Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968)

Carla Campbell receives maintenance payment from three former soldiers who all believe themselves to be the father of her daughter, Gia.

Director:

Melvin Frank

Writers:

Melvin Frank, Denis Norden

Stars:

Gina Lollobrigida, Shelley Winters, Phil Silvers

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

Cast

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
Renzo Palmer	...	Mayor
Giovanna Galletti	...	Countess
James Mishler	...	Stubby
Dale Cummings	...	Pete
Philippe Leroy	...	Vittorio

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | italian | world war two | small town | kitchen | 

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Taglines:

Who Done It?

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

December 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

Filming Locations:

Rocca Canterano, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Connaught Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color Color (Widescreen Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Melvin Frank previously directed Gina Lollobrigida in Strange Bedfellows (1965).

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Goofs

Justin Young says that the cumulative total payments the three men paid to Carla, "over 20 years, compounded at six percent interest, would come to $197,000." That figure is $40,000 too high. The correct amount would be just over $157,000.

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Quotes

Lauren Young: [During arrival, in the Rome airport] Don't look now, but I've just had my bottom pinched.
Justin Young: Welcome to sunny Italy!

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Connections

References Knute Rockne All American (1940)

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Soundtracks

Buona Sera
Sung by Jimmy Roselli
Music by Riz Ortolani
Lyrics by Melvin Frank

User Reviews

Gina's in a pickle

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.