Here is a tribute to Pier Angeli,born Anna Maria Pierangeli in 1932 in Italy. After a few films in Italy, she made her American film debut in 1951’s Teresa. Stardom came, and Pier also had an illfated love affair with her married co-star Kirk Douglas ,of Story of Three Loves. Her possesive Mother didnt know of this affair,but disapproved of her affair with James Dean. Legend has it that Pier loved Dean but married italian singer Vic Damone because Mama approved and that Dean was outside the chapel when they emerged. Marriage to Damone which produced son Perry(named after singer Perry Como) was stormy. Pier’s greatest success was with Paul Newman in Somebody up there likes me. They had also costarred in The Silver Chalice. Her career declined,and she never became a huge star, but picked up somewhat with the big European epic, Sodom and Gomorrah in 1962. One last big film for Pier was a tiny role in the all star Battle of the bulge. Her mental illness, depression, and addiction to presription drugs is evident in her last low budget European films. Long thought to have commited suicide in 1971, it was recently revealed that she died after a doctor administered a sedative to calm her down. However she died Pier Angeli was one of the most beautiful women of the screen ,,and had a talent that was never fully capitalized on screen.
This vid features scenes of her with beautiful Jeanne Crain, Lana Turner(her costar in Flame and the Flesh, which is never seen on TCM), and with her best friend, Debbie Reynolds, as well as with James Dean and Kirk Douglas.
The chorus of the featured song Adonde Voy, translates as “Where are you going?” What is your destination?” I always felt Pier Angeli seemed a lost soul, which is why i used this song. enjoy it.
WACOCA: People, Life, Style.