Avanti! (1972)

A successful businessman goes to Italy to arrange for the return of his tycoon-father's body only to discover dad died with his mistress of long standing.

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Samuel A. Taylor (play), Billy Wilder (screenplay),

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills, Clive Revill

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	Wendell Armbruster, Jr.
Juliet Mills	...	Pamela Piggott
Clive Revill	...	Carlo Carlucci
Edward Andrews	...	J.J. Blodgett
Gianfranco Barra	...	Bruno
Franco Angrisano	...	Arnold Trotta
Pippo Franco	...	Mattarazzo
Franco Acampora	...	Armando Trotta
Giselda Castrini	...	Anna
Raffaele Mottola	...	Passport Officer
Lino Coletta	...	Cipriani
Harry Ray	...	Dr. Fleischmann
Guidarino Guidi	...	Maitre D'
Giacomo Rizzo	...	Barman
Antonino Faà di Bruno	...	Concierge (as Antonino Faa' Di Bruno)

Storyline

Baltimore industrialist Wendell Armbruster crosses paths with London shop girl Pamela Piggott when they come to Ischia to pick up the bodies of her mother and his father, who have been killed in an automobile accident after a ten-year summertime affair. Straitlaced Wendell tries to avoid a scandal while free-spirited Pamela is impressed by the romantic setting. After some confusion with the bodies and a blackmail attempt by unscrupulous locals, Wendell and Pamela extend their parent's affair into the next generation.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | hotel | mistress | car accident | female nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

17 December 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Avanti

Filming Locations:

Amalfi Coast, Amalfi, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$2,750,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 530,716 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jalem Productions, Mirisch Corporation, The, Phalanx Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When recording the eulogy, Wendell says "The evil that men do", and then interrupts himself. This is a quotation from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" (Act 3, Scene II). The full line is "The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones".

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Goofs

Early in the film when Carlo Carlucci gets out of the hotel van to greet Wendell Armbruster Jr at the boat landing, a young boy walking with a women enters the scene from the right side and he is clearly waving at the camera.

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Quotes

J.J. Blodgett: [as the helicopter is approaching the Ischia heliport] Are you guys sure this is Ischia?
Helicopter pilot: Reasonably sure, sir.
J.J. Blodgett: Because I don't wanna land in Africa!
Helicopter pilot: That would be bigger, sir.

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Connections

References Rum Runners (1971)

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Soundtracks

"Un 'Ora Sola Ti Vorrei"
Words by Umberto Bertini (as Bertini) and music by Paolo Marchetti (as Marchetti)
Performed by Sergio Bruni

User Reviews

outstanding overlooked Wilder flick

This charming and whimsical flick has been a favorite of mine for years, and I am puzzled as to why it so neglected. There are five main reasons the film works so well, not necessarily in order of importance: 1) the cinematography of the isle of Ischia 2) Billy Wilder's direction 3) Jack Lemmon 4) Wilder's and Diamond's script 5) Clive Revill as the hotel manager. Little can be added to the generally favorable comments found here. My favorite scene: Wendell Armbruster's introduction to the Trotta family ("That's a lotta Trottas!"). Well worth a see!