Last issue we reproduced (and translated) an article from a 1957 French movie magazine, "Cine Revue", describing a party that Rossano and Lidia had supposedly thrown for their friends, prior to leaving for Hawaii and the making of "South Pacific". It appears that the magazine made up the entire story, conversation, details and all -- and not only that, stole the pictures they used for the made-up article! We heard from Gene Lerner rather quickly:
"Your December issue carried an article and photos from the August 1957 issue of CINE REVUE which in the main was fabricated and the photos pirated. The event took place on June 19, 1957. The apartment referred to was of Hank Kaufman and Gene Lerner, who were the hosts and who had organized this "Cocktailus Romanus" in honor of Rossano and Lidia. We organized similar events for Simone Signoret, Robert Aldrich, Ava Gardner, Anna Magnani, Margaret Truman and Clifton Daniel, Jr., when they came to Rome on honeymoon, and others. We were always the hosts and we paid all the bills. In addition, no one of the press was admitted nor were photographers. We hired a photographer and all photos taken were of our property. How an article ever got into CINE REVUE with photos is a mystery and, I night add, a disgrace with its inventions. I agree with you about the charm of the balcony group photo, but there are much better ones of the group on the balcony, so cheerfully, and of Rossano and the others singing. And among the photos is a beaut of Rossano, Rock Hudson, and little ol' me, lei laden. It was George Seabury, public-relations chief in Italy for Pan-American Airways, who arranged to have the exquisite white orchid leis and Hawaiian delicacies flown in from Honolulu.
There were no "lovely and thoughtful array of gifts" from Rossano and Lidia. The Brazzi's were not gift-givers. To call a "lei" a necklace and for Hudson to be asking what the leis were for could not be more ridiculous. And then the "interview" - haha - with Rossano. Unbelievable! He made Rodgers and Hammerstein agree to have his wardrobe made in Rome?????? Incredible! And all that manufactured dialog between Rossano and Rascel. To how could he not have given space to Alain Delon, one of the approximate 200 guests? And Joseph L. Mankiewicz was neither invited nor present. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. To vomit. Furthermore: Rossano's singing coach was not present. If this ghost of a reporter actually interviewed her, it was not at the party. And surely, if any reporter was present and writing for a French Cinema magazine, how could he not have given space to Alain Delon, one of the approximate 200 guests?
In the balcony photo, from left to right: Vania Trotti next to her husband actor-singer Teddy Reno. The girl in between Teddy and Rossano I'm unable to identify, actress Rossano Rory, screen and stage star Renato Rachel (also author of Arrivederci Roma), screen and stage star Gino Cervi, French actress Ugette Cartier. And permit me to repeat the balcony belonged to Kaufman and Lerner."
Gene Lerner, Rome Italy
[You know, now that he mentions it, it DID seem a little odd that American Rock Hudson didn't know what a "lei" was!]
And a grateful thanks to Gene Lerner for all of the corrections! Next time we see an article with Rossano on a stone balcony, we're sending it to Gene beforehand to make sure we aren't reading about yet another pirated party!