Autograph Happy New Year Card Signed and Dated by Alberto Lattuada to Maria De Matteis. Milan, December 30th 1941. 9.2 x 14 cm. In 24°. In Italian. Excellent condition: As good as New. On the front, a b/w reproduction of Alida Valli's portrait. Collect or present this unique piece between the Italian film director of Piccolo Mondo Antico and the talented Italian costume designer, as if itwas a holy relic of the cinema world! Background In 1941 Alberto Lattuada devoted himself completely to cinema as assistant director of Mario Soldati for Piccolo Mondo Antico and as screenwriter of Ferdinando Maria Poggioli for Sissignora. Between 1942 and 1943 he directed his first two films deliberately drawn from literary works: first Giacomo the Idealist, based on the novel of the same name by Emilio De Marchi; subsequently La Freccia nel fianco, from the story by Luciano Zuccoli. Alberto Lattuada (1914 – 2005) The Italian film director, Alberto Lattuada, was the son of composer Felice Lattuada. Before entering the film industry, Lattuada's father made him complete his architecture studies even though he recognized his desire to make movies. He began his career as a screenwriter and assistant director on Mario Soldati's Piccolo mondo antico (''Old-Fashioned World'', 1940). The first film he directed was Giacomo l'idealista (1943). Luci del Varietà (1950), co-directed with Federico Fellini, was the latter's first directorial endeavour Maria De Matteis (Florence, 1898 - Rome, 1988). Maria De Matteis is famous in the world of cinema and theater as a costume designer. The teachings of Gino Carlo Sensani and professional experiences alongside directors such as Luchino Visconti, Orson Welles, Vittorio De Sica and Mario Soldati, led her to carry out a research based on the careful analysis of the intimate nature of the characters she dresses, and to find a personal stylistic code, in accordance with the various directorial intentions. She received the “Nastro d’Argento ”twice, first in 1953 for The Golden Carriage (1952) directed by Jean Renoir, then in 1961 for Mario Bonnard's Gastone (1960), while in 1957 he had obtained an Oscar nomination for War and peace (1955; War and Peace) by King Vidor. In 1971 she was awarded with the BAFTA Film Award for costumes of Sergej F. Bondarčuk's Waterloo (1970). This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no official proof of authenticity, however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising from misattribution