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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

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

Juliet Mills gained 25 pounds within 6 weeks to take on the role of Pamela Piggott.

---

Goofs

At the end of the movie, after the helicopter takes off, Pamela and Mr. Carlucci are shown walking and their shadows are on their right side and barely as long as they are tall, as if the sun is nearly overhead. The next shot is from the helicopter looking down at them and their shadows are behind them and at least 20 feet long, as if the sun is low in the horizon.

---

Quotes

Wendell Armbruster: [moving his face close to hers] Permesso?
Pamela Piggott: Why don't you just make a contribution to your favorite charity?
Wendell Armbruster: [firmly] *Permesso.*
Pamela Piggott: Avanti.

---

Connections

References Cool Hand Luke (1967)

---

Soundtracks

"Senza Fine"
Written by Gino Paoli

User Reviews

Lemmon and Wilder take to Europe

The great team of actor Jack Lemmon and director Billy Wilder create yet another classic in their repetoire of great films. In AVANTI! (which means "forward" in Italian), Lemmon plays Armbruster, a snobby American executive who travels to Italy to reclaim the body of his father after the latter dies of an autowreck. Little did Armbruster

know that his old man had a companion with him, a British lady whose daughter Pamela (Juliet Mills) is also present to claim her body. Though antagonists at first, Armbruster and Pamela are drawn together because of their parents' mutual interest. With a rich Italian

landscape (complete with an awesome view of the Mediterrean Sea), plus a typically great performance by Lemmon and a well-played one by Mills, make this a terrific romance flick.