Sophia Loren Archives - Chronicles 1966

"Sophia Loren has a touch of Eleonora Duse." – Charlie Chaplin

A Countess from Hong Kong
Arrival in London
15/01/66

A Countess from Hong Kong
Photo: Eve Arnold
04/66

ABC Film Review (UK)
02/66

Sophia, Romilda and Maria
Rome
10/66

Museum of Modern Art
New York City
Photo: Hal Matthewson
25/05/66

C'era una volta
Photo: Tazio Secchiaroli
09/66

Anglo-American Club Party
Rome
07//66

Triunfo (Spain)
07//66

Sofia Loren
by Arturo Lanocita

Judith
Italian poster

Dr. Zhivago Premiere
London
26/04/66

Auberge La Moutière
Monfort-L'Amaury
Photo: Giovanni Coruzzi
10/04/66

A Countess from Hong Kong
Photo: Tazio Secchiaroli
01/66

FILMS AND FILMING

A Countess from Hong Kong
UK, January - April

C'era una volta
Italy, August - October 1966 / March 1967

FILM PROJECTS

Children of Sanchez
Sophia is signed to play the role of Consuelo in De Sica's film Children of Sanchez in July 1962 after Ponti bought the rights of the 1959 novel by Oscar Lewis but the film, to be shot in Mexico, is never made because of various complications. Screenwriters Abby Mann and Elliott Kastner sue Carlo for $627,500 in April for breach of contract. The film will only be released in 1978 without Sophia but with original co-star Anthony Quinn in the leading role.

Mother Cabrini
Carlo and MGM have worked on a movie project which would star Sophia as St. Francis Xavier Mother Cabrini, the only American citizen canonized a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Mother Ursula of Cabrini College in Radnor, PA, sends a letter of protest the president of MGM stating "we feel strongly Miss Loren is the worst possible choice to portray a holy woman". Protests and boycott threats are so strong that the film is never made.

Gabriella, Cinnamon and Clove
Based on Jorge Amado's internationally famed
Brazilian novel Gabriella, the film is to be co-produced by Ponti and MGM with French director Henri Verneuil.

MOVIE PREMIERES

USA
Judith
New York City (City Radio Music Hall), January 20
Arabesque
New York City (Radio City Music Hall), May 5
Lady L
New York City (Loew's State/Beekman), May 18

ITALY
Judith
February 25 (Judith)
Arabesque
September (Arabesque)

WEST GERMANY
Judith
West Germany, February 25 (Judith)
Arabesque
West Germany, September 8 (Arabeske)

FRANCE
Judith
Paris, April 13 (Judith)
Arabesque
Paris, August 19 (Arabesque)

SPAIN
Lady L
Madrid (Callao & Richmond), May 23 (Lady L)

UNITED KINGDOM
Judith
London, February
Arabesque
London, July 28

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Bravo Otto's Silver Award (West Germany)
Silver Award, Second most popular actress, March

The Career of an Actress (USA)
Special exhibition, Museum of Modern Arts, New York City, May

Publicity Photographers' Guild of America (USA)
Sophia is voted "The Most Beautiful Actress of the World",
New York City, May 31

NATO’s Star of the Year (USA)
Star of the Year award, National Association of Theater Owners,
Americana Hotel, New York City, October 1

PUBLICITY

Lux Soaps

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Dr. Zhivago Premiere - April 26
Sophia is with Carlo at the London premiere of Dr. Zhivago which is presented at the Empire, Leicester Square. A Gala Charity Premiere follows in aid of the English Speaking Union Trust Fund.

Funny Girl in London - April 30
While in London to shoot final scenes for A Countess from Hong Kong Sophia and Carlo attend Barbra Streisand musical hit Funny Girl at the Prince of Wales Theatre. They go backstage and Sophia congratulates the diva saying "I would give anything if I could sing like you", to which Streisand replies "If could look like you I wouldn't even wanna talk."

Cannes Film Festival - May
Flying from the set of A Countess from Hong Kong in London, Sophia arrives in Nice on May 5 as President of the Jury for the Cannes Film Festival. On opening night she causes a near riot when she shows up, squired by Carlo, for the showing of Andrzej Wajda's Ashes at the Palais des Festivals. Police struggle with hundreds of photographers and spectators trying to catch a glimpse of the bejeweled actress. Reception on May 7 before the showing of Modesty Blaise, the official British festival entry, with introduction to Queen Margaret. Sophia suffers some critics for having been remiss in the screening of all movies since she had to leave a few days in order to complete the final scenes of her movie with Charlie Chaplin. Festival dates: May 5 through May 20.
Watch the video

Dr. Zhivago Premiere - April 26
London premiere of the movie produced by Carlo Ponti followed by benefit gala.

Museum of Modern Arts - May 25
Sophia attends the exhibition in her honor, The Career of an Actress, (May 18 - Sept. 5) - at the Museum of Modern Arts in New York City where her 150 most beautiful or significant pictures are featured. The event is sponsored by MGM, which just released Lady L a week before. Sophia is resplendent in haute couture white organdy dress by Dior and a showstopping necklace of diamonds with a large emerald.

Anglo-American Club of Rome - July
Sophia and Carlo attend a party organized by the select Anglo-American Club of Rome where some of the most influent press people are also present, including Zander Hollander (United Press) and Alan McElwain (Sunday Times).

N.AT.O. Awards - October 1
Sophia NATO’s Star of the Year award recipient while Walt Disney accepts the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theater Owners at New York's Americana hotel.

MAGAZINE COVERS

Italy
Epoca, L'Europeo, Fotoplay, Gente, Luna Park, Noi Donne, Novella 2000, Oggi, Revista del Cinematografo, Sogno, Stop, Tempo
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West Germany
Bunte Illustrierte, Film-Echo, Das Neue Wochenend, Stern, Wochenend
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France
Cinéma 66, Gondole, Ici Paris, Noir et Blanc, Télé 7 Jours, Télé Poche, Télérama

Spain
Ama, Blanco y Negro, Fotogramas, Gaceta Ilustrada, Garbo, Ondas, Picnic, Semana, Sonia, Triunfo
e

e
UK
ABC Film Review, Films and Filming, The Observer, Showtime, Weekend, Woman's Own
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USA
Beau, Films in Review, Ladies' Home Journal, Life, Life en Español, Look, Motion Picture, National Enquirer, The National Police Gazette, National Spotlight, Newsweek, Rascal, Rotogravure, Screen Stories, TV Radio Movie Guide, The Woman
e

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LATIN AMERICA
Cine Avance Internacional, Cinelandia, Cinelândia, O Cruzeiro, Ecran, Hablemos, Intervalo Album, Revista de América, Ritmo de la juventud, 7 Días

TV SHOWS

Ed Sullivan Show - May 29
Special guest on American CBS network TV show hosted by Ed Sullivan.

BOOKS

Biography Book Project Aborted
Biography book project written by Life journalist Dora Jane Hamblin to be published by Little, Brown and Co. of Boston is authorized by Sophia but then rejected by Ponti, who pays her $25,000 to not publish the book. The manuscript (ca. 350 leaves) still exists and is filed at the Iowa Women's Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries.

Biography Book by Lanocita
First biography book on Sophia is released in Italy by journalist and film critic Arturo Lanocita.

EDITOR'S NOTES

Royal Performance - March 14

Sophia - as well as Chaplin and Brando - is invited again to attend the Royal Film Performance in London for the screening of the movie Born Free. After accepting the invite she finally declines the offer to the queen stating she is too busy. The British press headlines read that Sophia is snobbing the queen.

Second Wedding - April 9
In preparation for their wedding, Carlo rents a vast suite at the Hôtel Lancaster while Sophia and her sister Maria spend the night together at a friend's house. The next morning, at the Sèvres town hall, near Paris, Sophia and Carlo are legally married by judge Charles Odic. The couple and their friends go for the wedding breakfast at the Coq-Hardi, a chic restaurant in Bougival. Sophia wears a pale yellow silk dress and coat designed by Christian Dior. The Mayor of Sèvres, almost ready to explode with excitement, finally releases the news about Sophia's wedding. It may be out of coincidence that on the same day French film journalists award Sophia Loren the Lemon Prize, given annually to to performer most lacking in courtesy to the Press.

C'era una volta - May 18
Sophia and Omar Sharif are signed to star in upcoming film C'era una volta.

Yugoslavia - May
West German magazine Der Spiegel reports that Sophia and Carlo are in Yugoslavia where they acquaint a piece of land in the beautiful and famous Budva Riviera. They then fly to Tula where they spend time at Brijuni Presient Tito's estate in Brijuni.

Scicolone vs. Sophia - December 7
Sophia's father, Riccardo Scicolone, says to Oggi magazine that she is "stingy, ungrateful and disobedient" as he files a defamation suit against her for having said to German magazine Stern and Italian magazine Novella that he had never succeeded in getting a permanent job that would allow him to support his family.

Sophia Is Pregnant - December 12
Newspapers start the rumor that Sophia is pregnant after she cancels the second of two television specials for David Wolper productions because "she is feeling rather ill". Sophia confirms she is expecting a bambino for the spring in an interview to McCall's on December 19.