Franco Cristaldi

Respected European producer who has backed films by most of the neo-realists and other major post-war Italian directors, including Luchino Visconti ("White Nights" 1957), Mario Monicelli ("Big Deal on Madonna Street" 1958), Marco Bellocchio ("China is Near" 1967), Francesco Rosi ("Salvatore Giuiliano" 1962), Gillo Pontecorvo ("Ogro" 1979), Pietro Germi ("Divorce, Italian Style 1962 and "Seduced and Abandoned" 1964) and Federico Fellini ("Amarcord" 1974 and "And The Ship Sails On" 1983). Formerly married to actress Claudia Cardinale.

• Born:
  October 3, 1924 in Turin, Italy
• Died:
  July 1, 1992.
• Job Titles:
  Producer

Education

• Turin University, Italy, law

Milestones

• 1945 Produced first short film
• 1953 Produced first feature film, La Pattuglia Sperduta
• 1968 Elected president of Union of Italian Producers
• 1969 Produced first Italo-Soviet co-production, The Red Tent
• 1982 Produced first TV mini-series, Marco Polo
• 1984 Served on Cannes 37th Jury
• Established Vides Cinematografica Production Company