Avanti! (1972)

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

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

Release Date:

17 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | 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:

Hotel | Italy | Mistress | Based On Play

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)
Yanti Somer	...	Nurse
Janet Agren	...	Nurse
María Rosa Sclauzero	...	Hostess
Melù Valente	...	Hostess (as Melu' Valente)
Aldo Rendine	...	Rossi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Enzo Andronico	...	(uncredited)
Ty Hardin	...	Helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Bruno Pischiutta	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Wilder

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
I.A.L. Diamond		writer
Samuel A. Taylor		play "Avanti" (as Samuel Taylor)
Billy Wilder		writer

Produced by
Billy Wilder	....	producer

Cinematography by
Luigi Kuveiller

Film Editing by
Ralph E. Winters

Casting by
Isa Bartalini

Art Direction by
Ferdinando Scarfiotti

Makeup Department
Adalgisa Favella	....	hair stylist
Franco Freda	....	makeup artist
Harry Ray	....	makeup artist: Mr. Lemmon

Production Management
Ennio Onorati	....	unit manager
Peter Shepherd	....	unit manager
Alessandro von Norman	....	production manager (as Alessandro von Normann)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rinaldo Ricci	....	assistant director

Art Department
Nedo Azzini	....	set dresser
Osvaldo Desideri	....	assistant art director
Lamberto Verdenelli	....	property master

Sound Department
Basil Fenton-Smith	....	sound recordist
Bill Varney	....	sound re-recordist (as William Varney)
Frank E. Warner	....	sound editor (as Frank Warner)
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sergio Coletta	....	head electrician
Sergio Emidi	....	head grip
Paul Ronald	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annalisa Nasalli-Rocca	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Annalisa Nasalli Rocca)

Editorial Department
Claudio M. Cutry	....	assistant editor (as Claudio Cutry)
Bobbie Shapiro	....	assistant editor

Music Department
George Brand	....	music editor
Gianfranco Plenizio	....	conductor (as Gianfranco Plemizio)
Carlo Rustichelli	....	music arranger

Other crew
Yvonne Axeworthy	....	script supervisor (as Yvonne Axworthy)
Mario Damicelli	....	aerial shots
Nella Garozzo	....	publicist
Raffaele Mottola	....	dialogue coach (as Rae Mottola)
Chuck Painter	....	publicist

Production Companies

• Jalem Productions
• Mirisch Corporation, The
• Phalanx Productions
• Produzioni Europee Associati (PEA)

Distributors

• United Artists (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• United Artists (1973) (France) (theatrical)

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 | 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 Pamela wants to go swimming at sunrise, Wendell's shadow on the pier is way too short for time of sunrise. (At the end of July in Ischia you'd get this kind of shadow around noon and 14:30.)

Quotes:

Pamela: Oh, they're a terrific group! They call themselves, "The Four Apostles" - Matthew, Mark, Luke and Bertram.

Movie Connections:

References Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Soundtrack:

Senza Fine

A bittersweet masterpiece

So much has been said about the plot of Avanti it seems pointless to go over the synopsis again- but I can say although I am a lover of Horror films, Thrillers and Westerns- it is Avanti that is my favourite film of all time.Avanti is gorgeous to look at and features a beautiful music score. How I wish I could obtain a soundtrack of this delightful score. The scene when Pamela Pigott ( Juliet Mills ) tours the city on a horse drawn carriage and later running from her new found admirers is beautiful with the music so perfect.Also when Pamela and Wendell ( Jack Lemmon ) have their evening meal together , it is again a beautiful music score. Jack Lemmon as the bombastic Wendell Armbruster is as always great. Juliet Mills as Pamela Pigott looks far too gorgeous to be ridiculed by Armbruster but she shines in her finest ever role. However for me the film is stolen completely by Clive Revill as the hotel manager- what a sublime performance. Watch his every movement, his every expression, his delivery of every line.It is a captivating performance, totally exquisite. Clive Revill is an actor sorely neglected by the film world.Billy Wilder's film is so very neglected and it's a pity as this is the perfect film. Watch the beautiful, poignant sequence at the mortuary as Pamela and Wendell view the bodies of their mother and father respectively. And again watch Clive Revill alongside Lemmon and Mills- acting with only movement, expression and not a word. The lighting in this scene is so wonderful, it is dark and depressing with the exception of a shaft of sunlight penetrating the smallest of windows. Wilder manages to wring excellent portrayals out of even the most minor of characters. Watch Avanti and savour the acting, the music and the scenery.