Macaroni (1985)

A businessman from the United States returns to Italy for the first time in four decades, only to discover that old friends have involved him in a massive hoax.

Director:

Ettore Scola

Writers:

Ruggero Maccari (screenplay), Furio Scarpelli (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Marcello Mastroianni, Daria Nicolodi

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	Robert Traven
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Antonio Jasiello
Daria Nicolodi	...	Laura Di Falco
Isa Danieli	...	Carmelina Jasiello
Maria Luisa Santella	...	Door Keeper
Patrizia Sacchi	...	Virginia
Bruno Esposito	...	Giulio Jasiello
Orsetta Gregoretti	...	Young actress in theater
Marc Berman	...	French record producer
Jean-François Perrier	...	French record producer
Giovanna Sanfilippo	...	Maria
Fabio Tenore	...	Pasqualino (the little monk)
Marta Bifano	...	Luisella
Aldo De Martino	...	Cottone (theater manager)
Clotilde De Spirito	...	The villain's mistress

Storyline

Robert Traven, a dyspeptic, edgy American businessman, arrives in Naples and is received by a friendly but officious local company representative. Exhausted by the pressures and inconveniences of a long flight, he is looking forward to rest and relaxation in his hotel room when he is visited by buoyant and upbeat Antonio Jassiello, a clerk in a bank record room, who is surprised when his old friend from the War does not recognize him. The annoyed and exhausted Traven feels he's being scammed, and the two part on bad terms. Jassiello does leave a photo of Traven and his sister taken 40 years earlier, and the time and the setting seen to stir the American's memory, so he seeks out Antonio to apologize. Jassiello brings him back home to renew acquaintances with his family including his now middle-aged, married sister, Her hospitable husband is friendly and not the least bit jealous, and Traven soon discovers why he has not faded from their memories as they have from his. Antonio has been...

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Plot Keywords:

naples | old girlfriend | italy | ugly american | letter writing | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Antonio (Mastroianni) and Robert Traven (Lemmon) enter the home of Maria and her husband, the camera pans to a shot of three portrait photographs on the dining room sideboard: 1. a photo of Jack Lemmon in army uniform; 2. a photo of Pope John XXIII; 3. and ....... a photo of Enrico Berlinguer, head of the Italian Communist Party from 1972 to 1984. Maria's husband points to the photos and says: "These are our patron saints."

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Quotes

Antonio: Ah, it's beautiful to waste time.

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Connections

Referenced in Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember (1997)

User Reviews

What a couple!

Lemmon and Mastronianni...what can I say? This is an explosive mixture, one of the best European actors with one of the best American actors.... no comments. Both their roles are great and did not expect less. From the movie I was expecting a different ending although it was not disappointing it left me with the bitter taste. Good comic and drama mix of Scolla.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

24 October 1985 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Macaroni

Filming Locations:

Naples, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$119,625, 3 November 1985

Gross USA:

$427,298

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmauro, Massfilm

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1