The famed Italian film actress and International movie star Gina Lollobrigida has died at age 95. “Lollo” (nicknamed in her native Italy) starred in 67 films, including co-starring with Errol Flynn in the under-rated, comic swashbuckler, “Crossed Swords” (1954). Miss Lollobrigida was by far a finer dramatic screen actress then her rival Sophia Loren. On top of that Gina displayed a genuine, natural flair for comedy in such films as “Hotel Paradiso” (1966) with Alec Guiness and Robert Morley, the hilarious “Buona Sera Mrs. Campbell” (1967) with Peter Lawford, Phil Silvers, Telly Savalas, and Shelley Winters, and wartime laughs in “The Private Navy Of Sgt. O’Farrell” (1968) starring opposite lucky Bob Hope, with Jeffrey Hunter and Phyliss Diller!
Gina Lollobrigida’s passing means that as of this date there are only four, surviving leading ladies of Errol Flynn. Whom? Do not include the charming child actresses Patti Brady of “Never Say Goodbye” (1947), or Sherry Jackson from the unseen “Hello God” (1951), both of whom are still with us.
— Ralph Schiller
