Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Melvin Frank

Writers:

Melvin Frank (written by) &
Denis Norden (written by) ...

Release Date:

December 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Who Done It?

Plot:

Carla Campbell receives maintenance payment by three former GIs who all believe to be the father of her daughter Gia.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Gina Lollobrigida	...	Carla Campbell
Shelley Winters	...	Shirley Newman
Phil Silvers	...	Phil Newman
Peter Lawford	...	Justin Young
Telly Savalas	...	Walter Braddock
Lee Grant	...	Fritzie Braddock
Janet Margolin	...	Gia Campbell
Marian McCargo	...	Lauren Young (as Marian Moses)
Naomi Stevens	...	Rosa
Renzo Palmer	...	Mayor
Giovanna Galletti	...	Countess
James Mishler	...	Stubby
Dale Cummings	...	Pete
Philippe Leroy	...	Vittorio

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:M | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Connaught Productions

Trivia:

The plot of three potential fathers vying to prove they fathered a child was used many years later in Mamma Mia! (2008).

Movie Connections:

References Ferdinand the Bull (1938)

Soundtrack:

The Army Air Corps Song

Screwball Comedy With Plenty Of Heart and Soul

La Lollabrigida is magnificent as Carla Campbell who had a baby from a G. I. during World War II, but didn't know which of three possible American soldiers it was, so she writes each telling him the son is his. And they all faithfully send child support -- for twenty years. With Phil Silvers, Shelly Winters, Lee Grant, Telly Savalas and Lee Grant on hand, this could easily have gone way overboard into silly farce. Instead, it blends its pathos, drama, and comedy as seamlessly as it blends its gorgeous Italian landscapes and backdrops with its Hollywood sound-stages. Savalas and Grant are particularly good as the most interesting of the three couples but all are good. Janet Margolin does a good job of giving us a feel for Gina and the Italian actor that plays Gina's faithful friend is marvelous in his few scenes.

Highly recommended. 9/10.