Summertime: Rossano Brazzi’s Gray Suit

Rossano Brazzi as Renato de Rossi in Summertime (1955) Vitals Rossano Brazzi as Renato de Rossi, antique store owner Venice, Summer 1954 Film: Summertime Release Date: June 21, 1955 Director: David Lean Costume Designer: Rosi Gori (uncredited) WARNING! Spoilers ahead! Background Prolific Italian actor and director Rossano Brazzi was born 110 years ago tomorrow on September 18, 1916. An on-screen fixture of Italian cinema since the late 1930s, Brazzi rose to global fame after three consecutive roles as a suave Italian romancing American women visiting his country in The Barefoot Contessa (1954), Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), and Summertime (1955). The latter paired Brazzi opposite Katharine Hepburn, who portrayed American secretary Jane Hudson visiting Venice at the end of her lifelong dream vacation to Europe. Over evening drinks in Piazza San Marco, she spies the dashing antiques dealer Renato de Rossi (Brazzi), who romantically pursues her with goblets and gardenias until the…