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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 February 2012
During its early years, entrepreneurs in the Italian film industry maintained a complicated relation with the state. The arrangements between the joint-stock company Società Anonima Stefano Pittaluga and the Italian government in the interwar period were typical. Initially, Italian banks financed productions, despite the difficulties entailed in assessing a film's potential profitability. Following the rise of Benito Mussolini, the state invested in the industry, viewing it as a means of building nationalism and shaping the country's culture. While the deal was disastrous for the quality of the films, it nevertheless enabled filmmakers to gain technical experience and acquire production facilities that they were later able to put to better use.
The author wishes to thank the anonymous referees for their valuable comments, which improved the article. For valued suggestions and informative discussions, the author is particularly indebted to Armando Cirrincione and Francesca Polese.
All currencies are expressed in contemporary values. Conversion is based on the real exchange rate. See Michele Fratianni and Franco Spinelli, “The Strong Lira Policy and Deflation in Italy's Interwar Period,” in Deflation: Current and Historical Perspective (Cambridge, U.K., 2004).
Translations from original Italian documents are the author's.
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