A Month by the Lake (1995)

At a Lake Como resort, Miss Bentley, an attractive older guest, meets a handsome, well-to-do bachelor. But when he's more interested in a beautiful young flirt, the mischievous Miss Bentley goes to outrageous lengths to reel in her catch.

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

H.E. Bates (from: the novella "A Month by the Lake" by), Trevor Bentham (screenplay)

Stars:

Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, Uma Thurman

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Miss Bentley
Edward Fox	...	Major Wilshaw
Uma Thurman	...	Miss Beaumont
Alida Valli	...	Signora Fascioli
Carlo Cartier	...	Mr. Bonizzoni
Alessandro Gassmann	...	Vittorio Balsari (as Alessandro Gassman)
Natalia Bizzi	...	Signora Bonizzoni
Frances Nacman	...	1st American Lady
Paolo Lombardi	...	Enrico
Riccardo Rossi	...	Guido
Sonia Martinelli	...	Maria
Veronica Wells	...	2nd American Lady
Carlotta Bresciani	...	Bonizzoni Angel
Bianca Tognocchi	...	Bonissoni Angel
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ayanta Barilli

Storyline

For 16 years Miss Bentley has been spending April at an elegant hillside villa on Lake Como. This year, 1937, her London society artist father has recently died and the only other English-speaking guests are brash Americans. Then Major Wilshaw arrives. He suggests they meet for cocktails and Miss Bentley stands him up -- not even thinking about it -- as she helps the new nanny of an Italian family settle in. Miss Beaumont, a tall, young American who has dropped out of finishing school in Switzerland, is bored and finds some amusement in flirting with the major, whose libido is awakened for the first time since before the great war. And Miss Bentley now finds more about the major to admire than his ears.

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Plot Keywords:

period drama | villa | switzerland | nanny | lake | 

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Taglines:

A charming, wealthy English gentleman. Two beautiful women. If it only takes a moment to fall in love, imagine what can happen in...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for moments of sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Miss Beaumont's name means 'beautiful mountain'. This is in reference to the considerable height difference between Beaumont (Uma Thurman) and Major Wilshaw (Edward Fox).

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Goofs

The position of Ms. Bentley's racket while she's playing tennis.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Miss Bentley: The story begins on Lake Como, many years ago during the last fantastic summer before the war.
Miss Bentley: Returning to the lake has always seemed like coming home. Everyone is so friendly. Everyone is welcome. The Villa Barbianello basks all day long in the lakeside sun, which is hotter than usual for late April.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Showgirls/Canadian Bacon/Se7en/The Run of the Country/A Month by the Lake (1995)

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Soundtracks

Aida
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Accademia Musicale Italiana

User Reviews

Delightful film... Great cast...

Take two outstanding British actors, give them a clever, witty script, set them in a gorgeous part of Italy and a fascinating era of history, and you can't help but produce a great movie. It's a romance but it's also a delicious send up of the vanity of men and the deviousness of women. Lovely work with superb photography and a haunting musical theme.It captures the essence of pre war Europe and the joy of Italian life even under fascism. Vanessa Redgrave and Edward Fox, two of my very favourite people, didn't disappoint me. Enjoyed it immensely

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amor à Beira do Lago

Filming Locations:

Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$101,042, 24 September 1995

Gross USA:

$2,101,087

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,101,087

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anuline, Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1