PEPLUM Babe of the Month : Rosanna Schiaffino

Rosanna Schiaffino's first movie role was in a TOTO film. Her second role was in ROLAND THE MIGHTY directed by Pietro Francisci, her first major role in a PEPLUM film. It's great fun and Rosanna gives a cool performance in it as a beauty who causes trouble within the paladin's camp. After appearing in several films mostly set in contemporary times her next big PEPLUM role was the dual role in THE MINOTAUR. Rosanna plays twins, one who is a Princess Freda, who's evil, and the other is Ariadne, exiled to live with peasants from birth, this to insure that the twins wouldn't be sacrificed to the Minotaur. I can't say enough good things about this dual role. It would become her signature PEPLUM role and never looked lovelier in it.

Rosanna Schiaffino would appeared in a dozen or so PEPLUM films during her career, most of those being historical dramas such as DUBROWSKY, THE MANDRAKE, EL GRECO. Rosanna had the good chance to appear in some major Hollywood productions or co-productions such as TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN and THE LONG SHIPS, ranking her in status along other Italian actresses such as Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Virna Lisi and Anna Magnani.

Uploaded to the BABES and BEAUTIES page.

ROLAND THE MIGHTY

Rosanna with costar Rik Battaglia in ROLAND THE MIGHTY

THE MINOTAUR

As Princess Freda

Princess Freda and Ariadne meet for the first time

A smiling Ariadne enjoys a feast. Bob Mathias was her co-star in THE MINOTAUR

Princess Freda gives instructions to Chirone (Alberto Lupo) while overlooking a feast

A photo of Rosanna in a scene cut from the final film; Rosanna is PEPLUM perfection here

Ariadne in the labirynth-like cavern where the Minotaur resides, pulling a thread from her dress to make sure she'll find her way back

Rosanna Schiaffino looks absolutely tiny against the Minotaur. Either she's tiny in real life or that man-in-suit is massive. Cool photo.


BLOOD ON HIS SWORD

Rosanna co-starred with Jean Marais (left) in this Swashbuckler

ROMULUS AND THE SABINES

Rosanna had a cameo in ROMULUS AND THE SABINES; she played Venus in a dream sequence dreamt by Romulus (Roger Moore). Jean Marais, his back to us, played Mars in the dream.


THE LONG SHIPS

Rosanna co-starred with Sidney Poitier in THE LONG SHIPS

Various films

DUBROWSKY with John Forsythe

EL GRECO with PEPLUM star Ángel Aranda

Rosanna with Anthony Quinn in THE ROVER

Rosanna in HECTOR THE MIGHTY, a raunchy send-up of HELEN OF TROY set in modern times


Non-PEPLUM films and pin-up photos:

From ARRIVEDERCI, BABY!

From CORRUPTION with Jacques Perrin