Elvira Notari

She is credited as the first woman who made over 60 feature films and about 100 shorts and documentaries, quite often writing the subjects and screenplays, inspired by Naples.

Eduardo nicknamed his mother, "The General," based on her strong will and determination displayed in her film company.

[7] Notari's company stood out with their hand-colored film titles called Cinecittà, which were used to preview events and attractions.

[8] It was not until 1912 that the Dora Film company built a stage set, or teatro di posa¸ and became a full-fledged production house.

[11] By the 1920s, the Notari's films had to be distributed throughout the American market as they were denied national circulation in Italy, despite being one of, if not the most, successful and important production company of Italian Cinema for the times.

The films shined a light on aspects of Italian life that many found unsuitable to be portrayed.

The films often dealt with “crude language and sexual undertones,”[14] which tested the idea of censorship.

Furthermore, Notari’s decline came through Fascist intervention in her own home and she inevitable shifted to Hollywood-style film, including soundtrack over her original live singers signature, with her film Napoli terra d’amore (1928) being a disaster with her public.

[17] The feature films made by Notari were often based on Neapolitan (especially middle-class women) forms of drama.

Notari shifted to the sceneggiata, a hybrid theatrical form drawing on popular dramatic songs and the variety stage, by the early 1920s, and shot on the streets of Naples using non-professional actors.

[18] The amateur actors gave realistic vibes to her films, while each of Notari's scenes utilized the street as a natural stage filled with lights, crowds, and their voices alike, rather than shot in a Cinecittà.

Elvira Notari's work presented a lot of windows representing several aspect, as well as the city being of extreme importance, especially due to her style of location shooting.

[22] Elvira moved to Cava de ‘Tirreni, near Salerno, where she retired and eventually passed on 17 December 1946.

Rosè Angione as Nanninella in 'A Santanotte , 1922