La Calda Vita: Catherine Spaak: The Year in Review

1964 Japanese Pin-Up

As 1964 dawned, Catherine's personal life was rocky, since she had just split from husband Fabrizio Capucci in a very public manner and was battling for custody of their daughter Sabrina. Her career, however, was full steam ahead. In 1964, Catherine would truly become an international celebrity, as she began to receive significant publicity and exposure in America. Her music career continued to move forward, and, in December, she made her stage debut in Rome.

Catherine began the year by working on The Man With the Balloons with Marco Ferreri and Marcello Mastroianni in January and February.

The January 1 issue of Variety reported from Rome: "Catherine Spaak busy these days with skedded shots for Roger Vadim's "La Ronde," opposite Marcello Mastroianni in Carlo Ponti's 'Man of the Five Baloons,' directed by Marco Ferreri, and 'The Garden of Fitzi Contini,' opposite Jacques Perrin, with Valerio Zurlini directing; her 'Empty Canvas' is a current release, and 'The Warm Life' an upcomer." It also contains an article concerning a four-picture co-production deal between Embassy and Carlo Ponti, in which it notes "Another pic in parlay, 'Empty Canvas,' has also been playing well abroad." For whatever reason, she did not appear in The Garden of Fitzi Contini.

The January 15 issue of Variety reported: "Catherine Spaak to Milan for role in 'Man of the Five Baloons' opposite Marcello Mastroianni, which Carlo Ponti is producing with Marco Ferreri as director."

The January 22 issue of Variety reported: "Embassy Pictures has acquired the U.S.-Canada distrib rights to the Italo comedy-drama 'Crazy Desires' Ugo Tognazzi-Catherine Spaak starrer."

The February 12 issue of Variety reported from Rome that a "character involved in Marco Ferreri's 'Man of the Five Baloons,' currently shooting in Milan with Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Spaak, has sued company on charges character is offensive."

It appears that Catherine shot her scenes for La Ronde in Paris in February, although Roger Vadim was shooting the film over the course of the winter and spring. The April 15 issue of Variety reported: "Roger Vadim winding La Ronde." This press photo is stamped "February 11, 1964" and has a snipe on the back indicating that it shows Catherine arriving at Orly airport in Paris to work on La Ronde. It notes that this was the first time that Catherine was allowed to leave Italy following the December 1963 incident in which she was detained at the border with Sabrina.

La calda vita premiered on Italy on February 25, 1964.

In March, The Empty Canvas debuted in America. Variety reported (in the March 11 and March 18 editions) on a controversy between Embassy Pictures and newspapers in Los Angeles, because the newspapers were censoring ads for the film by covering up some of Catherine's exposed skin.

On March 23, Of Wayward Love premiered in New York.

Also, in March, Catherine headlined at the Valencia Fair in Spain and tested for Carlo Ponti's film Boccaccio 2000 (in which she did not ultimately appear). It is not clear if she was singing at the fair, or merely appearing as a famous actress. The March 25 issue of Variety reported that "Film actress Catherine Spaak, Italian crooner Adriano Celentano, and the Fausto Papetti Orchestra are headlined at" one of the stages at the Valencia Fair in the Spanish port city, an event which traditionally kicks off the tourist and bullfighting season in Spain. Finally, it reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak tested for Carlo Ponti's cartoon-and-live feature, 'Boccaccio 2000'."

The March issue of Esquire in the U.S. included a picture essay called "Three Cheers For These European Actresses," which featured full-page pictures of Stefania Sandrelli and of Catherine. Here is Catherine's picture:

Catherine made her first trip to the U.S. in April to promote The Empty Canvas and to discuss other career opportunities. While in the U.S. (apparently for the entire month of April), she met legendary Italian director Federico Fellini for the first time and attended the Oscars.

The March 25 issue of Variety reported that "Catherine Spaak will make her first U.S. visit April 1 to help plug Embassy's 'Empty Canvas' in which she costars. Bette Davis coming to Gotham April 3 and Joe Levine planning a gala reception for her in connection with her starrer for him, 'Empty Canvas'."

The April 8 issue of Variety indicated that reports in Rome are "that Catherine Spaak has some Hollywood bids after U.S. debut of latest, 'Empty Canvas'."

The April 13 issue of Variety reported that "Catherine Spaak winged in to view her first Oscar."

In the April 15 issue of Variety, Army Archerd reported that "Fellini visited Disneyland, he met Catherine Spaak, also a Rome resident - but they had not met until this Hollywood trip. The 19-year-old Miss Spaak, who revealed plenty in 'Empty Canvas,' was refused admittance to the Vegas nudie palaces."

The April 17 issue of Variety reported that "Catherine Spaak meets [with Producer Hal] Wallis during her Coast'ing - a possible stewardess in 'Boeing, Boeing,' which takes off this fall." Catherine did not appear in that Jerry Lewis film.

The April 22 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak off to coast for visit and pic talks."

Here are some pictures of Catherine at the Movieland Wax Museum in California. It appears that they were probably taken during her 1964 trip to California (and not during her work there in 1966):

The May 6 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak back from states, reports she's to start in pic called 'With Anger.' I have no idea what picture this could have been. Perhaps it was a project that did not work out for one reason or another.

Thought not pictured on the cover, Catherine was the subject of a feature article in the U.S. in the May 2 Saturday Evening Post:

The June 10 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Unidis has an ambitious '64-'65 release slate: two Catherine Spaak starrers, Damiano Damiani's 'Con Rabbia e con Amore' and 'Per Tre Notti D'Amore.' Also, it was reported that "Catherine Spaak won a special award for 'La Noia'" when the Donatello David Awards were announced. Those awards were presented by the Italian Exhibitors Association. Catherine did not make a film called Con rabbia e con amore.

Catherine worked on Tre notti d'amore in July and August. The July 1 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak back from Paris and readying stint in 'Per Tre Notti D'Amore' (For Three Nights of Love), also a three-part item directed by Mauro Bolognini, Luigi Comencini, and Renato Castellani; Silio Clementelli produces for Jolly Film." Here is a magazine clipping that appears to show Catherine on the set:

Crazy Desire premiered in the U.S. on July 2 in New York City.

The July 8 issue of Variety reported that "Catherine Spaak presented Rome Zoo with pair of pumas."

The July 15 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak to star for Ultra Film in Luigi Comencini picture, "La Bugiarda" (The Liar), which Medusa releases."

On July 26, 1964, Catherine received a special award called the "Targa d'Oro" (the Golden Plate) for her performance in La Noia at the David di Donatello awards presented by The Academy of Italian Cinema (L'accademia del Cinema Italiano).

The July 1964 edition of Cosmopolitan in the U.S. contained an interesting feature about Catherine (which has been previously posted on the blog; see the February 3, 2011 post).

The August 1964 British edition of Vogue includes photos of Catherine in a feature called "The Knitted Masquerade." When available to me, I will update this post with the images.

The August 1, 1964 U.S. edition of Vogue included a photo of Catherine in a feature called "Chicerino Fashion From Italy."

The August 5 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak and Renato Salvatori to Sicily for exteriors on 'For Three Nights of Love,' with Renato Castellani directing this third episode; others were helmed by Mauro Bolognini and Luigi Cimencini."

The August 12 issue of Variety, in an article on the music industry in Italy, reported that "One major effort to overcome doldrums is being made by Milan's Ricordi, which has released a dozen-odd 45s slanted at the juve vacation market...Among the releases...Catherine Spaak [is] good on 'Esercito del Surf' (though less effective on flipover 'Mi Fai Paura')." Here is that record in two covers, or perhaps the pictures are of the front and back covers; I'm not sure:

Her first 45 rpm record released in 1964 had been Questi vent'anni miei (from the film I malamondo)/Penso a te.

Here is a Brazilian ad for Malamondo and a U.S. one sheet poster, both of which mention the inclusion of Catherine's song:

While Catherine's version was included in the actual film, it appears that a version by Ken Colman may have been included on the soundtrack album instead of Catherine's version used in the film. It is not clear whether or not Catherine's version also appears on the album. I have not yet had an opportunity to listen to it.

Her second 45 rpm release of the year had been Non e niente (from La calda vita), which made it into the top 30 on the Italian chart.

L'esercito del surf and Mi fai paura were also included on a compilation album called Parata d'estate, which was released by Ricordi in 1964.

Catherine worked on Weekend in Dunkirk during the late summer and fall. The August 19 Variety (from Paris): UA will probably take the presently winding Robert and Raymond Hakim production "Week-end a Zydcoote" for various territories. The November 25 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak due in from Paris dubbing chores." The December 2 issue of Variety reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak skied in from Paris."

The August 21 edition of Time has an article called "New Faces: Les Girls" that talks about hot, up-and-coming European actresses. Discussed are Stefania Sandrelli, Rosanna Schiaffino, Sylva Koscina, Virna Lisi, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton, Senta Berger, Dahlia Lavi, Sophie Daumier, Catherine Deneuve, Francoise Dorleac, and Catherine, stating:

"Catherine Spaak, 19, is a lithe, wide-eyed, legal-age Lolita type who calls Belgium's Foreign Minister Oncle Paul Henri. She got her start at 15 in Carlo Ponti's The Adolescents, recently taught herself English to appear in the The Empty Canvas with Horst Buchholz and Bette Davis. Catherine recently finished a remake of La Ronde in Paris, then circled back to Rome to start work on Three Nights of Love."

La ronde premiered in France on October 16, 1964.

In December, Catherine made her stage debut. The December 9 issue of Variety, in regard to stage productions, reported from Rome that "Catherine Spaak made her legit debut here to good comments in Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' at Olimpico. Here is a picture of Catherine as she read from Peter and the Wolf while a symphony orchestra played behind her.

Week-end a Zuydcoote premiered in France on December 18, 1964.

Catherine rounded out the year by accompany her sister, Agnes, to Paris. The December 31 issue of Variety reported that Catherine (and sister Agnes) had gone to Paris.

Here is the cover and inside photo of the December 1964 Novita: