Bellissima

Attention, please. To all our dear and loyaI listeners

To mothers, fathers and relatives - Stella Film announces a contest

They're looking for a girl between six and eight years of age

A pretty Italian girl

Take your daughters to Stella Film offices...

...in Cinecitta Via Tuscolana, km 9

It could be your and her lucky day

Only girIs between six and eight years of age...

...can enter the theatre quietly and calmly...

...to be seen by Blasetti, the director

Keep quiet and stay calm!

Do you understand?

Hurry! Hurry!

- I've lost my daughter - She lost her daughter. Vito!

Where is she gone?

- What's her name? - Maria Cecconi

Little Maria Cecconi!

Quiet! Quiet, please. There

Politeness goes a long way

In other words, we'll be able to screen test your little girls...

...if you keep calm and quiet. Right? Good

- Shall we start, Taparelli? - Yes, we're ready

- Glori, send the first child - The first child!

The first child, come on

What can you do?

I can imitate Betty Gable

That's great. Let's see

Well done, you're really good

- You're starting early. How old are you? - 11

Good. Give her a number. Next one, please

Quiet, over there

Come on. Keep that child quiet

- What can you do? - ''Arrivano i Nostri''

Good. Start singing ''Arrivano i Nostri''

Good

Very good

Yes, louder

Very good. Chiari, give her a number

- Next! - Tell them to be quiet over there

You have a Chinese hat, good. Quiet!

I've spent hours looking for you

How could I go home without you?

Look at the state of you

Just look at that. Get up now. You deserve to be smacked!

Why are you crying? Look at the state of you

Damn it! You drive me mad. They even called you over the megaphone

- Mummy! - ''Mummy'' what?

What did she do wrong?

What did she do? She nearly gave me a heart attack

I've been looking for her all over Cinecitta

- They won't let us in now - Are you here for the contest?

Yes, we are. But look at the state of her now

She looks worse for wear. Come here

If I were you, I'd leave her like that

All dirty? Yeah, right

They're much cuter like this, all grubby and untidy

Very funny

She's got a pretty smile. She's very photogenic

And she's got beautifuI eyes. Let's see

Really beautiful

At least it's something. Let's hope they'll pick you

Gosh, I'm lost now

- They're at number 5 - Number 5?

- Studio number 5 - And how do I get there?

- Calm down, I'll take you there - Will you?

How kind of you. Let's go. I'll settle up with you when we get home

This is the girI who got lost

- Let the lady through here - If you say so

I've brought some photos of her. Do you think it's a good idea?

Pretty. This child is really pretty

- Well, at this age, they're all pretty - Yeah?

They're all pretty, but I prefer their mothers

May I give you a piece of advice?

The second audition will be harder and these photos won't help you much

- Are they ugly? - A bit

You need bigger and better ones

Go to a professionaI photographer. I can give you a name

- That would be great - Tell him I sent you

Alberto Annovazzi, that's my name

The photographer is in Via Quattro Fontane, number 14

- Go and see him, he's great - I'll definitely go

- Thanks a lot - Don't mention it

I don't know how to thank you

- Can I go in? - This way, it leads straight to the studio

- I'm so lucky I met you - Best of luck

- Say bye - Bye, and don't run off again

- I'm holding her tight - Good

- Goodbye - Goodbye, madam

Painter, I need to taIk to you

WhiIe you paint tIhis altar

I am just a poor bIack man

And to pray God here I am

I know you'll be listening. . .

Excuse me. I should have been up there long ago

I had lost my daughter

Excuse me

- Did you find her? - She's found her!

Good evening, Mr Blasetti

Madam, stand back

Good, well done

But she's finished singing

Mancinelll Silvana? Mario! Give her a number

OK, now the next child

Next child, come on

Madam, who are you?

The incident's over! Go back to your seats!

- Enough! - That's it, the incident's over

This is the child who got lost

- Oh, yeah - I lost sight of her

This place is like a town. She was somewhere around there

- Where did you find her? - By the pool

Ladies, quiet please

Quiet, please

- Where did you find her? - By the pool, she was fishing!

- She got dirty - Yes, she ruined her dress

Cute. What's your name?

- Maria - Say your name

- Maria - Very good. Maria what?

- Maria... - ''Gecconi''

- ''Giacconi''? - No, she lisps slightly

- So, what's her reaI surname? - Cecconi

Cecconi, good. Repeat, ''Maria Cecconi''

- Maria ''Cecconi'' - Oh well, it must sound right to her

When I made the announcement you were outside looking for your child...

...but I said that the child has to be six or seven years old

- Not younger - But she's seven

Is she? She looks a bit...small

Really? No, it must be the dress that makes her look short

In all truth, she hasn't grown much this year

She'll grow more next year, it doesn't matter

So, what can you do? Do you dance? Sing? What can you do?

- Venice! - You do Venice

Mr Blasetti won't understand if you say that

- She means a poem about Venice - Ah, OK

Good. You can begin reciting the poem. Go on

''Venice, to thee comes at last the last hour

''Martyr illustrious, in thy foe's power

''Bread lacks, the cholera deadlier grows

''From the lagoon bridge the white banner blows''

Did you teach her that? She's a star

Not even at Christmas did she recite it so well

Just for you

You know what? We need to hurry

It's two o'clock, and if we get to the stadium late...

...it will be full and we'll have to stand up like idiots

- Let's hurry - I don't feeI like going anymore

What do you mean? You're not coming to the match?

Bruno, did you hear that?

You know that I'm worried

She left early in the morning and took the child with her

I'm not in the mood, Franco. Don't insist

She told you she was going to give an injection in Monteverde, at her friend's

Why would she go all the way to Monteverde to give shots?

Exactly

It's Sunday and the tram costs 20 lire each way..

...and the child pays full fare

- I know - Your wife is mad. Tell her that

Franco, drink your coffee

See what you've done? This moron's always laughing

Whatever. Drink your coffee and shut up

Give me a chance, it's still boiling hot

Mum, I won't even bother about her. She always does as she likes anyway

- She has to respect you - Yeah, exactly. She has to respect you

You know what? I don't think she's gone to Monteverde

What are you talking about? She's taken the child with her

That's exactly why I think she hasn't gone there

Let's go, guys. It's three o' clock and we're still here discussing

- Let's go, it's late - Let's go Spartaco, come on

- Come home early - Give her another kiss

Mum, you never change. OK, I've made a mess of myself

I'll clean you up. Bye

Kiss my forehead

Have fun, don't catch too much sun

- OK - When you see Maddalena tell her...

Yes, I'll tell her not to go away again with the child

It's two o' clock and she still hasn't eaten

- Bye - Goodbye

- See you - Enjoy yourselves

- It's late - Bye

Hurry up

Shut up

Spartaco, there's your wife

- And you were worried - There she is

Where have you been all this time?

- Spartaco! - Slow down. What's the rush now?

- I went there! - Where?

To Cinecitta, for the contest

- Are you mad? - Maybe

- In any case, they picked her - Who?

Our daughter, not me. I wish!

- Don't lie, you're always telling lies - I'm not lying

Don't even bother, she always does what she wants

She's all talk. Let's hurry, guys, the match will have started

Mind your own business for once

- Don't use that tone with him - Whatever

I'll come to watch the match too

- No, you go home and feed the child - Your mum can feed her

- No, you feed her! - Take me to the cinema tonight

Forget it. We'll talk at home

- Let's go, Franco - What?