Aldo, G. R.

(1902-1953)

   (Born Aldo Graziati.) Having moved to France in his late teens, Aldo briefly tried stage acting before working for many years as a still photographer in the French film studios. In the early 1940s he graduated to camera operator on a number of films directed by Christian-Jacque. Returning to Italy in 1947 for on-location shooting of Christian-Jacque's La Chartreuse de Parme (The Charterhouse of Parma, 1948), he met Luchino Visconti, who engaged him as director of photography for La terra trema (The Earth Trembles, 1948). He subsequently served as cinematographer on a number of Vittorio De Sica's films, including Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan, 1951), Umberto D (1952), and Stazione Termini (Indiscretion of an American Wife, 1953); photographed Augusto Genina's Cielo sulla palude (Heaven over the Marshes, 1949); and also worked with Orson Welles on The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice (1952). Tragically, still at the peak of his career, Aldo was killed in a car crash during the filming of Visconti's Senso (The Wanton Countess, 1954), which was eventually completed by fellow cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno.

   Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema by Alberto Mira