The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003)

A failing star is faced with a lifestyle change when her rich husband suddenly dies while they are en route to Italy. She then sets off in a series of flings with gigolos found for her by ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Allan Ackerman

Writers:

Martin Sherman, Tennessee Williams (novel)

Stars:

Helen Mirren, Olivier Martinez, Anne Bancroft

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Mirren	...	Karen Stone
Olivier Martinez	...	Paolo di Lio
Anne Bancroft	...	Contessa
Rodrigo Santoro	...	Young Man
Brian Dennehy	...	Tom Stone
Roger Allam	...	Christopher
Victor Alfieri	...	Lorenzo
Suzanne Bertish	...	Julia
Jane Bertish	...	Karen's Secretary
Tara Lynne O'Neill	...	Angel Hunter
Salvatore Lazzaro	...	Barber
Sara James	...	Hairdresser
Riccardo Sardonè	...	Marco (as Riccardo Sadroné)
Dona Granata	...	Mama Pepisco
Aldo Signoretti	...	Papa Pepisco

Storyline

A failing star is faced with a lifestyle change when her rich husband suddenly dies while they are en route to Italy. She then sets off in a series of flings with gigolos found for her by an aging contessa. Each contact spirals further out of control until she becomes obsessed with one young man, who initially treats her well, but then with disdain.

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Plot Keywords:

unrequited love | loss of husband | crying | contessa | italy | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality/nudity

Details

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

4 May 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Em Roma na Primavera

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Showtime Networks,Blackjack Productions,Irish Film Industry Investment Incentives

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one scene, Mrs Stone pretends to an American tourist that she is dying of uterine cancer. Ironically, this is precisely the disease that killed co-star Anne Bancroft two years later.

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Goofs

When Paolo takes off his shirt in the car, the blue tattoo on his chest shows through the makeup intended to conceal it.

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Quotes

Karen Stone: Beauty is a world of its own. It has a godly license. I know it only too well, I possessed it once. And then the license was revoked.

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Connections

Featured in The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004)

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Soundtracks

Nanni (Na Gita a Li Castelli)
Written by Francesco Silvestri

User Reviews

Oh No !!

Tenesee Williams is marvelous, but this is really awful.I am a huge Mirren fan but she is miscast as an ageing fading "beauty".Olivier is' way too old at pushing 40 to be a young gigilo and I have real problems with his "acting" and not just in this movie.I have seen all his early French movies as well as his newer ventures into English.There is a harsh cold arrogance within him that yells male macho pig that lacks any depth or finer feelings.He seems always so stiff and unnatural,his acting is really wooden.( The scene where he lifts his hand to hit Helen/Karen had me in stitches ) The Santoro chap without uttering a word, was truly mesmerising and far more of a breathtaking hunk,one wonders what all the fuss over OM is really all about.The entire movie was wooden and forced.I truly loathed it.I am old enough to remember the original which was not that brilliant either, but knocked the socks of this sad re-make.I felt sorry for Mirren selling her huge talent up the river in this bilge and OM needs roles wherein he is and acts his 40 rather than this 'nonsense in this, and Unfaithful, of being a cheeky 23 year old which he patently is not.he looks his age.He seems very arrogant vain cold in all his movies..the French press call him the "Mannequin who wants to act".. which may be a bit harsh as they loathe him for his misogyinist treatment of their divine la Binoche..but grains of truth maybe.Given that I do admit as a TW fan this is the hardest story to get right on screen it seems..or maybe no-one can get the 'casting just right? Borrow it it is harmless viewing, but do not waste money buying DVD