Vittorio Cottafavi

The Profile

Italian film and television director from Modena (Roman by adoption), known for blending cinematic rigor with television storytelling, and for works across the 1960s–1970s including films and acclaimed Rai serials.

Native of Modena; Roman by adoption. Directed Il taglio del bosco (1963, 53 minutes), starring Gian Maria Volonté, adapted from Carlo Cassola; aired on September 19, 1963 within Rai’s “Racconti dell’Italia di oggi,” coordinated by Raffaele La Capria, with writing by Giuseppe Lazzari and Marcello Fondato. Also directed the TV serials I racconti di Padre Brown (1970–1971) and A come Andromeda (1972). The review cites I cento cavalieri (1964) among his best films and notes his effective use of non-professional actors.

A single review examines Cottafavi’s Il taglio del bosco (1963), a 53-minute TV film adapted from Carlo Cassola and starring Gian Maria Volonté. It highlights Cottafavi’s measured direction, use of non-professional actors, and the work’s place in Rai’s public-service tradition. The piece situates the film alongside his TV serials and notes I cento cavalieri (1964) among his standout features.