Avanti! (1972)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

I.A.L. Diamond (writer)
Samuel A. Taylor (play)

Release Date:

17 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A successful businessman goes to Italy to arrange for the return of his tycoon-father's body only to discover dad died with his mistress of long standing.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Mistress | Hotel | Topless Beach | Funeral

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 6 nominations

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Wendell Armbruster, Jr.
Juliet Mills	...	Pamela Piggott
Clive Revill	...	Carlo Carlucci
Edward Andrews	...	J.J. Blodgett
Gianfranco Barra	...	Bruno
Franco Angrisano	...	Arnold Trotta
Pippo Franco	...	Mattarazzo
Franco Acampora	...	Armando Trotta
Giselda Castrini	...	Anna
Raffaele Mottola	...	Passport officer
Lino Coletta	...	Cipriani
Harry Ray	...	Dr. Fleischmann
Guidarino Guidi	...	Maitre D'
Giacomo Rizzo	...	Barman
Antonino Faa Di Bruno	...	Concierge (as Antonino Faa' Di Bruno)

Also Known As:

Che cosa è successo tra mio padre e tua madre? (Italy)

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

USA | Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12 | Australia:M | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Amalfi Coast, Amalfi, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Company:

Jalem Productions

Trivia:

Juliet Mills gained 25 pounds within 6 weeks to take on the role of Pamela Piggott.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mr. Ambruster and Mr. Carlucci arrive at the morgue, Ms. Piggott is sitting down with a orange bunch of "tromboncini". After, when Mr. Carlucci talks with them, the bunch is yellow.

Quotes:

Pamela Piggott: For instance, you need a coffin lined with some sort of metal.
Wendell Armbruster: Zinc.
[to Carlucci]
Wendell Armbruster: Better get a couple of those.
Carlo Carlucci: I had trouble finding one!
Wendell Armbruster: Come on. You can dig up a couple of coffins.
Carlo Carlucci: [hesitating] You want second-hand coffins?

Movie Connections:

References Si può fare... amigo (1972)

Soundtrack:

Senza Fine

A lot of sophisticated fun.

This movie is somewhat long, especially if you watch it on TV with commercials, but it stays fresh and you never want it to be over. Jack Lemon at first is such a prig you wonder that Juliet Mills will ever have anything to do with him, but of course all ends well, with Lemon providing the comic focus. My favorite line in the movie occurs when the valet Bruno has been attempting to blackmail Lemon with nude pictures of his father. Lemon, not knowing Bruno has just been killed by his mistress complains to the manager, and ends by saying Bruno should be shot. The manager assures him that it has already been taken care of. What Service!