Biography of Gino Cervi

Capture with gentleness and good nature

May 3, 1901
January 3, 1974
He voiced Laurence Olivier in Shakespearean films, was a great Othello on stage, she played the Ettore Fieramosca, the Mayor Peppone Gino Cervi, Maigret: so he handed his name to the history of theatre, film and television. Son of Antonio Cervi, theatre critic of "Resto del Carlino", Gino Cervi was born in Bologna on May 3, 1901. Passionate about theatre since childhood, he begins his twenties in Repertory, and made his debut in 1924 as dramatic society young actor in "mad Virgin" by Bataille, with Alda Borelli. Always as young actor, in 1925 passes at the Teatro d'Arte di Roma, whose Director is then the writer Luigi Pirandello. After a decade of intense experiences, becomes the company's leading man Tofano-Maltagliati (1935-1937). In 1938 he joined the activism of the company Teatro Eliseo in Rome, which will take over in 1939.
Its imposing appearance and austere, elegant and incisive style, his deep voice and striking, and her ready communication skills, making it one of the most appreciated interpreters of Goldoni, Sophocles, Dostoevsky and especially Shakespeare (her performance of "Othello" is considered to be memorable). From 1932 Gino Cervi passes almost permanently at the cinema, becoming one of the most popular stars, thanks largely to the Director Alessandro Blasetti, who heads into "Ettore Fieramosca (1938)," an adventure of Salvator Rosa "(1939)," the Iron Crown (1941), "four steps in the clouds" (1942), neo-realist film tones in which he plays a salesman who helps a poor girl unmarried and pregnant , and Fabiola (1948). In the years ' 50 and ' 60 's the good-natured and Mayor Peppone character interpreter blood in hit series of films about Don Camillo (character created by Giovanni Guareschi), starring Fernandel as the combative priest ("Don Camillo", 1952; "Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone", 1955; "Don Camillo: Monsignor!", 1961; etc ...).
Gino Cervi possesses a good-natured face that conveys sympathy, but he also played villain roles, as the fascist of "La lunga notte del ' 43 (1960) by Florestano Vancini. A renewed notoriety will be on television with the first cycle of episodes of "investigations of Maigret" (1964), based on Belgian writer Georges Simenon's novels, in which the plaintiff brings to life with simple intensity to the character of the perceptive and sly Inspector Maigret. A second round will be broadcast in 1966, and a third in 1968; the French Commissioner from infallible flair will be back on television for the last time in 1972 with the final episode of the series entitled "Maigret in retirement". The success of the character is such that the series is broadcast in France, where the audience especially appreciates the mild housewife of Maigret of deer. "Brother thief" (1972) is his latest film, two years before his death in Punta Ala, Grosseto, on January 3, 1974. Versatile and communicative, Gino Cervi was one of the best known and most significant Italian actors eye-catching scenic charism, the seriousness of his work and the commitment demonstrated in over forty years of career. Article contributed by the team of collaborators.