Light in the Piazza (1962)

Upper class Americans Noel and Meg Johnson have a twenty-six year old daughter named Clara Johnson. Clara suffered a head injury as a child which resulted in her being mentally disabled. ... See full summary »

Director:

Guy Green

Writers:

Elizabeth Spencer (story), Julius J. Epstein (screenplay)

Stars:

Olivia de Havilland, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Olivia de Havilland	...	Meg Johnson
Rossano Brazzi	...	Signor Naccarelli
Yvette Mimieux	...	Clara Johnson
George Hamilton	...	Fabrizio Naccarelli
Isabel Dean	...	Miss Hawtree
Moultrie Kelsall	...	The Minister
Nancy Nevinson	...	Signora Naccarelli
Barry Sullivan	...	Noel Johnson

Storyline

Upper class Americans Noel and Meg Johnson have a twenty-six year old daughter named Clara Johnson. Clara suffered a head injury as a child which resulted in her being mentally disabled. Clara's mental capacity is equivalent to that of a ten year old. In many social situations, Clara's disability can be passed off as a simple joy of life. The issue of Clara's care has placed a strain between Noel and Meg, the latter who clings to the hope that one day Clara can lead a "normal" life. While on an extended vacation through Italy, Meg and Clara meet a twenty-three year old Italian named Fabrizio Naccarelli in Florence. Fabrizio is instantly smitten with Clara, who returns the affection. Always protecting Clara, Meg initially resists Fabrizio's constant measures to insinuate himself into their lives. But as Meg learns more about Fabrizio and meets his family, Meg begins to believe a marriage between Fabrizio and Clara is Clara's chance for that normal life, all the while not telling the ...

---

Plot Keywords:

mental retardation | florence italy | based on novel | italy | reference to van johnson | 

---

Taglines:

YVETTE and GEORGE are new stars in your eyes

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Broadway production of the musical version of "The Light in the Piazza" opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York on April 18, 2005, ran for 504 performances and was nominated for the 2005 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Book and won for Best Score.

---

Goofs

When Mrs. Johnson walks around town on her own, just before she decides to go to the US consulate, there is, at one point, a clearly visible crowd of onlookers (and a man trying to keep them back by spreading his arms) in the background. There is nothing about the place or the circumstances that could explain their attitude; they are clearly all watching the shooting of the film.

---

Quotes

Meg Johnson: Nobody with a dream should come to Italy. No matter how dead and buried you think it is, in Italy, it will rise and walk again.

User Reviews

Intriguing romantic drama from slim best-seller

Olivia de Havilland is a worried mother travelling through scenic Italian locations with daughter Yvette Mimieux, who is mentally retarded. When a young Italian starts courting her daughter and showing up in the most unlikely places, de Havilland's predicament becomes apparent. Should she tell the truth or let her daughter marry the rather simple-minded Italian boy? The situation was better described in the novella by Elizabeth Spencer, but the Epstein brothers have given the screenplay some grace and humor--and de Havilland is superb as the doting mother. Rosanno Brazzi adds his brand of charm to the boy's father and there is a light touch of romance between him and de Havilland. George Hamilton is surprisingly convincing as the smitten Italian youth, Yvette Mimieux does well enough as the girl and Barry Sullivan does what he can with the thankless role of her stubborn father who would rather see her placed in an institution. All of it is nicely photographed in Italian locales and in wide-screen technicolor (see the letterbox version if you can). This unappreciated film is a minor gem--poignant, touching and humorous.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Light in the Piazza

Filming Locations:

Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$553,280 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1