Something to Believe In (1998)

An American woman given only weeks to live travels to Italy to find a statue reputed to have recuperative powers and there meets a struggling American concert pianist.

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

John Goldsmith, John Hough

Stars:

William McNamara, Maria Pitillo, Tom Conti

Cast

Credited cast:
William McNamara	...	Mike
Maria Pitillo	...	Maggie
Tom Conti	...	Monsignor Calogero
Maria Schneider	...	Maria Faccino
Ian Bannen	...	Don Pozzi
Robert Wagner	...	Brad
Roddy McDowall	...	Gambler
William Hootkins	...	Car Dealer
Jill St. John	...	Dr. Joanne Anderson
Craig Vincent	...	Big Guy
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Osvaldo Alzari	...	Photographer
Bruno Armando	...	Stage Manager
Lisa Bales	...	Nurse
Raffaello Benedetti	...	Chef
Sheri Brummond	...	Assistant

Storyline

Maggie travels to Italy with great faith, as her last hope to heal her terminal illness, and meets Mike, an atheist concert pianist who helps her along her way. Ironically even the church itself doesn't believe in the healing powers of the statue, but Maggie's faith is so great it changes the life of everyone around her.

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Plot Keywords:

faith | concert pianist | terminal illness | love | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site for the release in Mexico

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1998 (UK)

Also Known As:

Algo en que creer

Filming Locations:

Urbino, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Grade Company, The Kirch Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last live action cinema film of 'Roddy Mcdowell'.

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Soundtracks

SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN (Italian Version)
Music by Lalo Schifrin
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Performed by Plácido Domingo and The Orchestra of St. Lukes
Orchestrated and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin

User Reviews

As stinky as one of Lord Grade's legendary cigars.

The late Lord Lew Grade never quite succeeded in establishing himself on the big screen, and "Something to Believe In" - the last movie he produced before his death - continues the tradition. Plus, it reminds you that "they don't make them like that anymore" for a reason.

I have nothing against sugary sentimentality (in fact, I like a good "aaahhh" as much as the next person); it's badly-done sugary sentimentality I object to, and John Hough's movie is filled with the stuff. A Las Vegas waitress/aspiring actress (Maria Pitillo) discovers she's dying and puts her faith in a statue of the Madonna that has been found weeping in Italy; en route she meets a talented pianist (William McNamara) on the way to a big competition. Cue what should and could have been an affecting drama, but what in practice comes within throwing distance of camp; jaw-droppingly bad dialogue (our heroine's boss [Robert Wagner]: "You can die on your own time"), amazingly contrived plot turns, unbelievable ending... you can feel the brain cells inside your skull dying as the film unspools.

The movie also sports some very bad editing and performances that don't move much beyond the level of making lines heard and not bumping into the furniture (pity Tom Conti and the late Ian Bannen). Also, the guest appearances in the opening credits are over and done with by the first fifteen minutes, for which Wagner, Jill St. John and the late Roddy McDowall were no doubt grateful... but no film is totally without redeeming features, and the Italian scenery and the musical moments (including Placido Domingo warbling Tim Rice lyrics over the credits) are the only times the movie really works, making Lalo Schifrin - who also appears onscreen conducting the orchestra in the contest climax - the real star of the film. But you can buy the soundtrack album instead.

Lew Grade's real successes were always in TV - stick with them.