20 stunning black and white photos of Italian screen stars of the 60s and 70s

A wonderful selection of pictures taken by one of the first Italian paparazzi, and later by the star photographer Tazio Secchiaroli. These shots remind of the time when Italian cinema was at the peak of success, and Italian actresses were considered the most beautiful in the world.

Tazio Secchiaroli (1925 - 1998) was an Italian photographer, known as one of the first paparazzi. In 1955, he founded the Roma Press Photo agency. Secchiaroli was the inspiration for the paparazzi character in Fellini's film La Dolce Vita. Most of Fellini's research into the profession of a tabloid journalist was simply to buy lunch for Secchiaroli and his friends and listen to their exploits.

Ironically, by the time the term "paparazzi" appeared, Secchiaroli had become more of an insider in the Italian film industry and had left behind paparazzi-style photographs. He became known for his informal candid portraits of movie stars both in the studio and at their homes.

Here are some of the movie stars he photographed at the peak of his career in the 1960s and 1970s.

Claudia Cardinale, 1961.

Vittorio De Sica on the set of the film "Marriage in Italian", Chinecitta, 1964.

Elsa Martinelli on the set of the film "The Tenth Victim", 1965.

Federico Fellini on the set of the film "8 and a half", 1963.

Fellini on the set of the film "Amarcord", 1974.

Sophia Loren in between takes on the set of the film "Arabesque", 1966.

Sophia Loren in a frame from the movie "The Priest's Wife", 1970.

Sophia Loren tries on a wig.

Sophia Loren during a break during the filming of the film "Once upon a time..." (C'era una volta), 1967

Sophia Loren during a break during the filming of the film "White, Red and ...", 1972.

Silvana Mangano with three children on the set of the film "The Last Judgment", 1961.

Silvana Mangano, 1961.

Marco Ferreri on the set of the film "Casanova 70", 1965.

Marcello Mastroianni on the set of the film "Casanova 70", 1965

Marcello Mastroianni on the set of the film "8 and a half", 1963.

Marcello Mastroianni and Marisa Mell in the film "Casanova 70", 1965

Pier Paolo Pasolini on the set of Accatone, 1961.

Virna Lizi in the film "Casanova 70", 1965.

Virna Lizi on the set of the film "Casanova 70", 1965.

Fellini jumps on the set of the movie "8 and a half", 1963.