The prominent archives, known globally as a prime film preservation entity, have found and restored three vintage clips dated between 1947 and 1948 in which Lollobrigida – who died at 95 in January – sings Italian folk songs billed under the name Diana Lori.
Lollobrigida, which is her real name, was born on July 4, 1927, in Subiaco, Italy, east of Rome. In her teens she studied art and appeared in Italian so-called “photo-novel” magazines under the name Diana Loris. She also participated in beauty pageants before landing minor roles in movies starting in 1946. By 1949 Lollobrigida had already obtained star billing in “La Sposa Non Può Attendere” , directed by Gianni Franciolini and Virgilio Sabel.
In the above clip of “Stornellata Romana,” which can be translated as “Roman Folk Song,” the character played by Lollobrigida is idyllically doing washing by the Tiber when her fisherman partner returns with an empty vessel, not having caught any fish. Together they decide to re-embark and try their luck in another spot.