Sara Forden’s Gucci Book Will Star Lady Gaga in the Movie

AMHS members may recall a talk by author and reporter Sara Forden in January 2018 on her book “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour and Greed.” Now she has given a virtual talk under the auspices of the Italian Cultural Society. During her virtual talk on June 7, 2020, she was joined by Robin Givhan, the Washington Post fashion critic, so there was an interesting back-and-forth between them on the state of Italian fashion. As Sara explained in her book, the Gucci family was quick to see an opportunity after the war to sell to the Americans, and by the time they opened their store in New York, to most Americans, Italian fashion meant “Gucci and Pucci.” The Gucci brand also led the way in being the first big luxury brand to go public. But as she explained during her AMHS talk, there was also a lot of controversy and strife among the generations of Guccis. Eventually, one of the family members, Maurizio Gucci, was murdered and his ex-wife Patrizia was convicted of arranging the killing. The book seemed perfect for a movie, and now production is ready to move forward as soon as the pandemic situation changes for the better.

Hollywood of course has basically shut down movie production, but Sara says the movie has financing, a screenplay is being written, and Ridley Scott will be the director. Lady Gaga (Stephanie Germanotta) will play the title role of Patrizia, “the black widow” social climber ex-wife who wore a fur coat and gold jewelry as she was taken into custody. Sara said Lady Gaga has already hired an acting coach to help her prepare for the role of Patrizia. Sara said she has already been conferring with the Italian screenwriter who plans to make Patrizia the narrator. Sara recalled that she once interviewed Patricia in her living room at home after her divorce and kept up a jailhouse correspondence. Sara said Patrizia was released after 18 years, and she now lives in Milan very close to the tribunal where she was convicted. She can sometimes be seen walking down the street with a parrot on her shoulder. How could this NOT be a movie, right? — Nancy DeSanti