Happy Birthday to Sophia Loren, born September 20th, 1934. A Spy Vibe favorite, Loren brought her elegance and earthy sensuality to many classic films, including Arabesque, Boccaccio '70, Marriage, Italian Style, Two Women, Operation Houseboat, Man of La Mancha, A Special Day, and Brass Target. One of her most indelible screen images is this scene from Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963/De Sica), where she performed a strip tease for Marcello Mastroianni. The pair recreated the scene in Robert Altman's Ready to Wear in 1994. The fun starts at 1:00 below.
Sophia Loren met her husband, producer Carlo Ponti, in 1950 when she was 15 (he was 37). The pair married in 1957- then married again in 1966, after Ponti received an official annulment by the state from his first wife. They remained married until his death in 2007. Carlo Ponti was a major force behind many of my favorite films, including La Strada, Cleo From 5 to 7, Boccaccio '70, The 10th Victim, Blowup, Smashing Time, and A Special Day. Stills from the couple's Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow below from DVD Beaver.
