avoiding pleasure institushions and a noisy society, Katrin suddenly has obviously become cheerful, her famous melancholy was replaced with flirt, unprecedented before. People could often see her now in restaurants, public shows, discoteques.
Actor Michelle Piccoli recollects furor that made Deneve and Mastroianni on a banquet on the ocasion of an premiere of their second film "Beatch". In a huge, brightly covered hall of magnificent Parisian restaurant, Marcello has ceremoniously and in pointed manner invited Katrin to dance. A rare show - dancing Deneve! And what a dance! The orchestra suddenly has got off and who in a wood who in a fire wood - attention of musicians and of all present there was chained only to That Pair. "We were confused, we didn't know where to "put our eyes" - told Michelle Piccoli. Deneve was in amasing dress by Yves Saint Lorein with white thin extraordinary long cigarette in her hand, she showed such sensual pah, that all men has intercepted breath. But Mastroianni felt himself on a top of pleasure: his unapproachable queen showed to everybody - oh, yes! It is truth, he has won me indeed! Some time later Mastroianni was terribly afficted by Sophia Loren - italian divine droped remark after joint dinner, that Katrin Deneve is so equal, quiet, and silent, that it seems as she feels absolutely nothing, she doesn't look like woman in love. "No! She is in love! - challenged Mastroianni and informed journalists in his usual playful tone: - she prepares my favourite dish - a string bean! Can you imagine? She and a string bean! Marcello got used to plentiful domestic cook of Flora, took the string bean of Katrin as the main proof of her love. And it was truth: Katrin hated to prepare food with all heart and it was valid a feat, that she has masteres 34 receips of preparation of a string bean!
Anyway in Nice they were happy, having forgotten about all and belonging to each other. Only one circumstance has saddened love idyll - Katrin didn't love visitors though friends and noisy parties were necessary for Marcello. Once he made a populous junket. Katrin didn't say a word during all evening. Next morning she stayed in that mood which Mastroianni was afraid most of all - Katrin spoke with indifference and estrangement. "Tell me what have I done yesterday! Where is my guilt? I have lifted for you 30 toasts, I have raped all my poor imagination to make those compliments for you! And this is the award?.." Marcello rushed along the house in his southern way roughly expressing his despair, knocking a fist on a table, tearing hair on his head, he appealed to her in two languages - Italian and French, while she was sitting in a drawing room motionless, as statue, her fine face expresses full indifference. Later she has forced to confess "I don't like noisy tipsy people. They smell agression. And I hate this smell! In youth I was raped drunk and since then I'm scared of them".
Katrin jumped aside not only from drunk. Journalists caused in her the same reaction. Once in a club free reporter has stuck to them with "innocent" question "When are you going to get marry at last? Signora Mastroianni has declared press that she agree to devorce". Marcello forever has remembered that sight which Katrin gave to journalist. Also he regarded this sight as a guide to action.
Being in excellent mood, in an anticipation of close happyness Mastroianni drived to their house in Nice. Red Yaguar, named Katrin, easily slides on picturesque road. Marcello whistles cheerful italian song, continually winking himself in a surway mirror. In a luggage carrier two boxes of expensive champagne are tinkle, the back seat is hammered with flowers, in a pocket - a diamond ring. It's easy to guess - Mastroianni goes to propose. He already has turned from the basic highway as suddenly the old woman who is singing lullabies to a doll, wrapped as a small child, turned her thin face to him. Marcello felt bad sign in his seart, he superstitiously knocked three times on a wheel and vigorously smiled to himself in a mirror.
Half hour later, having already told Katrin all words he had to say, Marcello uttermost bewilderment observed, how instead of expected expression of happyness on her face appeared easy fright, then fear, at last horror as if he has come not to offer his hand and heart but to attack her as that drunk...
In half an hour Matroianni was trowing away one by one bouquets in the river, looking through tears how current carries them away. Katrin not having listen to the end has cut off "It's impossible", has seat in a car and left to Paris.
Marcello never wanted to make proposion to any of his past mistresses. He has left actress Fay Dunaway just because she has categorically demanded to legalize their relationships. He fondly believed that Fay, involved him once the "pride and rebelliousness" will manage to cross through this reserve - a marriage, but he has failed. Katrin - precisely jeer of destiny - he asked to take him as husband and she din't want it. However her refusal not only has inflamed passion of Marcello, what couldn't be understood by poor Flora. When husband for the first time came back to her after Katrin's big NO, signora Mastroianni hoped, that having receive such painful click on a nose, he would calm down at last and become silent at her skirt. Not at all! Hardly having licked wounds and having treatedthe got naughty heart, Mastroianni has rushed to Paris to the Katrin, breaking contracts and planning shootings...
And the main sensation dawn 1971: Katrin Deneve carries child of Marcello Mastroianni! Julietta Mazina, hardly having heard about news, has told Fellini "Precisely poor Marcello has throught up last try to take this unapproachable bastion of the French independence.
Really, Mastroianni simply shined happiness. But top of pleasure was happiness of Katrin. He never saw her such joyful, such open. Her native sister Silvi Dorleak said that she saw Katrin last time in a similar serene condition of spirit when they were girls and played in parkway Miurat.
Now Deneve and Mastroianni wandered on shops for children with pleasure and bought up everything what attracked their attention daily. Employees of parisian department stores have run to look as famous pair chooses bootees, baby's undershirts, rattles, wall-papers for a child room. Usually Katrin with a nod of a head specified the thing which she liked and Marcello immediately asked to write amount on his account.
He could not leave Katrin even for a second, accompanying with her even in hospital to the doctor. Future father confused doctors, demanding the entire account as pregnancy develops. Every time on an exit from clinic there was army of journalists, waited for them, and Mastroianni couldn't kept news and shared with them. Facing near to him Katrin usually kept silence, but neverless affably smiled.
May, 28, 1971 Chiara Mastroianni was born. Marcello, in his 50 years, has arranged the present holiday in italian style: he has bought some boxes of champagne and treated
in the street every person walking by. "I have daughter!" - joyfully shouted Marcello at all quater. Why Chiarra has caused at Mastroianni such fireworks of fatherly feelings? To the death of the actor in December, 1996 she remained his favourite daughter. As we know, she wasn't the onliest his daughter, there was also daughter from the lawful wife and also some illegal children, by the way, for some reason always girls. He hardly remembered who was whose child, and constantly confused names. The reason of the fatherly attachment to Chiara was explained by him "I adored mother of this child".
However Mastroianni felt: really he has not won Katrin. And the main thing - he has not solved her secret. For him, who has been brought up in poor but respectable Italian family, femail "yes" could sound significantly and convincingly only under a wreath. And Katrin from the very beginning persistently asserted her independence. He frequently recollectet, as once he visited her in one of expensive areas of Paris. On a chimney shelf he saw numerous knickknacks, basically amulets from "bad eye" and damage. Katrin did not separated with it since tragical death (it was autoaccident) of her sister Fransuaz Dorleak, who was a very talented actress. Her death 240 years old Deneve experienced painfully, even more hardly, then loss of a mother in childhood. "I was unhealthy child, the death of mother and then favourite sister forever has intalled fear in me, that soon I have to die too. I am afraid of pain and I'm sure that a back of any love is always pain and finally death", - has admired she much later. Marcello didn't know that "You are really afraid so much that somebody might maleficiate you?" - he asked then. She kept silence as usual. Her son Christian behaved shy first, with habitual boredom representing the brought up boy. When Katrin has sent him to read a children book, Marcello, having made a conspiratorial grimace, quickly said "Oh, poor creature! I hate to read too, it's such a boring thing. I always want to sleep, reading. And you?" Christian mistrustfully move sight from mother on unusual man. "Let's better play, ok?" - strange visitor continued, having not notice sight of Katrin. "do not tame the boy, - she has rigidly told, - you will disappear and we will suffer".
When Mastroianni told about this episode his friend Fellini, he has noticed "If you don't want to lose her, you have to marry her as soon as possible". Mastroianni hoped: maybe this time she say "yes".. now we have daughter! Besides after borning Chiara, Katrin has changed - she became kind, tender, trustful. Marcello with internal struggle has made the decision to step on the protesting man's vanity and to offer Katrin to marriage him again. Beforehand he at random has chosen number on a calendar, and that day has come.
They went together to the favourite Nice. Sitting behind the wheel Katrin suddenly has noticed paparazzi behind and has come to incredibly fury. Vainly Marcello tried to calm her. When the distance between cars was reduced up to a minimum, Deneve suddenly has sharply given a backing and has crumpled a cowl of persecutors. Fortunately, nobody has suffered, but Mastroianni was not simply shocked with that accident - he was crushed and even had problem with heart. Katrin has explained to the police that she is ready to bring an action in court for intervention in her private life. Approaching on Nice, Mastroianni realized, that the moment was most improper, but he couldn't stop himself and has asked in rapid speech: would-you-marry-me?...
In the same evening there has followed the next bell to Flora, basically with complaints to health and heart. And only right in the end Flora heard something she heard before "she has given up to me!".
After repeated resignation Mastroianni has run into deep despair. Thus katrin doesn't banish him, they still live together. But he doesn't believe in her love anymore. Actor is started up in heavy hard drinking and even more often speaks to friends that he wants to die. Once he was drunk up to death on a yacht, and Michelle Piccoli has hardly kept him from a jump into the sea. Press often compared their romance with her sensational lovestory with Rozhe Vadim, predicting the same hopeless end.
... In 1963 Katrin has given birth to her son from Rozhe Vadim and refused marriage as well. It was Vadim, who noticed seventeen-years-old girl in disco and turned her in woman who is known all over the world. He has recoloured her in blonde, imparted taste to sexy dresses and expensive parfumes. Vadim actually also gave her first leading role in the movie "Defect and virtue". When Deneve became pregrant from him, 32-years-old director has nobly offered her his hand and heart. And she... Anyway. Vadim approves that she has agreed. They even has gone to Tahiti to get married in the exotic country of Goghen. During travel they stopped in the hotel of New York. Then they heard a phone call. It was Vadim's wife Annett Stroiberg. She declared that if he marry Deneve, she deprives his trusteeship above daughter. Katrin from a word up to word heard that conversation and has categorically declared "I don't want to be a cause of anybody's pain". In her 20 years old she has preferred to remain alone with small child.
Whether Mastroianni has casually learned about it from a magazine and has suddenly recollected: once involuntary involved Katrin in simular situation. Once in hotel where they have stopped, Flora has called and as well as wife of Vadim said: if Marcello wouldn't return bach, she would deprive him to see his daughter. What should feel Katrin? The devolition woman of family centers? She didn't want to create her own, knowing that one day somebody could destroy her happiness. He remembered one phrase she said then "I am always afraid of any relationships, because each two is always connected with other people. And this is always avoid to losses and sufferings".
On a shooting of last movie "Do not touch white woman" Mastroianni and Deneve already frankly quarreled. And when Chiara was one year old, in a bedroom of that house in Nice whwre recentle they were so happy, Katrin said "Out relationships are exhausted. I don't want to continue this farce anymore. It's over". Not having said more words, she has gathered and left for Paris. This time forever.
Telling the truth, she never forbade Mastroianni to see daughter. Once Katrin took Chiara on shootings in Los Angeles. Mastroianni, being at that time in Brazil, having heard about it, in a moment went to visit his daughter. They have gone with a baby for a walk, wandered on city for a long time, and then Marcello has led Chiara in a cinema on film with where Katrin has played. But soon girl said "daddy, let's go away from here, you are such pity to, you cry all time".
After Katrin and Marcello have separated, their lives returned on circles - Marcello came back to faithful Flora, Katrin alone grew two children. While Chiara was small, Mastroianni frequently secretly visited Paris. Hiding and trying to be invisible, he was waiting for hours, watching up an entrance, waiting when there would appear mother and daughter, keeping for hands and briskly chattering. He just wanted to take a look at the woman who has rejected his love.
When daughter has grown up, they frequently lived in paris in the neighbourhood. Chiara looked after father about his last days. Exactly in a half hour after death Marcello, Katrin and Chiara stood near his bed. They were called by Anna Maria Tatto.
LAST LOVE
Anna Maria was last love and friend of Marcello. She was called as "secret life" of Marcello. But could life be secret during 15 years? All friends and collegues of Mastroianni knew her well and often visited her flat in Paris.Tatto was his real wife, though not in law. She was close to his interests and soul. Anna Maria made movies and Marcello dedicated to mnovies all his life. They talked a lot together and had interesting themes to discuss. This woman gave him a new life. He was young with her and kept naughty of young lover.
"May I reproach myself in unworthy relations with women? Never! No, perhaps only in this: It just wasn't enough of me for all women".
Marcello and Brigitte Bardot 1
Marcello and Brigitte Bardot 2
Marcello and Brigitte Bardot 3
all pictures were taken from Corbis
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