A special tribute to Joseph Calleia

Following the success of the 30th anniversary screening of Midnight Express at the Old University last month, Cinema Forum Group, Malta's new answer for profound discussion and reflection on film, are screening the 1946 black and white film noir Gilda as a tribute to Joseph Calleia, who passed away 33 years ago.

Gilda is an intricate noir in which Rita Hayworth, as the titular femme fatale, is placed by her mobster club-owner husband in the care of Johnny (Glenn Ford), a small-time hood who also happens to be her ex-lover. A chain of events involve a Latin detective, Maurice Obregon (Joseph Calleia) who investigates the dealings of the casino owner.

Not many local people know this but we actually had a Maltese actor who walked on the red carpet among Hollywood's greats of the likes of sizzling starlet Mae West and the deep-voiced actor Orson Welles, who starred in a vast array of roles in over 50 films.

From his humble beginnings, having been raised in Rabat, Calleia went a long way from touring the European theatre circuit with his harmonic band to starring in supporting roles on the Broadway stage and eventually landing in Hollywood and achieving the limelight among the rising stars of Hollywood, some of whom would eventually become legends. Calleia's contract was sealed in Hollywood in 1931, where he starred in a string of roles before making his screen debut in 1935 with appearances in two B-films: His Woman (1931) and The Girl in the Cab (1933).

Thanks to his distinctive look and presence onscreen Calleia would play either detectives with a hidden agenda or shady villains with a nifty surprise in store.

Undoubtedly, Calleia's most memorable roles are those of Sonny Dinky Black, a razor sharp criminal in Public Hero No. 1(1935), followed by that of Nick, a womaniser, alongside Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney in Riff Raff which was released in the same year. Not to mention the shady Inspector Slimane in the Casablanca-inspired Algiers (1938), where his role was characterised by the turban that he wore repeatedly and which went on to influence dodgy characters such as Bhundi, played by Harvey Jason in the 1982 adventure serial Bring'em Back Alive.

Another role Calleia is famous for is as the elderly storyteller Buldeo in the 1942 film adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic book, The Jungle Book, where, in a fit of rage, he tries to kill the main character Mowgli, played by Sabu Dastagir.

Calleia played another detective, Pete Menzies, who meet to an untimely death in the renowned 1958 film Touch of Evil alongside Charlton Heston and Orson Welles.

Interestingly Calleia would play a priest, Fr Loma, who must convince a man to step forward to save an innocent fellow from being sent to the electric chair in Full Confession (1939), which, incidentally, was banned from Maltese cinemas.

The renowned actor was also known for his writing skills as Calleia wrote the screenplay for the western take on Robin Hood with The Robin Hood of El Dorado which was released in 1936.

It's hard to believe that 32 years after his passing away there were very few attempts to revive interest in this man, apart from the efforts of renowned film enthusiast Lino Cassar who launched a set of two postage stamps in celebration of Joseph Calleia's artistic talents and self-proclaimed Joseph Calleia connoisseur Eman Bonnici who was the catalyst in the erection of a bust at his birth place in Rabat.

Let's just hope that with the screening of Gilda as a means to revive interest in an actor who left our shores to seek fame and fortune abroad, we will witness more national initiatives vested into celebrating this man's life, who is after all, a part of our history and pop culture lifeline.

• The screening of Gilda is being held at the Old University Courtyard in St Paul Street, Valletta, in collaboration with KRS on Friday at 8.45 p.m. A short discussion will be held before and after the screening.

• Anybody who got to know Joseph Calleia or would like to share his thoughts is welcome to participate in the discussion. More information may be obtained by phone on 9905 2482.