Dario Argento facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dario Argento
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Argento in 2014
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| Born | 7 September 1940 |
| Other names | Sirio Bernadotte |
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| Spouse(s) |
Marisa Casale
(m. 1968; div. 1972) |
| Partner(s) | Daria Nicolodi (1974–1985) |
| Children | 2, including Asia Argento |
| Relatives | Claudio Argento (brother) |
Dario Argento (born September 7, 1940) is a famous Italian film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for his work in the horror genre. He is especially famous for a type of Italian thriller movie called giallo. Because of his unique and scary movies in the 1970s and 1980s, people often call him the "Master of the Thrill."
Argento directed many influential films. His early works, known as the "Animal Trilogy," include The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971), and Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971). He also created "The Three Mothers" trilogy, which includes Suspiria (1977), Inferno (1980), and The Mother of Tears (2007).
Some of his other famous movies are Deep Red (1975), Tenebrae (1982), and Opera (1987). He also helped write the story for the famous Western movie Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Film
Dario Argento was born in Rome, Italy. His father, Salvatore Argento, was a film producer, and his mother, Elda Luxardo, was a photographer. Growing up around movies sparked his interest in filmmaking from a young age.
As a teenager, Argento started working as a film critic for a newspaper in Rome called Paese Sera. Writing about movies helped him learn what made a good story. Soon, he began writing screenplays himself. One of his first big projects was working with the famous director Sergio Leone on the story for the movie Once Upon a Time in the West.
Career as a Director
The Giallo Films of the 1970s
In 1970, Argento directed his first movie, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. It was a giallo film, which is an Italian style of mystery thriller. These movies often feature mysterious villains and suspenseful plots. The film was a huge success in Italy and made Argento famous.
He followed it with two more successful thrillers, The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971) and Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1972). These three films are often called his "Animal Trilogy" because of their titles.
After a short break from thrillers, Argento returned with Deep Red in 1975. Many critics and fans believe this is one of the best giallo films ever made. The movie's success made Argento an international star. His work even inspired other directors, like John Carpenter, who made the famous horror film Halloween.
Supernatural Horror and New Ideas
Argento's next film, Suspiria (1977), was different. It was a supernatural horror film about ancient witches. Suspiria was the first part of a trilogy called "The Three Mothers." The second film was Inferno (1980), and the final film, The Mother of Tears, came out much later in 2007.
In 1978, Argento worked with American director George A. Romero on the zombie movie Dawn of the Dead. Argento helped produce the film and also worked on the music for the European version of the movie.
Exploring New Styles in the 1980s
In the 1980s, Argento continued to make exciting films. He returned to the giallo style with Tenebrae in 1982. In 1985, he directed Phenomena, which mixed the thriller genre with supernatural fantasy. The film starred a young Jennifer Connelly.
His next big film was Opera (1987). The story is set in an opera house during a performance of Macbeth. The making of the film had many challenges. Argento's father passed away during production, and there were several other problems on set.
Films of the 1990s
In 1992, Argento filmed Trauma in the United States, starring his daughter, Asia Argento. The film uses one of Argento's favorite techniques: an optical illusion. A character sees a crime but doesn't understand what really happened, and the audience is tricked along with them.
His 1996 film, The Stendhal Syndrome, was the first Italian movie to use computer-generated imagery (CGI). The opening scene was filmed at the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Argento is the only director who has ever been given permission to film there.
Recent Work
In the 2000s, Argento continued to direct. He made The Card Player (2004), a thriller about a killer who plays online poker with the police. In 2007, he completed his "Three Mothers" trilogy with The Mother of Tears.
In 2012, he directed Dracula 3D, his own version of the classic vampire story. After a break from directing, he returned in 2022 with the film Dark Glasses.
Argento has also worked as an actor. In 2021, he starred in the film Vortex, and critics praised his performance.
Personal Life
From 1968 to 1972, Dario Argento was married to Marisa Casale. They have a daughter named Fiore Argento, who is an actress and costume designer.
Later, Argento was in a long-term relationship with actress and screenwriter Daria Nicolodi. They met in 1974 while working on the film Deep Red. Their daughter, Asia Argento, was born in 1975. Daria Nicolodi co-wrote Suspiria and acted in many of Argento's films. They separated in 1985.
His daughter Asia Argento is also a famous actress and director. She has appeared in many of her father's films, including Trauma, The Stendhal Syndrome, and Dracula 3D.
Other Projects
Dario Argento is involved with a horror memorabilia store in Rome called Profondo Rosso, which means "Deep Red" in Italian. The store is named after his classic film. It is managed by his friend and collaborator, Luigi Cozzi.
He has also contributed to video games. He helped with the story for the horror game Dead Space and provided his voice for a character in the Italian version of the game.
See also
In Spanish: Dario Argento para niños
