This week on The Italian Radio Hour: In conversation with Larry Richert (Producer of the documentary) and Bruno's son Darryl Sammartino.
Not only Bruno's achievements as an athlete with unprecedented sold out matches at Madison Square Garden as a headliner but also how his story on how he and his family escape from the tragedies of WWII, have made Bruno Sammartino a great inspirational figure for people all over the world.
Bruno was the son of Italian immigrant parents, who looked out at that world of privileged fame with the eyes of a boy whose family fled the Nazi invasion of their home in Italy, feared for their lives at the hands of Hitler’s SS Troop’s, were nearly machine gunned to death execution style and suffered malnutrition and near-fatal illness only to arrive in a country where his inability to speak the language and his poor physical health as a 13 year old 75 pound that made him a focus of ethnic ridicule and an easy target of schoolyard bullies.
Throughout his life, Bruno faced his own moments of challenge both in and out of the wrestling ring. This documentary provides an in-depth look at the man who holds honor above fame and dignity above fortune. It provides Bruno the opportunity to share the truth behind the speculation and allows others intimately involved with his life to share their experiences about the man behind the titles. Historic images and films plus recreations supplement the interviews and provide a chronological thread for detailing Bruno’s improbable rise to become the strongest man in the world.
Additionally, Arnold Schwarzenegger flew from a movie set in California to Madison Square Garden just to induct Bruno into the WWE Hall-Of-Fame in 2013.
Watch the video interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MofPhnAKDgQ
www.istitutomondoitaliano.org