Directing
June 30, 1927
Died at age 94
January 3, 2022
Date of Death
Parma, Italy
10 Credits
Mario Lanfranchi was an Italian film, theater, and television director, screenwriter, and producer. After graduating from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Milan (Accademia dei Filodrammatici) in the early 1950s, he was hired by Sergio Pugliese at RAI, at the onset of Italian television. Lanfranchi was the first to bring opera to the small screen in 1956 with Madama Butterfly, introducing a wide audience to the American soprano Anna Moffo. He directed several films, including Libido (1965) and Death Sentence (1968), showcasing his versatility across different media. Lanfranchi's contributions to Italian television and cinema have left a lasting impact on the industry.