File 6 - Claudia Cardinale

1 audio cassette tape, 1 WAV file (631.2 MB)

Audio recording of an interview with actress Claudia Cardinale in front of a live audience as part of the Guardian sponsored National Film Theatre Guardian interview series. The interview formed part of the Luchino Visconti season at the National Film Theatre, of which Cardinale was a Patron.

The recording begins with Adrian Wooton of the National Film Theatre introducing the event and the new Chairman of the British Film Institute, Anthony Minghella. Sydney Pollock then shares his memories of working on Visconti's film the Leopard, after which the film is shown. Adrian Wooton then returns to introduce Claudia Cardinale and put questions to her. The recording takes the form of a question and answer session with members of the audience from 32.29.

A summary of key topics is included below.

00.00 Introductions
16.30 First experiences of working with Visconti on the films Rocco and his Brothers and The Leopard
19.18 Visconti’s directing style
21.16 Working with Burt Lancaster for the first time
23.25 Making the films 8 ½ and Sandra
25.47 Reaction to The Leopard in America
26.36 Relationship with Visconti, working with him for the last time on Conversation Piece
28.15 Working with Italian directors compared to working in Hollywood
29.39 Working with Serigo Leone on Once Upon a Time in the West
31.28 Preparing for roles
32.29 Alain Delon
33.35 Focusing her career on European cinema rather than in Hollywood
36.00 Comparing the styles of different directors she’s worked with
40.50 Brigitte Bardot
41.50 Circus World/The Magnificent Showman
44.00 Theatre career
45.25 Her laugh in The Leopard
28.25 Working with Marcello Mastroianni
50.25 Tunisian heritage, being dubbed in early films
53.15 Being part of Visconti’s world
55.28 Her dress in The Leopard
57.39 Close of interview; introduction of film clips showcasing Cardinale's work.

Films mentioned in the course of the interview include: Rocco and his Brothers; The Leopard; 8 1/2; Circus World/The Magnificent Showman; Once Upon a Time in the West; The Pink Panter; Sandra and Conversation Piece.

Creator: British Film Institute (BFI), 1933-

Creator: Guardian News & Media Ltd, 1967-

Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository