Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) and Cinecittà marked the 100th anniversary of Carlo Rambaldi’s birth in December with a special retrospective celebrating his distinguished career. Rambaldi, an Italian special-effects artist who won three Oscars, is known for his work on “King Kong” (1976), “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), and “Dune” (1984) as well as many Italian films, including those he made with frequent collaborator Dario Argento. The event was part of a worldwide celebration supported by Italy’s Ministry of Culture.
The retrospective showcased 15 films from Rambaldi’s career, including six Hollywood productions and four newly restored Italian titles. Among the restored films are “Profondo rosso” (“Deep Red,” 1975) by Argento, and “Estratto dagli archivi segreti della polizia di una capitale europea” (“Tragic Ceremony,” 1972) by Riccardo Freda, which had its New York premiere during the retrospective. “Scacco alla regina” (“Check to the Queen,” 1969) by Pasquale Festa Campanile and “Frankenstein ’80” (1972) by Mario Mancini debuted in 4K digital restoration at MoMA.
Lucia Borgonzoni, undersecretary of state to the Italian Ministry of Culture, expressed pride in the U.S. enthusiasm for the celebration, stating, “Honoring Carlo Rambaldi through an initiative such as this underscores his profound contribution to world cinema.”
Rambaldi received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025, with the ceremony set for 2026. For information about MoMA’s retrospective, click here.
