There is a feature-length documentary on the history of this cinema, so very important to Florentine film buffs. The film is called “Cinema Universale d'Essai” and was made by Federico Micali in 2015. It can be seen in its entirety on YouTube. It helps to know Italian. It was based in part on the book “Breve Storia del Cinema Universale,” by Matteo Poggi.
I remember going to a film in this cinema once only. It was on August 19, 1969. The film was Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Oedipus Rex” (Edipo re), made in 1967. I had already seen a few of Pasolini’s films but not this one, because it had not been shown in the US and wouldn’t be for another fifteen years when it finally made its way to the Public Theatre in New York. So I was very grateful to catch it out of sheer good luck.
In December 1991 I saw the film “Urga, territorio d'amore” (Close to Eden) by Nikita Mikhalkhov here. Set in Mongolia and typical of the kinds of films they ran here.
I saw the Russian film “Freeze, Die and Come to Life” here in February, 1992. Shown in Russian with Italian subtitles. Original language versions were the policy at this cinema as a reaction to almost universal dubbing in Italy.
Rossellini’s “Amore” premiered here on December 7, 1948. It include the episode “Il miracolo” (The Miracle) which turned into a censorship scandal in the U.S. because of its alleged sacrilege. No problem in Italy.
I saw the film “Il successo” with Vittorio Gassman here on August 21, 1969. I believe it might have been shown on the adjacent outdoor screen, if I am not mistaken.
I went to see Visconti’s “Lo straniero” (The Stranger) here on April 21, 1988. It was then (and still is) a very hard film to see just about anywhere. I recall that they ran a beautiful 35mm print of the Italian-language version.
“Chiusura estiva” means closed for the summer, as was the case of the majority of Italian cinemas in the summer months. Some had a separate outdoor arena or garden where movies might be shown in the summer.
There is a feature-length documentary on the history of this cinema, so very important to Florentine film buffs. The film is called “Cinema Universale d'Essai” and was made by Federico Micali in 2015. It can be seen in its entirety on YouTube. It helps to know Italian. It was based in part on the book “Breve Storia del Cinema Universale,” by Matteo Poggi.
I remember going to a film in this cinema once only. It was on August 19, 1969. The film was Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Oedipus Rex” (Edipo re), made in 1967. I had already seen a few of Pasolini’s films but not this one, because it had not been shown in the US and wouldn’t be for another fifteen years when it finally made its way to the Public Theatre in New York. So I was very grateful to catch it out of sheer good luck.
In December 1991 I saw the film “Urga, territorio d'amore” (Close to Eden) by Nikita Mikhalkhov here. Set in Mongolia and typical of the kinds of films they ran here.
I saw the Russian film “Freeze, Die and Come to Life” here in February, 1992. Shown in Russian with Italian subtitles. Original language versions were the policy at this cinema as a reaction to almost universal dubbing in Italy.
Saw the film “Volevo i pantaloni” here in April 1990.
Formerly known as the Teatro Bellini in the early 20th Century.
That was my 2005 photo.
One movie I saw here was “Evelina e i suoi figli” in April 1990. It starred the marvelous Stefania Sandrelli.
I saw films here in 1983 and 1989.
Rossellini’s “Amore” premiered here on December 7, 1948. It include the episode “Il miracolo” (The Miracle) which turned into a censorship scandal in the U.S. because of its alleged sacrilege. No problem in Italy.
In 1982.
In 1985 I saw a re-issue of Visconti’s “The Damned” here. On Christmas Day in 1991 I went here to see Roberto Benigni’s uproarious “Johnny Stecchino.”
This place was formerly known as the Cinema Italia.
On August 27, 1970 I saw the popular hit “Metello” with Massimo Ranieri in this cinema when it was called the Galleria.
The acclaimed neorealist film “Vivere in pace” (To Live in Peace) by Luigi Zampa opened here on March 17, 1947 as well as at the Adriano and Rivoli.
On July 25, 1983 I saw the film “Io , Chiara e lo Scuro” (The Pool Hustlers) with Francesco Nuti and Ornella Muti in this cinema.
The first film I ever saw here was Costa-Gravras' “Z” on July 27, 1969.
I remember seeing Chaplin’s “The Pilgrim” on a program here on August 16, 1969.
In the smaller Fiammetta on August 26, 1969 I saw Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby.”
I saw the film “Il successo” with Vittorio Gassman here on August 21, 1969. I believe it might have been shown on the adjacent outdoor screen, if I am not mistaken.
I went to see Visconti’s “Lo straniero” (The Stranger) here on April 21, 1988. It was then (and still is) a very hard film to see just about anywhere. I recall that they ran a beautiful 35mm print of the Italian-language version.
I saw the film “Un bellissimo nevembre” with Claudia Cardinale here on August 25, 1969.
“Chiusura estiva” means closed for the summer, as was the case of the majority of Italian cinemas in the summer months. Some had a separate outdoor arena or garden where movies might be shown in the summer.
Now closed and with an Italian flag.
On July 31, 1983 at this cinema I saw Wim Wenders' “The State of Things,” dubbed in Italian.