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Luciana Paluzzi
1937-
NEW 7/24/2008!
biography
Born in Rome on June 10, 1937, Italian sexpot Luciana Paluzzi enjoyed a lengthy career in films beginning when she was just a teenager with a small part in the 20th Century Fox romance Three Coins in the Fountain (1954; with Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire), which was lensed in Rome. Her beauty and natural talent soon got her cast in other films made in her native Italy, including My Seven Little Sins (1954; with Maurice Chevalier), The Lebanese Mission (1956; with Gianna Maria Canale and Omar Sharif), and Hercules (1958; with Steve Reeves and Sylva Koscina). Hollywood producers soon took note of the gorgeous redhead with a strong command of the English language, and after making several films in Britain and Germany, Paluzzi began picking up guest-star roles on such television shows as Have Gun - Will Travel, Adventures in Paradise, and The Tab Hunter Show and landed a starring role in the NBC series Five Fingers (1959-1960; with David Hedison). Her first Hollywood film role came in the potboiler Return to Peyton Place (1961; with Carol Lynley, Jeff Chandler, Brett Halsey, and Tuesday Weld). While on the set, she met actor Brett Halsey, and after a whirlwind courtship, the couple married in Las Vegas in January 1960.
LEFT: With first husband Brett Halsey at their Las Vegas wedding in January 1960. RIGHT: Mid-1960s cheesecake shot
The couple's marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1962, shortly after the birth of their son. After her divorce, with a son to support, Paluzzi went back to work in films and television. An interesting role for her came in the American International's follow-up to Beach Party (1963; with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello), titled Muscle Beach Party (1964; with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, and Peter Lupus). And today she's best remembered for her role as Bond villainess Fiona Volpe in Thunderball (1965; with Sean Connery and Martine Beswick).
the films of luciana paluzzi
Tank Force (1958)
LEFT: As Carola in the Columbia flick Tank Force. RIGHT: With co-star Victor Mature, who retired from films soon after this picture lensed
Return to Peyton Place (1961)
With future husband Brett Halsey in the potboiler Return to Peyton Place
Muscle Beach Party (1964)
LEFT and CENTER: Luciana Paluzzi admires Peter Lupus as Flex Martian in American International's beach party entry Muscle Beach Party. RIGHT: With Peter Lupus, Chet Yorton, and Larry Scott
The Man From U.N.C.L.E (1964-1968 NBC TV Series)
With Donald Harron in the episode The Four-Steps Affair, which originally aired March 22, 1965
Thunderball (1965)
LEFT: As femme fatale Fiona Volpe in the thrilling Bond film Thunderball. RIGHT: With fellow castmates Martine Beswick, Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, and Molly Peters
The Venetian Affair (1967)
Robert Vaughn finds that Luciana Paluzzi and her boss Roger C. Carmel have been murdered in the MGM action thriller The Venetian Affair
Chuka (1967)
With Rod Taylor as the title character in the western Chuka
The Green Slime (1968)
With Robert Horton in the MGM sci-fi flick The Green Slime
Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969)
With Robert Ryan and Nanette Newman in the MGM adventure Captain Nemo and the Underwater City
Black Gunn (1972)
From the Columbia action flick Black Gunn with Jim Brown, Gary Conway, Timothy Brown, William Campbell, and Bruce Glover
The Italian Connection (1972)
LEFT: With Woody Strode and Henry Silva in the violent Italian crime flick The Italian Connection. RIGHT: Paluzzi as Eva Lalli
luciana paluzzi today
Paluzzi's career remained strong in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, starring in action flicks such as Black Gunn (1972; with Jim Brown and Martin Landau), The Italian Connection (1972; with Henry Silva, Woody Strode, and Adolfo Celi), and The Klansman (1974; with Lee Marvin, Richard Burton, and Cameron Mitchell), often portraying a femme fatale. And she continued working in television on such shows as Search and Hawaii Five-O. However, Paluzzi retired from acting upon her 1980 marriage to Michael Solomon, with whom she lives in Bel-Air.
The Peter Sellers Collection [DVD] DVD
Six-disc set includes "Heavens Above!," "Hoffman," "I'm All Right, Jack," and "The Smallest Show on Earth"; plus "Carlton-Browne of the F.O." (AKA: "Man in a Cocked Hat"), available exclusively in this set, the delightful Boulting Brothers satire about the mad scramble of diplomats, businessmen and revolutionaries to a forgotten British-owned island after valuable mineral deposits are found there. Stars Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers and Luciana Paluzzi.
Desert Detour [VHS](1958) VHS
The endless sands are the setting for a deadly duel between two foes, with the hand of a beautiful princess and a valuable Uranium mine the prizes, in this thrilling action yarn. Omar Sharif, Jean-Claude Pascal, Gianna Marie Canale star. Dubbed in English.
Desert Detour [DVD](1958) DVD
The endless sands are the setting for a deadly duel between two foes, with the hand of a beautiful princess and a valuable Uranium mine the prizes, in this thrilling action yarn. Omar Sharif, Jean-Claude Pascal, Gianna Marie Canale star. Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English.
Journey To The Lost City [DVD](1959) DVD
An architect working in India stumbles across a magnificent city hidden deep in the jungle that's home to feuding princes, man-eating tigers, and a beautiful native dancer with whom he falls in love. Paul Christian, Debra Paget and Walter Reyer star in this exciting adventure, edited together from director/co-scripter Fritz Lang's German films "The Tiger of Eschnapur" and "The Indian Tomb." 95 min. Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
Hercules (1959)/Hercules Unchained [DVD](1960) DVD
Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed) mono; biographies; photo gallery; poster gallery; trailers. Dubbed in English.
Hercules (Widescreen Version) (1959)/Mole Men Against The Son Of Hercules [DVD](1961) DVD
First, the original "swords, sandals and sweat" spectacle "Hercules" stars Steve Reeves as the muscular Greek demigod who asks to be made mortal. Sylva Koscina, Fabrizio Mioni also star. Next, Etruscan hero Maciste (apparently Italian for "beefcake") battles a race of hideous albinos in their weird underground city, in "Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules." Mark Forest stars as the sandal-wearing muscle lad. 180 min. total. Widescreen (Enhanced)/Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed) Dolby Digital stereo. Dubbed in English.
Muscle Beach Party (1964)/Ski Party [DVD](1965) DVD
Surf's up! Frankie and Annette sure have their hands full at a "Muscle Beach Party," as gym owner Don Rickles and his strongmen try to take over the beach, lovesick heiress Luciana Paluzzi tries to snare Frankie, and Little Stevie Wonder stops by to perform "Happy Street." With Morey Amsterdam, Buddy Hackett, Peter Lorre. Next, Frankie trades in his board for some slats and hits the slopes with Dwayne Hickman to find why their gals are swooning over ski bum Aron Kincaid. ..with the guys resorting to dressing up as girls! "Ski Party" also stars Deborah Walley, Yvonne Craig, Robert Q. Lewis, and musical guests James Brown and Lesley Gore. 186 min. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Frenc
The One Eyed Soldiers [DVD](1966) DVD
A United Nations physician dies mysteriously, and his final words to the local police chief refer to the location of hidden treasure. Soon, the race is on to decipher his message and learn where the treasure is buried. Involved in the pursuit are the physician's daughter, an American newspaperman, the police chief and several unscrupulous characters. Dale Robertson, Luciana Paluzzi and Guy Deghy star in this gripping and sexy European crime suspenser. 90 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
The One Eyed Soldiers [VHS](1966) VHS
A United Nations physician dies mysteriously, and his final words to the local police chief refer to the location of hidden treasure. Soon, the race is on to decipher his message and learn where the treasure is buried. Involved in the pursuit are the physician's daughter, an American newspaperman, the police chief and several unscrupulous characters. Dale Robertson, Luciana Paluzzi and Guy Deghy star in this gripping and sexy European crime suspenser. 90 min.
O.S.S. 117: Double Agent [VHS](1969) VHS
When a secret agent has his face surgically altered to look like a notorious killer, he is soon arrested by the police. But then a secret crime organization busts him out of jail and offers him a job. He must make a very important killing! John Gavin, Curt Jurgens and Margaret Lee star.
Tragic Ceremony [DVD](1972) DVD
A forgotten shocker from director Riccardo Freda ("The Horrible Dr. Hichcock") tells of four hippies who are having fun frolicking in the sun, until a storm forces them to seek shelter. They wind up in a gothic mansion and encounter a Satanic cult which targets one of them for a human sacrifice. Camille Keaton ("I Spit on Your Grave"), Luciana Paluzzi and Tony Isbert star in this macabre effort with Manson murder allusions. 88 min. Standard; Soundtrack: Spanish; Subtitles: English. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Tragic Ceremony (Widescreen Version) [DVD](1972) DVD
A forgotten shocker from director Riccardo Freda ("The Horrible Dr. Hichcock") tells of four hippies who are having fun frolicking in the sun, until a storm forces them to seek shelter. They wind up in a gothic mansion and encounter a Satanic cult which targets one of them for a human sacrifice. Camille Keaton ("I Spit on Your Grave"), Luciana Paluzzi and Tony Isbert star in this macabre effort with Manson murder allusions. 87 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; featurette; theatrical trailer. In Italian with English subtitles.
Hired To Kill (La Mala Ordina) [DVD](1972) DVD
Luca Canali (Mario Adorf) thought he could put one over on the mob by hijacking their $6,000,000 drug shipment. The mob isn't known for their sense of humor, though...and they send two hit men (Henry Silva and Woody Strode) to remind Luca of that fact. Luciana Paluzzi, Franco Fabrizi co-star. AKA: "Hit Men," "Black King Pin," "The Italian Connection," "Manhunt." 90 min. Soundtrack: English.
Mean Mother [DVD](1973) DVD
After he's double-crossed by the Mob and his girlfriend is killed, a heroin smuggler vows vengeance--and gets it--in this explosive urban actioner. Clifton Brown (aka pop singer Dobie Gray), Dennis Safren, Luciana Paluzzi star. 89 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; audio commentary; theatrical trailer.
Medusa [VHS](1976) VHS
The Greek Isles are the setting for this tale of greed, forbidden love and revenge, as mining empire heir George Hamilton forms a deadly bond with gangster Cameron Mitchell. With Luciana Paluzzi. 103 min. AKA: "Twisted." 103 min.
filmography
Deadly Chase (1978) with Luc Merenda
The Greek Tycoon (1978) with Anthony Quinn, Jacqueline Bisset, Edward Albert, James Franciscus, Marilù Tolo, and Charles Durning
Nick the Sting (1976) with Luc Merenda, Lee J. Cobb, and Dagmar Lassander
The Secrets of a Sensuous Nurse (1975) with Jack Palance, Ursula Andress, and Daniele Vargas
The Maniac Responsible (1975) with Antonio Sabato
The Manhunt (1975) with Henry Silva
The Klansman (1974) with Lee Marvin, Richard Burton, Cameron Mitchell, O.J. Simpson, Lola Falana, David Huddleston, and Linda Evans
Mean Mother (1974) with Dobie Gray and Marilyn Joi
La Sbandata (1974)
The Six Million Dollar Man: Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973) with Lee Majors, Richard Anderson, Alan Oppenheimer, Elizabeth Ashley, Terry Carter, John Vernon, Maurice Evans, Leif Erickson, and David White
The Great Kidnapping (1973) with Lee J. Cobb and Jean Sorel
Medusa (1973) with George Hamilton, Cameron Mitchell, and Alana Stewart
The War Goddess (1973) with Helga Liné
Black Gunn (1972) with Jim Brown, Martin Landau, Brenda Sykes, Vida Blue, Stephen McNally, Keefe Brasselle, William Campbell, Bernie Casey, Gary Conway, and Bruce Glover
Tragic Ceremony (1972)
The Two Faces of Fear (1972) with George Hilton and Fernando Rey
The Italian Connection (1972) with Henry Silva, Woody Strode, Adolfo Celi , and Sylva Koscina
Colpo grosso, grossissimo... anzi probabile (1972) with Terry-Thomas
Come Together (1971) with Tony Anthony
Run for Your Life (1971) with Lang Jeffries
Powderkeg (1971) with Rod Taylor, Dennis Cole, Fernando Lamas, John McIntire, Michael Ansara, Tisha Sterling, and William Kerwin
Man of Legend (1971) with Peter Strauss, Tina Aumont, and Massimo Serato
The Secret of the Glass Soldier (1970) with Dale Robertson
Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969) with Robert Ryan and Chuck Connors
Playgirl 70 (1969)
Gunman of Ave Maria (1969) with Leonard Mann and Peter Martell
The Insatiables (1969) with Dorothy Malone, John Ireland, and Robert Hoffmann
Island of Despair (1969) with Maria Schell, Herbert Lom, Mercedes McCambridge, and Rosalba Neri
The Green Slime (1968) with Robert Horton and Richard Jaeckel
Now You See It, Now You Don't (1968) with Jonathan Winters, Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Jack Weston, and Richard Kiel
A Black Veil for Lisa (1968) with John Mills and Robert Hoffman
OSS 117 - Double Agent (1968) with John Gavin, Margaret Lee, Curd Jürgens, Rosalba Neri, and George Eastman
A Thousand and One Nights (1968) with Jeff Cooper
Chuka (1967) with Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine, John Mills, James Whitmore , and Michael Cole
The Venetian Affair (1967) with Robert Vaughn, Elke Sommer, Felicia Farr, Boris Karloff, Roger C. Carmel, Edward Asner, and Wesley Lau
The One Eyed Soldiers (1966) with Dale Robertson
Thunderball (1965) with Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Rik Van Nutter, Martine Beswick, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, and Lois Maxwell
Let's Talk About Men (1965) with Nino Manfredi, Margaret Lee, and Tony Anthony
I Kill, You Kill (1965) with Franco Franchi, Ciccio Ingrassia, Rosalba Neri, and Margaret Lee
Muscle Beach Party (1964) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, John Ashley, Don Rickles, Jody McCrea, Peter Lupus, Donna Loren, and Morey Amsterdam
Le vice et la vertu (1963) with Catherine Deneuve
Delitto e castigo (1963)
The Reluctant Saint (1962) with Maximilian Schell, Ricardo Montalban, Akim Tamiroff, and Mark Damon
Return to Peyton Place (1961) with Carol Lynley, Jeff Chandler, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor, Robert Sterling, Brett Halsey, and Tuesday Weld
Man in a Cocked Hat (1959) with Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers
Journey to the Lost City (1959) with Debra Paget
My Wife's Enemy (1959) with Marcello Mastroianni and Vittorio De Sica
Sea Fury (1958) with Stanley Baker, Victor McLaglen, and Joe Robinson
Si le roi savait ça (1958)
Tank Force (1958) with Victor Mature and Anthony Newley
Hercules (1958) with Steve Reeves and Sylva Koscina
La Donna che venne dal mare (1957)
Guaglione (1957) with Terence Hill
Mademoiselle Striptease (1956) with Brigitte Bardot
The Lebanese Mission (1956) with Gianna Maria Canale, Omar Sharif, Juliette Gréco, and Jess Hahn
Adriana Lecouvreur (1955)
Faccia da mascalzone (1955) with Valentina Cortese, Lee Patterson, and Rossano Brazzi
Il Vetturale del Moncenisio (1954) with Virna Lisi
My Seven Little Sins (1954) with Maurice Chevalier
Sua altezza ha detto no! (1953) with Jacques Sernas and Ugo Tognazzi
TELEVISION SERIES
Five Fingers, 1959-1960 NBC TV Series. Paluzzi portrayed Simone Genet
TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Hawaii Five-O, episode My Friend, the Enemy, originally aired April 13, 1978
The New Dick Van Dyke Show, episode Preston al Naturale, originally aired November 12, 1973
Tenafly, episode The Cash and Carry Caper, originally aired October 31, 1973
Search, episode A Honeymoon to Kill, originally aired January 10, 1973
Mr. Terrific, episode Matchless, originally aired January 9, 1967
12 O'Clock High, episode Face of a Shadow, originally aired September 23, 1966
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., episode The Dog-Gone Affair, originally aired September 13, 1966
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., episode The Four-Steps Affair, originally aired March 22, 1965
Burke's Law, episode Who Killed Marty Kelso?, originally aired February 28, 1964
Bonanza, episode The Dowry, originally aired April 29, 1962
Thriller, episode Flowers of Evil, originally aired March 5, 1962
The Tab Hunter Show, episode One Night in Paris, originally aired December 4, 1960
Hong Kong, episode To Catch a Star, originally aired November 30, 1960
Adventures in Paradise, episode Heads, You Lose, originally aired April 18, 1960
Have Gun - Will Travel, episode Unforgiven, originally aired November 7, 1959
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, episode Together, originally aired March 11, 1957
original posters and photos available from movie goods
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This page premiered July 24, 2008.
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