ELIO SORCI ^©  

(Roma, 1932 - Roma, 2013)

(Diptych), 2 Vintage gelatin silver prints

Photo 1, cm 19 x 24 – Photo 2, cm 19 x 24.5

Each signed and annotated on verso

Each framed (black wood) size cm 42 x 37

Original provenance: the artist, Roma Italy

Q. > Can you tell us about what is still considered as the most popular episode, that is the running after of Walter Chiari an Tazio Secchiaroli which took place in Piazza di Spagna?

A. > I remember it very well, it is so popular also because Fellini took the idea for his movie, even though he had already thought of doing something on what was taking place in Rome; and yet, it was that reportage that trigered it all. He wanted to talk to Secchiaroli: the reportage was published on Settimo Giorno, he found the photographer and made him tell him all about what was taking place.

Q. > What happened that night in Piazza di Spagna?

A. > We were in Via Veneto; I got a phone call from one of my collaborators who had seen Ava Gardner with Walter Chiari in a place nearby the American embassy. I went there with another colleague. After a while, Secchiaroli arrived, certainly someone had called him too, and we started to follow the couple until we reached Piazza di Spagna, ehere she was living; when she got out of the car, Secchiaroli, who got closer, became the target of Walter Chiari who threatened to hit him, even though he never hit any photo-reporters and he would never do it. Many others did, but he was very nice to us. Of course, he took such a threatening attitude in front of Gardner, and it seemed that were fighting each other.

An Elio Sorci interview

A Flash of Art

© 2004 Photology Editions