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) (as Samuel Taylor), 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	...	Arnoldo 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:

female frontal nudity | blackmail | italy | mistress | hotel | 

---

Taglines:

When someone knocks on your door and says permesso?...be careful before you say Avanti!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

17 December 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Avanti, Avanti!

Filming Locations:

Faro di Carena, Capri Island, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$2,750,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$3,300,000, 31 December 1973

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,500,000, 31 January 1974

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Mirisch Corporation,Phalanx Productions,Jalem Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

144 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".

---

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

Pamela Piggott: [Talking about her ex-boyfriend] The bastard walked out on me. Stole my telly, two Picasso posters, and my hair dryer. Moved in with some skinny girl in Kensington... When I found out, would you believe I tried to kill myself?
Wendell Armbruster: No!
Pamela Piggott: Yes. I took my week's salary, bought myself a suitcase full of fish and chips and a dozen bottles of Guinness stout, and tried to eat myself to death. Took them hours to pump my stomach out.
Wendell Armbruster: Was it worth it, for a guy like that?
Pamela Piggott: It was stupid. But I've learned my ...

---

Connections

Edited into Jerry Maguire (1996)

---

Soundtracks

Core 'Ngrato
Lyrics by Riccardo Cordiferro (as Cordiferro) and music by Salvatore Cardillo (as Cardillo)
Performed by Sergio Bruni

User Reviews

Funny but overlong comedy set on IItalian scenarios by the genius Billy Wilder

This amusing motion picture deals with a rich businessman named Wendel Ambruster , a frenzied Jack Lemmon , heads to Italy to arrange for the return of his tycoon-father's corpse , dead while on vacation , only to discover dad died with his mistress of long standing. The dyspectic businessman discovers daddy has been romancing a mistress these many years ago and he finds himself falling in love with the woman's daughter . Later on , the stuffy millionaire is seduced by Italian lifestyle and the charms of an attractive Juliet Mills .

Enjoyable , too long and fun-filled comedy which neatly combines humor , mirth , entertaining situations and amusement . Based on playwright by Samuel Taylor , being well adapted by Billy Wilder and his usual I.A.L. Diamond . Magnificent performances from Jack Lemmon as angst-ridden middle-aged man and Juliet Mills more relaxed and enticing than ever . Furthermore , a splendid secondary cast as a Clive Revill and Edward Andrews who have never been better ; plus a variety of Italian support cast who makes sympathetic interpretations . Colorful and shimmer cinematography under continental sunshine filmed on location in Amalfi Coast , Sorrento , Naples , Campany , Italy . Emotive and lively musical score full of Italian songs and Mediterranean sounds by Carlo Rustichelli . This is a fine film but inferior to Wilder's former works ; it belong his last period when realized nice though unsuccessful movies as ¨Buddy buddy¨,¨Fedora¨ , ¨Front page¨and ¨Secret life of Sherlock Holmes¨. Rating : Good , though overlength but still completely entertaining .