For years, Ron Galella, “the godfather of U.S. paparazziculture,” has provided the world a glimpse into the off-limitsworld of celebrity. With Viva l’Italia! , a deeper and moreprobing Galella emerges. He sets out to find his own Italianroots, and in so doing, takes us on viaggio as he combshis vast archive for images of Italian and Italian-Americanactors, artists, and fashion designers, along with a widerange of other cultural icons.

Galella’s tour begins in Rome’s famed Cinecittà whereFederico Fellini relaxes between takes on a film set. It wasFellini who proclaimed, “paparazzi are bandits of images,”coining the word with his character Señor Paparazzo in La Dolce Vita . As he continues on, Galella presents us withrare portraits of Italy’s most famous sons and daughters,including Isabella Rossellini, Silvana Mangano, MarlonBrando, Monica Bellucci, Carla Bruni, and Sophia Loren.Never one to shy away from bad boys, he even includes the“Dapper Don,” John Gotti, emerging from federal court inManhattan.

The appeal and power of Galella’s beautiful photography iscomplimented by extemporaneous quotes he has amassedover a half-century of travel and celebrity encounters. “Youlook Italian,” quipped Anna Magnani as Ron captured her inRome, during the filming of The Secret of Santa Vittoria , withVirna Lisi and Anthony Quinn.

Some crossed the ocean, some changed their names,some were born in disparate locations as with Dean Martinof Steubenville, Ohio, and Frank Sinatra of Hoboken, NewJersey; but they all brought with them passion born ofItaly—love of cinema, music, art, and fashion—as Galellatriumphantly proclaims with Viva l’Italia!