2007年VOA标准英语-Italian Film Director Carlo Ponti Dies

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
10 January 2007

Carlo Ponti, one of Italy's best-known film producers and the husband of actress Sophia Loren, has died in Geneva at the age of 94. In his 50-year career, Ponti produced more than 150 films. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome

 
Carlo Ponti (center) poses with his sons Edoardo and Carlo (R) during the 55th film festival of Venice (1998 file photo)
All over the world he was known as the husband of one of Italy's most famous actresses, Sofia Loren.

But Carlo Ponti was one of Italy's best film producers. He produced a number of classic films like Federico Fellini's La Strada, David Lean's Dr. Zhivago and Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup.

Carlo Ponti died at the age of 94 in a hospital in Geneva after suffering pulmonary complications. He had been admitted to the hospital about 10 days ago.

Born near Milan in 1913, Ponti studied law and worked as a lawyer in the city before his move into film production. He began making films in 1938 by accident, when a film-producer client of the law firm he was working for fled fascist-era Italy and asked him to take over.

The producer spotted¹ Sophia Loren when she took part in a beauty contest when she was a teenager. He was more than 20 years older than her. She was poor and from a Naples slum. He was already an established producer and a married man.

Ponti groomed² her for stardom and stood back in the shadow as Sophia Loren became, first Italy's sex symbol, and then a popular Hollywood actress.

 
Sophia Loren, second from right, poses with her husband Carlo Ponti, (l), and their two sons in this undated file photo 
In 1957, their first marriage caused a scandal in Italy. At the time there were no divorce laws in Italy, and Ponti was still married. He had unsuccessfully sought a Vatican annulment³ of his first marriage.

Ponti married Sophia Loren by proxy⁴ in Mexico. In Italy, Ponti was charged with bigamy. The scandal over their marriage forced them to leave the country and move to Hollywood. They later had two sons, one of whom is now a film director.

Just four years after they were married, Sophia Loren won the best actress Oscar for Two Women, produced by her husband. A few years later he was nominated for an Oscar for Dr. Zhivago.

Ponti produced films by Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, George Cukor and Sidney Lumet. Among the classics to his name were Marriage Italian Style (1964) and A Special Day (1977).

Italy's Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli said his death marks the end of an era for film-making because he embodied⁵ a great and courageous⁶ push to innovate⁷, promoted unforgettable talents and enjoyed huge success.

1 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

2 groomed   

v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗

参考例句：

• She is always perfectly groomed. 她总是打扮得干净利落。
• Duff is being groomed for the job of manager. 达夫正接受训练，准备当经理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 annulment   

n.废除，取消，（法院对婚姻等）判决无效

参考例句：

• The annulment caused a profound impression in Japan. 同盟的废止，在日本发生了强烈的反响。 来自辞典例句
• Law An annulment acquittal; dismissal, of a court order. 取消，宣告无罪；法院命令的撤销。 来自互联网

4 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

5 embodied   

v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含

参考例句：

• a politician who embodied the hopes of black youth 代表黑人青年希望的政治家
• The heroic deeds of him embodied the glorious tradition of the troops. 他的英雄事迹体现了军队的光荣传统。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

7 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。