Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1989)

Young Arturo Bandini loves his father Svevo, his mother Maria and his brothers.

Director:

Dominique Deruddere

Writers:

Dominique Deruddere, John Fante (novel)

Stars:

Joe Mantegna, Ornella Muti, Faye Dunaway

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Mantegna	...	Bandini
Ornella Muti	...	Maria Bandini
Faye Dunaway	...	Mrs. Hildegarde
Michael Bacall	...	Arturo
Daniel Wilson	...	August
Alex Vincent	...	Federico
Burt Young	...	Rocco
Tanya Lopert	...	Sister Celia
Renata Vanni	...	Donna Toscana
François Beukelaers	...	Mr. Helmer
Josse De Pauw	...	Mr. Voss
Natalie Gregory	...	Rose
Sean Baca	...	Wally
Tyler Jane	...	Gertie (as Rebecca Clark)
Isabelle Soimaud	...	Salvation Army Singer (as Isabelle Noah)

Storyline

Rocklin Colorado, 1925. A hard cold winter. Young Arturo Bandini loves his father Svevo, his mother Maria and his brothers. Even though his bricklayer father wastes the little money he has in the Imperial Poolhall and his time with the rich American widow, Hildegarde. Even though his beautiful and pious mother lets his father get away with that, even if his little brother wets the bed. Arturo loves them all. He also loves to play baseball, even though he has to wait until spring. And he also loves the movies ... and Rosa. But she doesn't love him ...

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Plot Keywords:

coming of age | child's point of view | bricklaying | baseball | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The snow had melted in the area about a week before filming began in Ogden. They had to truck snow in from the mountains and use snow-blowers to set the scene to look like winter.

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Quotes

Bandini: So, you pushed your brother's face through the window.
Arturo: [Federico pretends to cry] Shut up.
Federico: Let someone push your face through the window, see if you don't cry!
[pretends to cry again]
Bandini: Well? Why, did you push Federico's head through the window?
Arturo: I dunno, I just did it, that's all.
Bandini: And how do you know I won't knock your goddamn block off?
Maria Bandini: Svevo, Svevo, please...
Bandini: What do you want?
Maria Bandini: It was an accident. Boys will be boys.
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Time of My Life (2012)

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Soundtracks

SANT' AMERICA
Sung by Schiavo Sabino

User Reviews

Forgettable

This film seems well intentioned, but just doesn't give you anything but standard. The characters could've been more fleshed out. The script seems to only scratch the surface of these characters, there seems to be so much more to tell. Maybe that is because it was a novel first.

Michael Bacall's character has the best scenes, strangely Faye Dunaway and Joe Mantegna don't get given much to work with. The director Dominique Deruddere made an excellent film after this one called Suite 16 starring Pete Postlethwaite, but this one is just a bit bland.

Overall, this film has some good moments. I didn't mind watching it, but it won't stick in my mind.

6/10

Details

Country:

Belgium France Italy USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 December 1989 (Italy)

Also Known As:

John Fante's Wait Until Spring, Bandini

Filming Locations:

Sunrise Studios, Orem, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dusk Motion Pictures, Compagnie Cinématographique de France, Zoetrope Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1