Born in 1930 in Genoa, the young student got a role in the film Achtung Banditi! in 1950, directed by Carlo Lizzani. This experience led him to travel to Rome, where he acted in film and theater, and became the assistant director to Lizzani, Gillo Pontecorvo, Sergio Leone, and Francesco Rosi.
In 1960, he made his debut as a director with Pigeon Shoot, a film about the Partisan Resistance, which competed at the 1961 Venice Film Festival. His second movie, The Reckless, won the special prize of the jury at the Berlin Film Festival in 1965, and it's about a social climber in Italy during the time of the economic miracle.
Montaldo also directed the second unit of Pontecorvo's masterpiece The Battle Of Algiers in 1965. After filming for Paramount, he returned to Italy to direct The Fifth Day of Peace, Sacco and Vanzetti, and Giordano Bruno, which received great recognition and were widely appreciated at various film festivals around the world.
In 1977, he directed And Agnes Chose to Die, which explores the theme of the Resistance. In 1980, he engaged in the production of a television series about the exploration of Marco Polo, an international co-production with RAI, BBC, and NBC, which was filmed in 76 nations and won 4 Emmy Awards.
Montaldo's experience with China reveals a turning point in his work. He also directed Closed Circuit, A Dangerous Toy, The Gold Rimmed Glasses, Control, and Time to Kill, among others. Always worked with an international cast, including Burt Lancaster, Rupert Everett, Nicolas Cage, and many others.
Some of his usual collaborators have been score composer Ennio Morricone and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. Montaldo is also internationally recognized as an Opera director, and directed commercials, documentaries, and experimental film technology projects. From 1999 to 2004, he was president of RAI Cinema, a major film production company, for which the movies he produced became box office hits, won awards all over the world, and formed a new generation of Italian directors.
In 2001, he was appointed Cavaliere di Gran Croce by the president of Italy, one of the top honors of the Republic.
