Snaps of Italian American filmstars and politicians captured by America's first and most mischievous paparazzi Ron Galella are drawing big crowds to the southern Italian city of Matera.
Some 70 pics from 78-year-old Galella's heyday in the 1950 and '60s feature the likes of Anna Magnani, Monica Vitti, Francis Ford Coppola, Bernardo Bertolucci, Robert De Niro, Sophia Loren, Rudy Giuliani and Mario Cuomo.
The Italian Icons show by Galella, whose ancestors left the region for America, has been hailed by critics like Gianni Romano who said:''Galella belongs to the golden age of the paparazzi, the time that recalls (Federico) Fellini and Rome's Dolce Vita''.
Romano said the showbiz photojournalism of the time was ''a far cry from today where virtual nobodies get quick fame after appearing on TV shows''.
Galella is most widely known for his photographs of celebrities and his technique, which was innovative in the mid-1950s, of catching the subjects of his photos in everyday settings or surprising them to capture their reactions.
This technique resulted in a lawsuit by Jackie Onassis and an injunction against Galella in 1972 after a very public trial (Onassis v. Galella).
He was restricted from coming within 100 yards of her home and 50 yards from her or her children.
In June 1973, Marlon Brando broke Galella's jaw and knocked out four of his teeth. Brando's hand became infected as a result.
Galella later took to wearing a football helmet when photographing Brando.
Brigitte Bardot once enlisted some friends to soak Galella with a hose.
After attempting to take hidden camera photos of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor poolside in Mexico, Burton's bodyguards kicked Galella in the jaw and gave him a beating that sent him to hospital.
Sean Penn also once spat on Galella while being photographed.
Galella was undeterred and while continuing to get close to celebs, found time to write a number of bestselling books including: Jacqueline (1974); Offguard: A Paparazzi Look at the Beautiful People (1976); Jackie Oh! (1978); The Photographs of Ron Galella 1960-1990 (2002); Ron Galella: Exclusive Diary (2005); Disco Years (2006); Warhol by Galella: That's Great! (2008); and No Pictures (2008).
