ALDO, G. R.

(1902-1953)

(Born Aldo Graziati.) Having moved to France in his late teens, Aldo briefly tried stage acting before working for many years as a still photographer in the French film studios. In the early 1940s he graduated to camera operator on a number of films directed by Christian-Jacque. Returning to Italy in 1947 for on-location shooting of Christian-Jacque'sLa Chartreuse de Parme(The Charterhouse of Parma, 1948), he metLuchino Visconti, who engaged him as director of photography forLa terra trema(The Earth Trembles, 1948). He subsequently served as cinematographer on a number ofVittorio De Sica's films, includingMiracolo a Milano(Miracle in Milan, 1951),Umberto D(1952), andStazione Termini(Indiscretion of an American Wife, 1953); photographedAugusto Genina'sCielo sulla palude(Heaven over the Marshes, 1949); and also worked with Orson Welles onThe Tragedy of Othello:The Moor of Venice(1952). Tragically, still at the peak of his career, Aldo was killed in a car crash during the filming of Visconti'sSenso(The Wanton Countess, 1954), which was eventually completed by fellow cinematographerGiuseppe Rotunno.