Editing Franco Zeffirelli (section)

==Early life==
Zeffirelli was born Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli in the outskirts of [[Florence]], [[Tuscany]], Italy, after an affair between Florentine Alaide Garosi, a fashion designer, and Ottorino Corsi, a wool and silk dealer from [[Vinci, Tuscany|Vinci]]. Since both were married, Alaide was unable to use her surname or Corsi's for her child. She came up with "Zeffiretti", which are the "little breezes" mentioned in [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart's]] opera ''[[Idomeneo]]'', of which she was quite fond. However, it was misspelt in the register and became Zeffirelli.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biography.yourdictionary.com/franco-zeffirelli|title=Franco Zeffirelli Facts|publisher=Biography.yourdictionary.com|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> When he was six years old, his mother died and he subsequently grew up under the auspices of the English expatriate community and was particularly involved with the so-called [[The Scorpioni|Scorpioni]], who inspired his semi-[[autobiography|autobiographical]] film ''[[Tea with Mussolini]]'' (1999).

Italian researchers found that Zeffirelli was one of a handful of living people traceably consanguineous with [[Leonardo da Vinci]]. He was a descendant of one of da Vinci's siblings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36053229|title=Leonardo da Vinci's 'living relatives' identified|publisher=BBC.com|work=[[BBC News]]|date=15 April 2016|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

Zeffirelli graduated from the [[Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze]] in 1941 and, following his father's advice, entered the [[University of Florence]] to study art and architecture.<ref name="NYT2009">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/arts/music/19zeffirelli.html|title=Maestro Still Runs the Show, Grandly|work=The New York Times|date=18 August 2009|access-date=18 August 2009|last=Donadio|first=Rachel}}</ref> After [[World War II]] broke out, he fought as a partisan with the [[Italian resistance movement|Italian Resistance]], before he met up with British soldiers of the 1st Battalion [[Scots Guards (1914)|Scots Guards]] and became their interpreter. After the war, he re-entered the [[University of Florence]] to continue his studies, but when he saw [[Laurence Olivier]]'s ''[[Henry V (1944 film)|Henry V]]'' in 1945, he directed his attention toward theatre instead.

While working for a scene painter in Florence, he was introduced to [[Luchino Visconti]], who hired him as an assistant director for the film ''[[La Terra trema]]'', which was released in 1948. Visconti's methods had a deep impact on Zeffirelli's later work.<ref name="Y!Movies-biog">{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800025046/bio|title=Franco Zeffirelli Biography|publisher=Yahoo! Movies|access-date=18 August 2009}}</ref> He also worked with directors such as [[Vittorio De Sica]] and [[Roberto Rossellini]]. In the 1960s, he made his name designing and directing his own plays in London and New York City and soon transferred his ideas to the cinema.