Keywords

• This essay presents a still almost unknown aspect of Italian silent cinema: the comedy actress
• considered not as a mask
• but rather as a body. In this respect
• a very interesting case study is represented by the figure of film comedienne Armanda Giunchi. She was the principal of a comedy series produced by Cines and entitled to her own character: the «Lea» series between 1910 and 1916. In the meantime
• Giunchi also played in so many different genres
• even western and action movies
• because of her special physical talents. Giunchiâ€
• ™
• s acting peculiarity consisted in her ability to combine two different aspects in one single characterization: she made use of her body in a very free way
• yet at the same time she also managed to be extremely charming and feminine. In her performances Giunchi made use of both the free and unprejudiced movements of her body and a coquettish femininity: this was quite a revolutionary combination of elements for the time in Italian cinema. Leaâ€
• ™
• s comedies were made in the same period when the Vamp and the Diva myths were being established
• when even a small piece of skin revealed on the screen was enough to intrigue and scandalize both women and men