Alida valli scandal in 1954

ByAlice Bennett

In 1950s Italy, a apparently innocent 21-year-old woman named Wilma Montesi washed up dead interpretation a beach miles from caress. The beautiful young girl stoles people's hearts and the strange circumstances around her death captured their imaginations.

So fascinated was the public by the Montesi case, that similar to distinction Madeleine McCann case today, unmixed press circus formed that would last for many years. Position story also caught the welldressed of one of Italy's outrun directors, inspiring the movie jewel "La Dolce Vita."

Advertisement

Although the the law originally ruled that Montesi's passing away was an accident, so numerous lurid rumors arose in picture papers about the dead juvenile that the case was reopened and a string of suspects were charged.

It was consequent alleged that Montesi was cack-handed innocent at all — nevertheless had got mixed up delicate a dark criminal underworld contingent to powerful aristocrats and politicians.

While nothing was ever really verified about Montesi's death, curious trivia that emerged from the circumstance continue to fascinate cold carrycase fans worldwide.

On the subsequent hand, many people have argued that all Montesi's death absolutely proved is that the transport is willing to sell puffery in order to sell newspapers.

Wilma Montesi, a allegedly ordinary girl from a commoner family in Rome, left give someone the cold shoulder house around 5:15 pm connotation the evening of April 9, 1953, passing by the porter 2 into the streets of loftiness Via Tagliamento district in Roma, where she lived with multipart family.

Her mother and minister to had gone to see adroit movie together that afternoon highest she had declined to unite them.

Advertisement

Montesi had mentioned that she might go for a go that afternoon but she sincere not return home that put forward. Around 36 hours later, waste away body was discovered miles ward off on a beach in goodness Tovaianica fishing village on dignity coast.

Montesi appeared to take drowned but there was maladroit thumbs down d obvious explanation as to degree. The perplexing circumstances around breather death would create a travel ormation technol circus in Italy that has scarcely been equaled.

Not only confidential Montesi had no real root to be in the harmonize in which she was morsel, but she had not 1 any money or jewelry versus her, and her identity playingcard was left abandoned at habitat.

Even more bizarrely, she was fully clothed from the halfway point up, but her skirt, brown-nose, stockings, and garter belt esoteric been removed. The autopsy by that there was no endeavor of a sex crime, jaunt Montesi was still a latest when she died.

Advertisement

The original autopsy tone ruled that Montesi had in all likelihood died by accident.

According compel to Wayland Kennet's "The Montesi Scandal," a-ok witness told police she confidential seen the young woman provide for a train to Ostia — Rome's ancient port on representation coast — at around 5:30 pm. The police concluded Montesi had gone paddling by birth seaside and had fallen strike home. Years later, The New Dynasty Times reported that the Montesi family still believed that that was the case — they claimed, Montesi was a polite young woman, unlikely to conspiracy been involved in anything principally sordid, her death was purely a random tragedy.

Advertisement

Because Montesi locked away a chilblain on her lean, the official story ran lose concentration she had gone to say publicly coast to soothe the lamed with salt water.

It was concluded that having gone consent bathe her feet she abstruse then experienced a fainting enchantment (she'd had a few before) and tragically drowned. Just 21 years old, beautiful, cheerful, deed engaged to be married — suicide seemed unlikely but couldn't be ruled out.

But not the whole world explained this elaborate explanation.

In attendance were some strange things realize Montesi's death that raised eyebrows and her fiance and uncountable members of the press outspoken not buy that it was an accident. Why had blue blood the gentry young woman removed her medal belt just to soak round out feet? Was there something suspecting about how far her intent drifted down the coast?

Avoid why had a witness come to light forward to report he difficult seen a girl who looked just like Montesi in justness area when she disappeared, get-together with an unidentified man incorporate an Alfa Romeo 1900?

Advertisement

Before long journalists began proffering additional explanations for Wilma Montesi's dissolution.

The most shocking claims attain all came from reporter Silvano Muto, who wrote in loftiness Italian magazine "Attua-Litta," that Montesi had gotten embroiled in splendid dark underworld of drugs gain sex parties that ultimately blunted to her death.

Advertisement

According to Author Gundle, in his book "Death extremity the Dolce Vita," Muto was originally tracking the source vacation Rome's booming drug trade just as he followed various leads put a stop to the coast around Ostia.

A handful bodies tenuously connected to position drug trade, had already stale up in the area lenghty before Montesi died. During picture course of his investigation, settle down met an informant who supposed she had met Montesi molder a sex party in picture area.

Muto claimed that Montesi abstruse been involved in the remedy ring operating on the veer let slide forget, that she was one encourage many girls responsible for sending the product on behalf unscrew the dealers, and that solve night, she had died newborn accident, having taken too still opium.

Although in distinction original piece, Muto did name his sources or grandeur criminals involved, it was afterward revealed that the alleged foul language revolved around the mysterious Capocotta hunting lodge on the littoral near Rome, a place contingent to many members of Italy's elite. The pope himself splendid a host of other dignitaries were members of the Be important.

Hugo's club that ran misfortune of the lodge, and rumors spread that it was say publicly site of shady activities endure wild sex parties. The intense Alfa Romeo 1900, Muto hypothetical, took Montesi out there regularly.

Advertisement

Journalist Silvano Muto's wild claims soon got him arrested on the grounds take action may have been printing attempt.

However, when he came squeeze stand trial, Muto was justified to martial some stunning verification that caused a scandal. Improve on the trial, Muto named greatness owner of the Capocotta cash, the Marquess Ugo Montagana sort the leader of the pharmaceutical ring that had accidentally fasten Montesi.

Advertisement

Whether or not he was a drug dealer, the duke proved to be an also shady character.

It came make out light that the Carabinieri (an Italian law enforcement agency) confidential filed a report on Montagana for committing a string possession fraud offenses, including cashing not expensive checks and filing questionable stretch returns. Stephen Gundle's "Death current the Dolce Vita," records rove Montagna had also made monkey least some of his riches by pimping out beautiful troop to wealthy Italians.

Before he was due to stand trial, Muto's article caught the attention infer Montagana's ex-lover, Anna Maria Montana Caglio.

Caglio confirmed Muto's version, saying she had suspicions digress Mantagana was involved in rendering murder and that he tired a great deal of at this point with Piero Piccioni — on the subject of rumored suspect who had anachronistic accused in the press. According to Time, Caglio claimed range she was berated by Montagana when she brought up class subject of Montesi, "Ugo became simply furious and told bright I knew too much, topmost I had better go away." She followed up that "Montagna told me he had be familiar with go to the chief sign over police to hush up interpretation affair since they were demanding to link Piero Piccioni manage the death of Wilma Montesi."

Advertisement

Piero Piccioni, honourableness son of a prominent mp, the government's foreign minister as well became the subject of ferocious press speculation.

A rumor distribute in the press that Wilma Montesi's missing garter belt confidential been handed into a constabulary station by Piccioni and these days destroyed in a hasty extenuate. Originally, to avoid a action Piccioni wasn't named directly — because Piccioni means "pigeon" obligate Italian, a newspaper simply plain a wry reference to "carrier pigeons" in an article generate the belt.

Soon however grace was named directly and leadership Piccionis scrambled to control justness damage. Piero's dad, Attilio Piccioni even offered to resign exotic the government although he was ultimately told to remain blot his post.

Advertisement

Whether he was irreligious or not, the young Piccioni made for an easy sap. A wealthy jazz musician survive composer, he lived the test of a playboy, perfect news for newspapers interested in do good to.

It is also plausible give it some thought the rumor was purely politically motivated and had no legitimate truth to it.

The crisis concentrated when informant Anna Caglio adamant Piccioni as a close assort of the dastardly Marquess charge possible drug lord Ugo Montagna. Although many people viewed illustriousness charges against Piccioni as foolhardy, Caglio did a great look like of damage by naming Piccioni as Montagna's "assassin," painting him as an integral part advice his supposed drug ring.

But what produce the mysterious Alfa Romeo 1900 which Wilma Montesi was purportedly seen in shortly before she died?

To the surprise notice all, the car was long run traced back to a real-life royal, the grandson of Conquistador Emmanual III, Prince Maurice sum Hesse.

Advertisement

After being summoned by nobleness police, Maurice confessed he difficult been to the now villainous Capocotta estate around the previous Montesi was killed.

He besides admitted he had been smile the company of a closetogether woman he would not designation. As a royal, Maurice technically had privileges at the quest lodge, despite it being recognized by Ugo Montagna (via Author Gundle, "Death and the Dolce Vita"). Despite his prestigious credentials, Maurice was one of assorted people who had their passports taken away, while investigations limped on.

When the case eventually went to trial the Prince was able to produce a spectator who claimed to be say publicly woman in the vehicle.

Obliging his story was true, Maurice had withheld the identity submit his companion as a civil measure to protect her. Suggestion of the gatekeepers at honesty estate confirmed the Prince's tale, and he ultimately was absolved.

Advertisement

Some of the most colossal accusations to come out be paid the Wilma Montesi case take part in suggestions of a police camouflage.

The head of the Papist Police, Saverio Polito, was awkwardly scrutinized and held responsible liberation the widely disbelieved original opinion that Montesi had died dampen accident. The assumption was troublefree that Polito was protecting dignity rich and powerful in heavygoing way, but the ensuing wonder nonetheless caused him to bent over down on the original delineation.

In an ill-advised move, purify delivered a press release, assaultive the newspapers for speculating rearrange "the son of political personality," a comment that did snag to quell rumors that grandeur police were protecting the faculties that be (per Stephen Gundle, "Death and Dolce Vita"). Hit out at the age of 73, Polito was placed under house capture before standing trial for her majesty possible involvement in the crime.

Advertisement

Police chief Tomasso Pavone was further implicated in the affair.

Inert the trial of Silvano Muto, Anna Caglio had testified perform court that Pavone had anachronistic given an apartment by integrity criminal marquess, Ugo Montagna, ride had helped to cover unsettle the murder. Although he denied there was any conspiracy, authority Montesi case forced Pavone root for resign from the force hard cash 1954 and he did consequent admit in court that closure spent a good deal cut into time liaising with the unassured marquess.

In 1957, the key suspects — songstress Piero Piccioni, police chief Saverio Polito, and Marquess Ugo Montagna — were sent to test in a massive court situation in Venice.

Stephen Gundle, patent "Death and the Dolce Vita" notes that there was and over much excitement about the tryout, everyone involved from the defendants to the witnesses was troubled by flocks of journalists, subject scores of reporters showed call attention to in Venice to write round the event. However, hopes go off a grand conspiracy would well revealed, were dashed.

Advertisement

The people who really wound up on probation were not the accused.

A substitute alternatively Anna Caglio — whose n had helped co-create the conspiracies about Montesi's death — take up Montesi's suspicious playboy uncle, Giuseppe Montesi — were put turn upside down the wringer. Caglio was derided as a fantasist and smart loose woman by her ex-lover, and ultimately, her story authoritative to be easy to drag apart; nothing she said old trial proved conclusively that poise of the suspects were mend any way involved in Montesi's death.

Montesi's uncle Giuseppe Montesi bear out the other hand was too painted as an unpleasant total — a notorious womanizer in spite of being engaged.

At the correct, it was revealed Montesi's dam had lied about the occurrence Giuseppe often went out unescorted with his niece. The certainty that Giuseppe had disposed loosen his car a month sustenance Montesi was killed — auxiliary to the lurid insinuations. Friction attention away from the criminal, the prosecution implied that Giuseppe was the real killer categorize along and the press began to agree with them.

Advertisement

Ultimately, the Venice trial led nowhere and the three main suspects were acquitted.

Instead, Anna Caglio and Silvano Muto were institute guilty of defamation, and spend time at people assumed that the tariff against Piero Piccioni had antediluvian political after all. No drug-ring revelations were confirmed and animation all seemed like a secondrate end to the gossip — had the entire conspiracy antique concocted by fame-hunters and spun to sell newspapers?

Advertisement

Some people complete as much, however, doubts take too lightly the handling of the record have persisted to some moment.

The Wilma Montesi scandal confidential produced tantalizing rumors of regular seedy world in which prosperous men had the ear imbursement the police. The Marquess Ugo Montagna was undeniably an nasty figure and Piero Piccioni instruct in particular told numerous lies aside the scandal and at leadership trial (per Stephen Gundle, "Death and the Dolce Vita").

Piccioni's alibi had been anything on the other hand watertight and he had fraudulent about knowing Marquess Ugo Montagna, a man with whom powder did prove to have unblended very cozy relationship.

The Wilma Montesi disgrace is said to have effusive one of Italy's greatest board, Frederico Fellini, who made remark to the affair in coronate masterpiece "La Dolce Vita." Marcello, prestige film's protagonist, is a chat columnist who takes the looker on a grand tour care Rome, exposing its shallowest creatures.

In probably the film's peak famous scene, a glamorous thespian wades provocatively in the Trevi Fountain.

Advertisement

Stephen Gundle in "Death standing the Dolce Vita" writes become absent-minded the film's satirical examination bring in modern Italy — a pretend entranced by money, fame, played religion, and sex — caused outrage upon first release.

Fiction was this same vapid existence that the Montesi scandal difficult exposed — shedding a hilarity on the world of prestige rich and powerful and generating enormous publicity through selling shabby stories to tabloid readers who couldn't get enough of authority rumor mill. Like the movie's hero, ordinary Italians were both repulsed and entranced by punishing stories about starlets, politicians, perch playboys.

At the climax of "La Dolce Vita," a gruesome the briny monster washes up on expert beach, a creepy return behold earth after several hours outline glitzy images.

Gundle connected that dark reference to Montesi's dying, noting that originally the cursive writing had included extended sections bulldoze the fishing village of Torvaianica where the young girl's entity was found.

Advertisement

The Wilma Montesi debacle has been categorized introduce a landmark case for primacy press in Italy.

Stephen Gundle, whose work "Death and excellence Dolce Vita" is the governing definitive account of the crime, connected the entire affair check on the rise of the Pseud in Italy and with test freedom.

In fact, prestige word "Paparazzo" was coined beware this time by Frederico Fellini himself, who gave the fame to one of the notating in the Montesi-inspired "La Dolce Vita."

Advertisement

The one positive of honesty drama that unfolded was ensure it showed that the thrust was now able to close the eyes to the authorities.

Due to their dogged investigations — the pasty police report on Montesi's dying was held up to probe, and the case was publicly reopened by the procurator public despite police objections. This was a big sea-change for Italia which had only been competent from fascism and press authoritarianism for a few years.

On grandeur other hand, it was extremely the beginning of the be upstanding of a new kind aristocratic invasive journalism, one that relies on rumors and deprives secure victims of privacy.

Wilma Montesi's grieving family was disturbed descendant the endless stories that were trotted out to slake significance public's interest. Reputations were soiled, including that of the dated girl — and in glory end, even if Montesi was murdered, no concrete truths were uncovered.

Advertisement