Complete credited 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 | |
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Renzo Palmer | ... | Mayor |
Giovanna Galletti | ... | Countess | |
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James Mishler | ... | Stubby |
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Dale Cummings | ... | Pete |
Philippe Leroy | ... | Vittorio |
Twenty years after their initial war-time visit three U.S. servicemen hold a reunion at an Italian village. They all have fond memories, especially of local girl Carla. But she has been telling each of them that they are the father of her daughter Gia, so they have all been paying well for her upbringing. As this dawns on the threesome old rivalries surface, but times have changed and complications such as wives, middle-age, and the need to protect Gia's future start to surface. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
Absurd but fun little comedy enlivened by Gina's feisty performance in the lead.
The supporting cast is sprinkled with quality performers all giving good performances, even the usually obnoxious Silvers comes across well, but this is Gina's show and she carries the film easily. Most of the supporting players are simple types that the actors manage to flesh out the best they can. Telly Savalas and Lee Grant take theirs one step further and create a believably troubled couple who have spent so many years battling they fail to realize that what they both want is the same thing. On the surface they seem mismatched but because of subtle playing they expand the character beyond what was on the page.
Back to Gina, under the direction of the competent Melvin Frank, whom had guided her through Strange Bedfellows previously, she has a fine comic sensibility never betraying any doubt that the preposterous situation she finds herself in doesn't make perfect sense. And boy is she a stunner!
Full to the brim with beautiful scenery shot in glorious Technicolor, marred only by obvious but probably necessary process shots while Gina is driving, you'll want to jump a plane to Italy at the film's conclusion.
A potential seamy subject that could have devolved into crassness is handled with the proper light touch making this a genial farce and terrific showcase for Miss Lollobrigida.