Gigi Ballista

Gigi Ballista (1 December 1918 – 2 August 1980) was an Italian film and television actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1961 and 1980. Born in Florence, Ballista graduated in Law, then he started working as a PR consultant in the field of advertising and industrial documentaries. He debuted as an actor at a mature age in the early 1960s with some minor roles, but his breakout came in 1966 with a role of weight in Pietro Germi's The Birds, the Bees and the Italians. Following the critical and commercial success of the film, Ballista decided to pursue a professional career as an actor, and he became, mainly thanks to his characteristic hoarse and dysphonic voice, one of the most recognizable character actors in Italian cinema and television. Description above from the Wikipedia article Gigi Ballista, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Blume in Love (1973)

Lawyer Stephen Blume, specialized in divorces, lives a paradoxical situation when, having his own marriage break up, is still in love with his ex-wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Mazursky
CAST:  George Segal  •  Susan Anspach  •  Kris Kristofferson  •  Marsha Mason

Lawyer Stephen Blume, specialized in divorces, lives a paradoxical situation when, having his own marriage break up, is still in love with his ex-wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Mazursky
CAST:  George Segal  •  Susan Anspach  •  Kris Kristofferson  •  Marsha Mason

Lady Caliph (1970)

La Califfa's husband was killed during the strikes so she takes the side of the strikers. Her conflict with the plant owner Doverdo gradually turns into a love relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alberto Bevilacqua
CAST:  Romy Schneider  •  Ugo Tognazzi  •  Marina Berti  •  Massimo Farinelli

La Califfa's husband was killed during the strikes so she takes the side of the strikers. Her conflict with the plant owner Doverdo gradually turns into a love relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alberto Bevilacqua
CAST:  Romy Schneider  •  Ugo Tognazzi  •  Marina Berti  •  Massimo Farinelli

The Sunday Woman (1975)

Police commissioner Santamaria is investigating the murder of the ambiguous architect Mr. Garrone. The investigations soon drive him into the Torino's high society. Santamaria suspect Anna Carla and at the same time falls in love for her. Lello is the lover of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luigi Comencini
CAST:  Marcello Mastroianni  •  Jacqueline Bisset  •  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Aldo Reggiani

Police commissioner Santamaria is investigating the murder of the ambiguous architect Mr. Garrone. The investigations soon drive him into the Torino's high society. Santamaria suspect Anna Carla and at the same time falls in love for her. Lello is the lover of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luigi Comencini
CAST:  Marcello Mastroianni  •  Jacqueline Bisset  •  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Aldo Reggiani

The Climax (1967)

A violin player is going to be father of a sixth child by his second mistress, Marisa. Quite nervous about that, he does not leave the clinic... except to drive Giulia, his legitimate wife, along with his legitimate kids to the station as they leave for a vacation ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pietro Germi
CAST:  Ugo Tognazzi  •  Stefania Sandrelli  •  Renée Longarini  •  Maria Grazia Carmassi

A violin player is going to be father of a sixth child by his second mistress, Marisa. Quite nervous about that, he does not leave the clinic... except to drive Giulia, his legitimate wife, along with his legitimate kids to the station as they leave for a vacation ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pietro Germi
CAST:  Ugo Tognazzi  •  Stefania Sandrelli  •  Renée Longarini  •  Maria Grazia Carmassi

Pleasant Nights (1966)

A trilogy of comedic tales set in the Middle Ages.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Armando Crispino  •  Luciano Lucignani
CAST:  Vittorio Gassman  •  Gina Lollobrigida  •  Ugo Tognazzi  •  Adolfo Celi

A trilogy of comedic tales set in the Middle Ages.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Armando Crispino  •  Luciano Lucignani
CAST:  Vittorio Gassman  •  Gina Lollobrigida  •  Ugo Tognazzi  •  Adolfo Celi

Horse Fever (1976)

Bruno Fioretti, known as "Mandrake", is an inveterate gambler who never misses a day at the horse racing track in Rome. He is doubly unlucky: he bets too much on one horse, and his wife is sleeping with his best friend because Mandrake is always at the track. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steno
CAST:  Gigi Proietti  •  Enrico Montesano  •  Francesco De Rosa  •  Adolfo Celi

Bruno Fioretti, known as "Mandrake", is an inveterate gambler who never misses a day at the horse racing track in Rome. He is doubly unlucky: he bets too much on one horse, and his wife is sleeping with his best friend because Mandrake is always at the track. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steno
CAST:  Gigi Proietti  •  Enrico Montesano  •  Francesco De Rosa  •  Adolfo Celi

Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia (1974)

In Italy, a dying woman tells her granddaughter that she hid her treasure many years ago in Russia, in the city of Leningrad. Other people (who were around when she died) also learn about it. Thus several people arrive in Leningrad trying to find the treasure, each ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eldar Ryazanov
CAST:  Andrey Mironov  •  Antonia Santilli  •  Ninetto Davoli  •  Alighiero Noschese

In Italy, a dying woman tells her granddaughter that she hid her treasure many years ago in Russia, in the city of Leningrad. Other people (who were around when she died) also learn about it. Thus several people arrive in Leningrad trying to find the treasure, each ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eldar Ryazanov
CAST:  Andrey Mironov  •  Antonia Santilli  •  Ninetto Davoli  •  Alighiero Noschese

The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)

During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kramer
CAST:  Anthony Quinn  •  Anna Magnani  •  Giancarlo Giannini  •  Virna Lisi

During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kramer
CAST:  Anthony Quinn  •  Anna Magnani  •  Giancarlo Giannini  •  Virna Lisi

Blessed Are the Rich (1972)

Two brothers-in-law, a smuggler and the other traffic policeman, get hold of a large sum of money, destined for illegal exportation to Switzerland, after the courier is killed in a fire fight with the border police. The owners of the money, which occupy an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Salvatore Samperi
CAST:  Paolo Villaggio  •  Lino Toffolo  •  Sylva Koscina  •  Eugene Walter

Two brothers-in-law, a smuggler and the other traffic policeman, get hold of a large sum of money, destined for illegal exportation to Switzerland, after the courier is killed in a fire fight with the border police. The owners of the money, which occupy an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Salvatore Samperi
CAST:  Paolo Villaggio  •  Lino Toffolo  •  Sylva Koscina  •  Eugene Walter

L'assistente sociale tutto pepe (1981)

Nadia is a social worker who is trying to keep the residents of a local slum in line. Unfortunately she keeps neglecting her work and fantasizing about a life as a pop-star. When she falls for one of the residents in question, a small time crook called Bel Ami, she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nando Cicero
CAST:  Nadia Cassini  •  Renzo Montagnani  •  Yorgo Voyagis  •  Irene Papas

Nadia is a social worker who is trying to keep the residents of a local slum in line. Unfortunately she keeps neglecting her work and fantasizing about a life as a pop-star. When she falls for one of the residents in question, a small time crook called Bel Ami, she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nando Cicero
CAST:  Nadia Cassini  •  Renzo Montagnani  •  Yorgo Voyagis  •  Irene Papas

Under the Sheets (1976)

Three medical students who are reluctant to hit the books and unwilling to work are much more enthusiastic about creating pranks and targeting a thriving confidential, female doctor.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianni Martucci
CAST:  Karin Schubert  •  Gigi Ballista  •  Alvaro Vitali  •  Orchidea De Santis

Three medical students who are reluctant to hit the books and unwilling to work are much more enthusiastic about creating pranks and targeting a thriving confidential, female doctor.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianni Martucci
CAST:  Karin Schubert  •  Gigi Ballista  •  Alvaro Vitali  •  Orchidea De Santis

The Schoolmate (1977)

Lilli Carati plays a high school student being pursued by a very persistent young man in this Italian sex-comedy  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mariano Laurenti
CAST:  Lilli Carati  •  Gianfranco D'Angelo  •  Alvaro Vitali  •  Antonio Melidoni

Lilli Carati plays a high school student being pursued by a very persistent young man in this Italian sex-comedy  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mariano Laurenti
CAST:  Lilli Carati  •  Gianfranco D'Angelo  •  Alvaro Vitali  •  Antonio Melidoni

I Hate Blondes (1980)

There are two problems with Emilio and his career as a pulp writer. Emilio is a bumbling fellow who has absolutely nothing in common with the heroes he writes about. Second, Emilio can't seem to publish anything under his own name.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giorgio Capitani
CAST:  Enrico Montesano  •  Jean Rochefort  •  Corinne Cléry  •  Marina Langner

There are two problems with Emilio and his career as a pulp writer. Emilio is a bumbling fellow who has absolutely nothing in common with the heroes he writes about. Second, Emilio can't seem to publish anything under his own name.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giorgio Capitani
CAST:  Enrico Montesano  •  Jean Rochefort  •  Corinne Cléry  •  Marina Langner

The Man Who Betrayed the Mafia (1967)

When an oily attorney dies at the hands of the mafia, a dedicated French detective investigates the man's murder. He soon uncovers a drug-smuggling operation and lets his sawed-off shotgun do the talking to the toughs in this Gallic gangster feature.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Gérard
CAST:  Robert Hossein  •  Claude Mann  •  Claudine Coster  •  Robert Manuel

When an oily attorney dies at the hands of the mafia, a dedicated French detective investigates the man's murder. He soon uncovers a drug-smuggling operation and lets his sawed-off shotgun do the talking to the toughs in this Gallic gangster feature.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Gérard
CAST:  Robert Hossein  •  Claude Mann  •  Claudine Coster  •  Robert Manuel

Sunstroke (1968)

One Sunday in summer a mixed crowd pours on to a beach near Rome. A few tourists who had hoped to spend a relaxing day, find themselves involved in a series of unpleasant experiences instead.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mino Guerrini
CAST:  Mita Medici  •  Lando Buzzanca  •  Alberto Lionello  •  Gigi Ballista

One Sunday in summer a mixed crowd pours on to a beach near Rome. A few tourists who had hoped to spend a relaxing day, find themselves involved in a series of unpleasant experiences instead.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mino Guerrini
CAST:  Mita Medici  •  Lando Buzzanca  •  Alberto Lionello  •  Gigi Ballista

Una storia d'amore (1970)

A married woman falls in love with a playboy dedicated to blackmail, to avoid that reveal his unedifying past, abandons her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michele Lupo
CAST:  Anna Moffo  •  Gianni Macchia  •  Jean Claudio  •  Alicia Brandet

A married woman falls in love with a playboy dedicated to blackmail, to avoid that reveal his unedifying past, abandons her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michele Lupo
CAST:  Anna Moffo  •  Gianni Macchia  •  Jean Claudio  •  Alicia Brandet

No One Will Notice You're Naked (1971)

Rosario Trapanese is determined to show he is not the typical old-fashion Sicilian. When his firm sends him to Denmark, a more sexual liberated nation than Italy, he immediately adopts the Danish "free-sexual-taboo" way of life. He meets and married Karen and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steno
CAST:  Lando Buzzanca  •  Pamela Tiffin  •  Renzo Marignano  •  Gigi Ballista

Rosario Trapanese is determined to show he is not the typical old-fashion Sicilian. When his firm sends him to Denmark, a more sexual liberated nation than Italy, he immediately adopts the Danish "free-sexual-taboo" way of life. He meets and married Karen and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steno
CAST:  Lando Buzzanca  •  Pamela Tiffin  •  Renzo Marignano  •  Gigi Ballista

Roma bene (1971)

Nino Manfredi is a police captain, giving an onlooker's point-of-view towards the decadent society folk. Party itself features a down & out baron, who dances with the party's glamorous hostess Virna Lisi so that he can steal her valuable earrings. When they're ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlo Lizzani
CAST:  Nino Manfredi  •  Philippe Leroy  •  Virna Lisi  •  Mario Feliciani

Nino Manfredi is a police captain, giving an onlooker's point-of-view towards the decadent society folk. Party itself features a down & out baron, who dances with the party's glamorous hostess Virna Lisi so that he can steal her valuable earrings. When they're ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlo Lizzani
CAST:  Nino Manfredi  •  Philippe Leroy  •  Virna Lisi  •  Mario Feliciani

House of 1000 Pleasures (1972)

Italian sex comedy version of Arabian Nights  (more)

DIRECTION:  Antonio Margheriti
CAST:  Barbara Bouchet  •  Femi Benussi  •  Barbara Marzano  •  Annie Carol Edel

Italian sex comedy version of Arabian Nights  (more)

DIRECTION:  Antonio Margheriti
CAST:  Barbara Bouchet  •  Femi Benussi  •  Barbara Marzano  •  Annie Carol Edel
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