Upvote:4
If I were you, I would try applying for an ESTA with your Italian passport first. The ESTA form will ask about other citizenships, whereby you will fill in the passport number of your foreign passport.
Then, at the question whether you've been denied a visa, answer yes. I think (I'm not sure) it asks about further details, such as when it happened.
If it's denied, you need to apply for a visa, which you can do on your Italian passport. Make sure to bring any all proof of ties to France.