SERANDREI, MARIO

(1907-1966)

Editor. Although working at various times as a journalist, assistant director, supervisor of dubbing, and screenwriter, Serandrei is remembered mostly for his film editing. After a period of writing forCinematografo, the film journal edited byAlessandro Blasetti, Serandrei came to edit many of Blasetti's films of the early 1940s:La corona di ferro(The Iron Crown, 1941),La cena delle beffe(The Jester's Supper, 1941), andQuattro passi fra le nuvole(A Stroll through the Clouds, 1942). He editedLuchino Visconti'sOssessionein 1943 and continued to work with Visconti after the war, onBellissima(1951),Senso(1954),Rocco e i suoi fratelli(Rocco and His Brothers, 1960),Il Gattopardo(The Leopard, 1963), andVaghe stelle dell'orsa.In 1945, together with Visconti andGiuseppe De Santis, he codirected and editedGiorni di gloria(Days of Glory), adocumentaryon the wartimeResistancemovement. After collaborating on the screenplay ofMario Bava's groundbreakinghorrorfilm,La maschera del demonio(Black Sunday, 1960), Serandrei worked withFrancesco RosionLe mani sulla citta(Hands over the City, 1963). He subsequently edited Giuseppe De Santis's epicItaliani, brava gente(Attack and Retreat, 1964) andGiulio Pontecorvo'sLa Battaglia di Algeri(The Battle of Algiers, 1965). His last film was Pasquale Festa Campanile'sIl soldato di ventura(The Soldier of Fortune, 1975).