Solbelli, Olga


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Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 20:59

Olga Solbelli Cineguida 1949.jpg
Olga Solbelli in Cineguida 1949
Olga Solbelli 1943.jpg
In Cineguida 1943
Olga Solbelli 1956.jpg
In Cineguida 1956
Olga Sorbelli 1961.jpg
In Cineguida 1961
Olga Solbelli was one of the great character actresses of Italian cinema. In a career that spanned from the mid 1930s and until the late 1960s, she appeared in more than 80 films, including everything from light-hearted comedies and melodramas to peplums and horror films.

Equally versatile in the types of roles she portrayed, Olga could switch with ease between playing simple working class women and snobbish upper-class ladies. Her specialites, however, were playing tormented and long-suffering mothers, or cruel and malicious villainesses, both of which she always did with great bravura.

Born as Anna Olga Solbelli in Verghereto (Forlì)[1, 4, 5] on 11 May 1898. Her acting career began in the theater, where she achieved much success in the 1920s and 30s. She worked in the troupe of Pietro Meda, whom she married in 1928, but also several others.[1]

She entered the troupe of Annibale Betrone very young, who held her at the artistic baptism. Her theatrical career saw her as primadonna with Ruggeri and Calò in the Compagnia dei Gialli and again with Betrone-Carini.[2]

Olga made her film debut at the age of 38 with a small role in the crime film L'anonima Roylott (1936) and quickly became a much in-demand character actress, working steadily in film throughout the Fascist era. Her most famous roles from this era are in Via delle Cinque Lune (1942) as a cruel but sensual woman who seduces her stepdaughter's boyfriend, and as the third sister in the comedy Sorelle Materassi (1944).

During the post-war years, Olga's career continued to blossom and she appeared in a great number of melodramas, comedies and historical dramas, with high points being her portrayals of Catherine the Great in La figlia del capitano (1947) and particularly her dramatic interpretation of the long-suffering mother of real-life Italian irredentist Nazario Sauro in the biographical drama Fratelli d'Italia (1952).

In the late 1950s, Olga began to appear regularly in the fotoromanzi published in the weekly magazines Sogno, Luna Park and Cine Illustrato, and as a result, her film roles became somewhat less regular. In the 1960s, she was seen mostly in various peplum adventures, with her last great role being as the cruel and domineering mother of Franco Nero in the horror film Il terzo occhio (1966).

Olga retired from acting in 1967 and lived quietly outside the limelight until her death at age 78 on 8 September 1976 in Bologna. Her career is well documented by various sources, so there are probably not too many undocumented roles to be discovered. Her uncredited role in Erode il grande (1959) was not listed neither at ANICA nor IMDb, though, so it's possible there might be a few more uncredited roles that have not yet been discovered.

Biographical note[3, 4]

  • Height: 1,68 m.
  • Weight: 55 kg.
  • Instruction: Accounting diploma.
  • Acting and dancing school.
  • Foreign languages: French.
  • Dubbing.
  • Radio.
Filmography

1936
  1. L'anonima Roylott .... Anna (credited)

    1939
  2. Cose dell'altro mondo …. Rosalie (credited - unconfirmed role)

    1940
  3. L'ispettore Vargas …. Signora Drowe (poster credit - role unconfirmed)
  4. La peccatrice …. Carmela Bandelli (credited)
  5. Una romantica avventura …. Widow Cavara (credited)

    1941
  6. È caduta una donna …. Fashion house directress (credited)
  7. Ore 9: Lezione di chimica …. Signorina Bottelli (credited)

    1942
  8. Odessa in fiamme …. Luba (credited)
  9. Via delle Cinque Lune …. Sora Teta (credited)

    1943
  10. Apparizione …. Aunt Lavinia (credited)
  11. Calafuria …. Clara (credited)
  12. Campo de' Fiori …. Olga (credited)
  13. L'ultima carrozzella …. Boarding house landlady (credited)
  14. La statua vivente …. Rita's friend (credited)

    1944
  15. La locandiera …. Contessa di Albafiorita (credited)
  16. Sorelle Materassi …. Giselda Materassi (credited)

    1945
  17. Il ratto delle sabine …. Matilde (credited)

    1946
  18. Ogni giorno è domenica …. Marta (credited)
  19. Senza famiglia …. The governess (credited)

    1947
  20. L'onorevole Angelina …. One of Angelina's cell-mates (uncredited)
  21. La figlia del capitano …. Empress Catherine the Great (credited)
  22. Sperduti nel buio …. Emilia (credited)

    1949
  23. Il lupo della Sila …. Anna Campolo (credited)
  24. L'invasore …. The Marchesa (poster credit)

    1950
  25. Amori e veleni …. Contessa Baglioni (credited)
  26. Domani è troppo tardi …. Signora Giusti (credited)
  27. Faddja - La legge della vendetta …. Annarita's mother (credited)

    1951
  28. Domani è un altro giorno …. Giulia's mother (credited)
  29. I figli di nessuno …. Mother superior (credited)

    1952
  30. Don Camillo …. Gina's mother (credited)
  31. Fratelli d'Italia .... Anna Sauro (credited)

    1953
  32. Il cavaliere di Maison Rouge …. Madame Tusson (credited)
  33. Il mercante di Venezia …. Bianca (poster credit)
  34. La nave delle donne maledette …. Anita (credited)
  35. La pattuglia dell'Amba Alagi …. Turi's mother (credited)
  36. Siamo tutti inquilini …. Attorney Sassi's wife (uncredited)

    1954
  37. Gli amori di Manon Lescaut …. Prison nun (credited)
  38. Il prigioniero del re …. Queen Anne of Austria (credited - unconfirmed role)
  39. La corda d'acciaio …. Edvige (poster credit - unconfirmed role)
  40. Orient Express …. Postmistress (uncredited)
  41. Teodora …. Egina (credited)

    1955
  42. Il piccolo vetraio …. Josiane (credited)
  43. L'angelo bianco …. Mother superior (credited)
  44. Ricordami …. Signora Barra (poster credit - unconfirmed role)
  45. Totò all'inferno .... Cleopatra's mother (credited)

    1956
  46. Sangue di zingara …. Donato's mother (poster credit - unconfirmed role)

    1957
  47. A vent'anni è sempre festa …. Rita's mother (poster credit - unconfirmed role)
  48. I misteri di Parigi …. Tavern proprietress (credited)
  49. Malafemmena …. Procuress (credited)
  50. Solo Dio mi fermerà … Don Salvatore's mother (credited)

    1958
  51. Festival della famiglia Gurgià (TV movie) …. Maria Gurgià (credited in Radiocorriere TV listing)
  52. Il vento notturno (TV movie) …. Candida (credited in Radiocorriere TV listing)

    1959
  53. Erode il grande …. Mother of the man being crucified (uncredited)
  54. I Reali di Francia …. Fazia (credited)
  55. La notte del grande assalto …. Caterina Sforza (credited)

    1960
  56. Gli amori di Ercole …. Lachesi, the sorceress (credited)
  57. Il mulino delle donne di pietra …. Selma (credited)

    1961
  58. Scano Boa …. One of the fishermen's wives (credited)

    1963
  59. Il monaco di Monza …. Gossiping woman in the street (uncredited)

    1964
  60. Ercole l'invincibile …. The prophetess (credited as "Sand Beanty")

    1966
  61. 1000 dollari sul nero …. Pleading townswoman (credited)
  62. Il terzo occhio …. Mino's mother (credited as "Olga Sunbeauty")

    1967
  63. Assalto al tesoro di Stato …. Madame Angot (credited)
  64. Una rete piena di sabbia …. unknown role (poster credit)

    1968
  65. Quando la pelle brucia …. unknown role (poster credit)

Titles to check
  • Il fu Mattia Pascal (1937) ANICA as Silvia Caporale
  • Assenza ingiustificata (1939) - ANICA as Professoressa cattiva
  • L'ispettore Vargas (1940) - ANICA as Signora Drowe
  • I due foscari (1942) - ANICA as Moglie di Faredano
  • I quattro di Bir El Gobi (1942) - IMDb says this production was interrupted by the war and never completed
  • La principessa del sogno (1942) - ANICA as Clotilde, direttrice orfanotrofio
  • Le signorine della villa accanto (1942) - ANICA as Proprietaria della villa
  • Paura d'amare (1942) - ANICA as Padrona di casa
  • Grazia (1943) - IMDb lists this as an uncompleted film
  • La storia di una capinera (1943) - ANICA
  • La buona fortuna (1946) - ANICA as Zia Clementina
  • Ritorno al nido (1946) - ANICA as Virginia, la governante
  • L'ultimo sogno (1947) - ANICA
  • Fiori d'arancio (1947) - ANICA
  • Fuga nella tempesta (1948) - ANICA
  • Arrivederci papà! (1948) - ANICA
  • La scogliera del peccato (1950) - ANICA as Maria
  • Gli amanti di Ravello (1951) - ANICA as Governante
  • Core 'ngrato (1951) - ANICA as Eugenia
  • Strano appuntamento (1951) - ANICA
  • L'uomo della mia vita (1952) - ANICA as Emma
  • Mamma perdonami (1953) - ANICA; Cineguida 1956
  • La barriera della legge (1954) - ANICA as Padrona pensione
  • Il canto dell'emigrante (1956) - ANICA
  • Eroe vagabondo (1966) - ANICA
Notes and sources
1. Enrico Lancia, Roberto Poppi. Dizionario del cinema italiano: Le attrici (2003).
2. Dante Lazzaro. Cineguida 1943.
3. Dante Lazzaro. Cineguida 1949.
4. Dante Lazzaro. Cineguida 1956.
5. Dante Lazzaro. Cineguida 1961.
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 28/01/2024, 10:08, edited 94 times in total.

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:04

L'anonima Roylott (1936) credited, as Anna.

This obscure crime film was Olga's first debut, and she appears only very fleetingly as an office manageress.
Anonima Roylott - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Anonima Roylott - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Anonima Roylott - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Anonima Roylott - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Anonima Roylott - Olga Solbelli5.jpg
Anonima Roylott - Olga Solbelli6.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:06

Cose dell'altro mondo (1939) credited, as Rosalie (role to be confirmed).

I was only able to find the credit sequence for this film.
Cose Dell'Altro Mondo Credit.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:19

Le peccatrice (1940) credited, as Carmela Bandelli.

This was one of Olga's earliest antipathical roles, playing the cruel and disapproving sister of Vittorio De Sica. The cast list erroneously credits her with the character name "Francesca", but she is clearly addressed as "Carmela".
Peccatrice - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Peccatrice - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Peccatrice - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Peccatrice - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Peccatrice - Olga Solbelli5.jpg
Peccatrice - Olga Solbelli6.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:20

Una romantica avventura (1940) credited, as Widow Cavara
Romantica Avventura - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Romantica Avventura - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Romantica Avventura - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Romantica Avventura - Olga Solbelli4.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:22

È caduta una donna (1941) credited, as Fashion house directress
Caduta - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Caduta - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Caduta - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Caduta - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Caduta - Olga Solbelli5.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:24

Ore 9: Lezione di chimica (1941) credited, as Signorina Bottelli
Ore 9 - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Ore 9 - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Ore 9 - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Ore 9 - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Ore 9 - Olga Solbelli5.jpg
Ore 9 - Olga Solbelli6.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:32

Via delle Cinque Lune (1942) credited, as Sora Teta.

This is one of Olga's most famous roles, and for which she received great reviews. As the stepmother of Luisella Beghi, Olga manages to create a rounded character who is cruel but nevertheless charming and sensual - traits which she uses to seduce her stepdaughter's boyfriend (Andrea Checchi), with dramatic results.
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli5.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli6.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli7.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli8.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli9.jpg
Cinque Lune - Olga Solbelli10.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:38

Odessa in fiamme (1942) credited, as Luba.

This Italian-Romenian anti-communist propaganda film deals with the Battle of Odessa, and features another memorable bad girl role for Olga as a Soviet villainess.
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli5.jpg
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli6.jpg
Odessa In Fiamme - Olga Solbelli7.jpg

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Re: Solbelli, Olga

Post by Johan Melle » 25/12/2021, 21:41

Apparizione (1943) credited, as Aunt Lavinia
Apparizione - Olga Solbelli1.jpg
Apparizione - Olga Solbelli2.jpg
Apparizione - Olga Solbelli3.jpg
Apparizione - Olga Solbelli4.jpg
Apparizione - Olga Solbelli5.jpg
Apparizione - Olga Solbelli6.jpg

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