Remembering Aldo Tonti

Aldo Tonti was born on March 2, 1910 in Rome, Italy. He began his film career in 1934 but was relatively unknown. He developed a relationship with director Luchino Visconti on the film “Ossessione” (1943) and was the photographer. With the success of the film, he found himself in demand by other neo-realist directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Federico Fellini. He was the cinematographer on Rossellini's “Open City” (1945) and Fellini's “Night's of Cabria” (1957). Although his later projects were not always of this calibre he was always mentioned in the press. He found plenty of exposure for his filming of a solar eclipse used as a special effect in “Barabbas” (1961). Tonti was the cinematographer for several Euro-westerns during their reign, such as “I Came, I Saw” I Shot” (1968), with Antonio Sabato, Frank Wolf and John Saxon, “The Deserter” (1971) and “It Can Be Done Amigo” (1972) with Bud Spencer and Jack Palance. Aldo was also an assistant director and an actor during his career. He died on July 7, 1988 in Rome. Today we remember him on what would have been his 100th birthday.