Any favorite Italian movies to get in the mood
Dec 14th, 2003, 08:11 AM
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Here is updated compilation. Will try to get in one posting.
? 1900
? 8-1/2
? A Little Romance with a very young Diane Lane and also Sir Laurence Olivier? The first half is in Paris, then the two pre-teens run away to Italy with aging con man Olivier. A big plot point has to do with kissing beneath the Bridge of Sighs at sunset - which I plan to try when I'm in Venice next week! (Supposedly if you do so, you will be united forever.)
? A Month on the Lake
? A Walk in the Clouds, directed by Alfonso Arau, with Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sanchez Gijon. Set in California, if I am not wrong, although you can find Giancarlo Giannini among the cast ...http://movieweb.com/movie/walkclds/
? Agony & ecstasy
? Amici Miei directed by Mario Monicelli and played in Florence
? Amicord (Fellini) about a small town in the early 30's and its many characters and problems...
? Avanti. Not very deep stuff, but cute, funny and I think filmed on the Amalfi Coast.
? Blume in Love has some great scenes entering of Pza S. Marco.
? Bread and Tulips (Pane e tulipani), a delightful Italian film that'll really put you in the mood! The movie with the Italian housewife who runs away to Venice is Bread and Tulips. One of the best Italian movies of the last few years. Director Silvio Soldini is the brother of solo sailer Giovanni Soldini and is one of the leading directors of Italy. Pane e tulipani shows an Italy that is far from the usual touristy perception of Italy but far closer to real Italy.
? Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (Gina Lolobrigida, Telly Savalas) has lots of wonderful hilltown views (been wondering what region) and an amusing plot.
? C'eravamo Tanto Amati (We All Loved Each Other So Much) also directed by Ettore Scola. It's from the 70's and has Vittoria Gassman, Nino Manfredi, and Stefania Sandrelli, and is so well-acted and just a delight. It's a bittersweet comedy about the divergent paths of three former partisans in post-war Italy. One of the subtexts is a tribute to the neo-realist filmmakers. (It probably helps to have a little background about Italian films and politics before watching it.)
? Cinema Paradiso
? Così ridevano (The Way We Laughed) (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0139951) by Gianni Amelio,
? Cristo si è fermato a Eboli (Christ stopped at Eboli).
? Dangerous Beauty
? Dear Diary so funny and fantastic views of Rome from the back of Nanni's scooter. Goes to Stromboli, Lipari too
? Death in Venice
? Divorce Italian Style
? Don't Look Now with Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, based on a Daphne DuMaurier story and guaranteed to give you the creeps.
? Enchanted April
? English Patient
? Everybody's Fine (titled Tutti Stanno Bene) a touching film about a lonely, Sicilian father who has a less than satisfactory relationship with his adult children who live all over the place so he hops on a train to visit them. Stanno tutti bene with an aged beyond his real age Marcello Mastroianni. Probably one of the few decent movies made by Giuseppe Tornatore.
? Ferie d'agosto (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0116296) by paolo Virzì, and
? For Roseanna, starring Mercedes Ruehl and Jean Reno
? Garden of the Finzi-Continis.
? Gidget Goes to Rome
? Hannibal. Gorgeous scenery, buildings, opera, etc. Sorry if you don't like scary movies, but I thought it showed Italy beautifully.
? Heaven-montepulciano and torino
? I cento passi (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0238891) by Marco Tullio Giordana.
? Il Ciclone
? Il ladro di bambini (The Stolen Children) (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0104663)
? Il Mostro (The Monster) Roberto Benigni--- wonderfully funny, set in modern-day Naples. And if you want to see Florence and guts
? Il Postino
? Italian For Beginners is a Scandinavian film w/ English subtitles. It is mostly set in the Scandinavian city where the characters live (sorry I can't recall just now whether they were Norwegian, Swedish or Danish). However, they travel to Venice toward the end of the movie and there is great scenery!
? Johan Padan a la discoverta de le Americhe. This might be nice for kids, since it is a cartoon. Taken from a stage show by Nobel prize winner Dario Fo, it is the story, set in the XIV century, of an Italian boy from Bergamo who travels to Venice, than to Spain and finally to Florida and of how he gets in touch with the local Indians. Although the bulk of the movie is set in America, there are some grat Venice scenes, just to get your kids in the mood.
http://www.italica.rai.it/principali...nema/johan.htm
? Johnny Stecchino is hilarious. My all time favorite movie (and Italy's highest grossing film when it came out) It made me want to visit Palermo.
? Juliet of the Spirits (Fellini)... it may be hard to find
? La città delle donne - Fellini
? La Dolce Vita
? La famiglia by Ettore Scola, this time a travel in time and not space. The movie tells the history of a family in Rome since 1906 until 1986.
? La lingua del Santo (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0206093) by Carlo Mazzacurati,
? Last Kiss (Florence).
? Le fate ignoranti (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0274497) by Ferzan Ozpetek (the director is Turkis, but has been living in Italy for mos of his life),
? Life is Beautiful
? Lizzie McGuire Movie, very silly but great scenes of Rome!
? Love with a Perfect Stranger, with Marilu Henner and Daniel Massey. Gives a fun look at train travel as well as some loactions in Florence. A light hearted romance.
? Maccheroni - Jack Lemmon and Marcello Mastroianni (Macaroni) 1985. Jack Lemmon, a businessman visits Naples for the first time since WWII. He is greeted by his old friend Mastroianni,who has spent the years since the war reinventing J. Lemmon as a superhero. Also, it's spoken in English.
? Malena.
? Marriage Italian Style
? Massacre in Rome
? Mediteranneo.
? Mille Bolle Blu.
? Much Ado about Nothing
? My Mother's Smile It has the power and authority of the great old Italian movies of the Fellini era, is set in modern Italy --
? Non ci resta che Piangere was a fun film but may be hard to find.
? Only You (Marisa Tomea & Robert Downey Jr.)
? Open City
? Ossessione by Luchino Visconti's first film has been released (the big on line discounters have it) in its uncut version on DVD. Subtitles if you want them. Mostly set on the central Adriatic coast of Italy in 1943 (filmed right before much of that area was bombed into oblivion by the Allies). A fascinating Italian take on the postman knocks twice concept.
? Paisan
? Passion of Artemesia - The story of the female renaissance painter is by Susan Vreeland. I didn't know it had been made into a movie, the book was good.
? Queen of Hearts, filmed in San Gimignano.
? Roma by Fellini
? Roman Holiday (Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, I think)
? Rome Adventure with Susan Pleshette and Troy Donahue and they have a Roman holiday from Rome to the Lake Maggiore of Northern Italy and it's romance from the 60's for nostalgia and scenery.
? Room with a View with the two grand dames of English Theatre, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, as a hilarious double act
? Shoeshine
? Stealing Beauty
? Summertime (Venice)for smaltzy, romantic, picturesque entertainment from decades ago. Great scenery in both.
? Swept Away. Do NOT see the current disasterous remake of Swept Away. Do rent the original Lina Wertmueller production.
? Tea with Mussolini
? The 7 Beauties, Naples, although it is really focused elsewhere.
? The Bicycle Thief
? The City of Women (Città delle donne, by Federico Fellini, 1980).
? The Conformist.
? The Icycle Thief - A fun fantasy film not to be confused with The Bicycle Thief-an Italian classic film
? The Italian Job, with Donald Sutherland, Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, and Charlize Theron. An apparent remake of the 1969 British film of the same name, starring Michael Caine, it's about a heist that takes place in Venice, but then the action appears to switch to the U.S. The new one pales against the Original. First they do a remake of Charade with Wahlberg who does not have the personality of Cary Grant, now this. Noel Coward who starred in the original Italian Job with Michel Caine must be laughing in his grave.
? The Last Kiss is playing in New York right now. I liked it a lot. It's not a scenery movie, but I felt it was really Italian.\
? The Leopard about Sicilia in the 1800's.
? The Night of the Shooting Stars It is a Taviani film from 1982, shot in Tuscany. Another WW2 story.
? The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone with Vivien Leigh and a very young, extraordinarily good looking Warren Beatty?
? The Rose Tattoo.
? The Talented Mr. Ripley
? THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (Rome)
? Two Women
? Under the Tuscan Sun for its' scenes in Cortona and in Positano. I've never read the book and from feedback here when the movie version was released, it seems that those who enjoyed the book, do NOT care for this movie intrepretation. I found it an easy breezy chick flick and recommend it on that basis.
? Up at the villa. Not the greatest movie but great scenes around Florence.
? Venice, Venice is about an American movie director gets an award at the Venice Film Festival and his romance with a lovely French journalist.
? When in Rome has wonderful scenery and lots of shots all over Rome. If you are trying to convince you pre-teen/teen into a trip to Rome, this movie will do the trick.
? Where Angels fear to Tread--with Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter. Set in San Gim. with some great scenes. Check it out.
? Wings of the Dove
? Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
? 1900
? 8-1/2
? A Little Romance with a very young Diane Lane and also Sir Laurence Olivier? The first half is in Paris, then the two pre-teens run away to Italy with aging con man Olivier. A big plot point has to do with kissing beneath the Bridge of Sighs at sunset - which I plan to try when I'm in Venice next week! (Supposedly if you do so, you will be united forever.)
? A Month on the Lake
? A Walk in the Clouds, directed by Alfonso Arau, with Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sanchez Gijon. Set in California, if I am not wrong, although you can find Giancarlo Giannini among the cast ...http://movieweb.com/movie/walkclds/
? Agony & ecstasy
? Amici Miei directed by Mario Monicelli and played in Florence
? Amicord (Fellini) about a small town in the early 30's and its many characters and problems...
? Avanti. Not very deep stuff, but cute, funny and I think filmed on the Amalfi Coast.
? Blume in Love has some great scenes entering of Pza S. Marco.
? Bread and Tulips (Pane e tulipani), a delightful Italian film that'll really put you in the mood! The movie with the Italian housewife who runs away to Venice is Bread and Tulips. One of the best Italian movies of the last few years. Director Silvio Soldini is the brother of solo sailer Giovanni Soldini and is one of the leading directors of Italy. Pane e tulipani shows an Italy that is far from the usual touristy perception of Italy but far closer to real Italy.
? Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (Gina Lolobrigida, Telly Savalas) has lots of wonderful hilltown views (been wondering what region) and an amusing plot.
? C'eravamo Tanto Amati (We All Loved Each Other So Much) also directed by Ettore Scola. It's from the 70's and has Vittoria Gassman, Nino Manfredi, and Stefania Sandrelli, and is so well-acted and just a delight. It's a bittersweet comedy about the divergent paths of three former partisans in post-war Italy. One of the subtexts is a tribute to the neo-realist filmmakers. (It probably helps to have a little background about Italian films and politics before watching it.)
? Cinema Paradiso
? Così ridevano (The Way We Laughed) (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0139951) by Gianni Amelio,
? Cristo si è fermato a Eboli (Christ stopped at Eboli).
? Dangerous Beauty
? Dear Diary so funny and fantastic views of Rome from the back of Nanni's scooter. Goes to Stromboli, Lipari too
? Death in Venice
? Divorce Italian Style
? Don't Look Now with Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, based on a Daphne DuMaurier story and guaranteed to give you the creeps.
? Enchanted April
? English Patient
? Everybody's Fine (titled Tutti Stanno Bene) a touching film about a lonely, Sicilian father who has a less than satisfactory relationship with his adult children who live all over the place so he hops on a train to visit them. Stanno tutti bene with an aged beyond his real age Marcello Mastroianni. Probably one of the few decent movies made by Giuseppe Tornatore.
? Ferie d'agosto (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0116296) by paolo Virzì, and
? For Roseanna, starring Mercedes Ruehl and Jean Reno
? Garden of the Finzi-Continis.
? Gidget Goes to Rome
? Hannibal. Gorgeous scenery, buildings, opera, etc. Sorry if you don't like scary movies, but I thought it showed Italy beautifully.
? Heaven-montepulciano and torino
? I cento passi (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0238891) by Marco Tullio Giordana.
? Il Ciclone
? Il ladro di bambini (The Stolen Children) (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0104663)
? Il Mostro (The Monster) Roberto Benigni--- wonderfully funny, set in modern-day Naples. And if you want to see Florence and guts
? Il Postino
? Italian For Beginners is a Scandinavian film w/ English subtitles. It is mostly set in the Scandinavian city where the characters live (sorry I can't recall just now whether they were Norwegian, Swedish or Danish). However, they travel to Venice toward the end of the movie and there is great scenery!
? Johan Padan a la discoverta de le Americhe. This might be nice for kids, since it is a cartoon. Taken from a stage show by Nobel prize winner Dario Fo, it is the story, set in the XIV century, of an Italian boy from Bergamo who travels to Venice, than to Spain and finally to Florida and of how he gets in touch with the local Indians. Although the bulk of the movie is set in America, there are some grat Venice scenes, just to get your kids in the mood.
http://www.italica.rai.it/principali...nema/johan.htm
? Johnny Stecchino is hilarious. My all time favorite movie (and Italy's highest grossing film when it came out) It made me want to visit Palermo.
? Juliet of the Spirits (Fellini)... it may be hard to find
? La città delle donne - Fellini
? La Dolce Vita
? La famiglia by Ettore Scola, this time a travel in time and not space. The movie tells the history of a family in Rome since 1906 until 1986.
? La lingua del Santo (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0206093) by Carlo Mazzacurati,
? Last Kiss (Florence).
? Le fate ignoranti (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0274497) by Ferzan Ozpetek (the director is Turkis, but has been living in Italy for mos of his life),
? Life is Beautiful
? Lizzie McGuire Movie, very silly but great scenes of Rome!
? Love with a Perfect Stranger, with Marilu Henner and Daniel Massey. Gives a fun look at train travel as well as some loactions in Florence. A light hearted romance.
? Maccheroni - Jack Lemmon and Marcello Mastroianni (Macaroni) 1985. Jack Lemmon, a businessman visits Naples for the first time since WWII. He is greeted by his old friend Mastroianni,who has spent the years since the war reinventing J. Lemmon as a superhero. Also, it's spoken in English.
? Malena.
? Marriage Italian Style
? Massacre in Rome
? Mediteranneo.
? Mille Bolle Blu.
? Much Ado about Nothing
? My Mother's Smile It has the power and authority of the great old Italian movies of the Fellini era, is set in modern Italy --
? Non ci resta che Piangere was a fun film but may be hard to find.
? Only You (Marisa Tomea & Robert Downey Jr.)
? Open City
? Ossessione by Luchino Visconti's first film has been released (the big on line discounters have it) in its uncut version on DVD. Subtitles if you want them. Mostly set on the central Adriatic coast of Italy in 1943 (filmed right before much of that area was bombed into oblivion by the Allies). A fascinating Italian take on the postman knocks twice concept.
? Paisan
? Passion of Artemesia - The story of the female renaissance painter is by Susan Vreeland. I didn't know it had been made into a movie, the book was good.
? Queen of Hearts, filmed in San Gimignano.
? Roma by Fellini
? Roman Holiday (Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, I think)
? Rome Adventure with Susan Pleshette and Troy Donahue and they have a Roman holiday from Rome to the Lake Maggiore of Northern Italy and it's romance from the 60's for nostalgia and scenery.
? Room with a View with the two grand dames of English Theatre, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, as a hilarious double act
? Shoeshine
? Stealing Beauty
? Summertime (Venice)for smaltzy, romantic, picturesque entertainment from decades ago. Great scenery in both.
? Swept Away. Do NOT see the current disasterous remake of Swept Away. Do rent the original Lina Wertmueller production.
? Tea with Mussolini
? The 7 Beauties, Naples, although it is really focused elsewhere.
? The Bicycle Thief
? The City of Women (Città delle donne, by Federico Fellini, 1980).
? The Conformist.
? The Icycle Thief - A fun fantasy film not to be confused with The Bicycle Thief-an Italian classic film
? The Italian Job, with Donald Sutherland, Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, and Charlize Theron. An apparent remake of the 1969 British film of the same name, starring Michael Caine, it's about a heist that takes place in Venice, but then the action appears to switch to the U.S. The new one pales against the Original. First they do a remake of Charade with Wahlberg who does not have the personality of Cary Grant, now this. Noel Coward who starred in the original Italian Job with Michel Caine must be laughing in his grave.
? The Last Kiss is playing in New York right now. I liked it a lot. It's not a scenery movie, but I felt it was really Italian.\
? The Leopard about Sicilia in the 1800's.
? The Night of the Shooting Stars It is a Taviani film from 1982, shot in Tuscany. Another WW2 story.
? The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone with Vivien Leigh and a very young, extraordinarily good looking Warren Beatty?
? The Rose Tattoo.
? The Talented Mr. Ripley
? THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (Rome)
? Two Women
? Under the Tuscan Sun for its' scenes in Cortona and in Positano. I've never read the book and from feedback here when the movie version was released, it seems that those who enjoyed the book, do NOT care for this movie intrepretation. I found it an easy breezy chick flick and recommend it on that basis.
? Up at the villa. Not the greatest movie but great scenes around Florence.
? Venice, Venice is about an American movie director gets an award at the Venice Film Festival and his romance with a lovely French journalist.
? When in Rome has wonderful scenery and lots of shots all over Rome. If you are trying to convince you pre-teen/teen into a trip to Rome, this movie will do the trick.
? Where Angels fear to Tread--with Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter. Set in San Gim. with some great scenes. Check it out.
? Wings of the Dove
? Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Dec 14th, 2003, 04:22 PM
#125
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Don't forget "La Strada" or Visconti's "Terra Infirma" (not sure about the name) or "Death in Venice" (a slow movie but beautiful to see and hear).
Not so glamourous, but undeniably a movie about Rome--"The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" with Warren Beatty.
What about Sophia Loren's "Two Women" (I think) that was her breakthrough film?
Lil
Not so glamourous, but undeniably a movie about Rome--"The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" with Warren Beatty.
What about Sophia Loren's "Two Women" (I think) that was her breakthrough film?
Lil
Dec 17th, 2003, 08:56 PM
#126
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What a wonderful thread, even though the original Elizabeth has probably come and gone to Italy several times over. I second the votes for: "C'eravamo tutti amati" and "Amici Miei," which harken back to the wonderful long-ago years I lived in Italy. There's a restaurant named Amici Miei in Florence, supposedly connected to the filming. Nino Manfredi and Vittorio Gassman are like Hollywood icons to me. A terrific late 70's film about north-south (Italian-Swiss) culture conflict, also with Nino Manfredi, is Pane e Cioccolata (Bread and Chocolate).
For people going to Venice, you obviously have lots of images to feast on in films to get you primed for it, but my two top recommendations are: 1) The already mentioned "A Little Romance" (what more could you want than a very young Diane Lane, Laurence Olivier playing a lovable pickpocket, and that all-important kiss at sunset under the Bridge of Sighs?
and 2) one which no one has mentioned because they might have better taste: the unrivalled "Anonimo Veneziano" (Anonymous Venetian) with the fabulous Florinda Balkan about a woman summoned to see her dying ex-husband who really has always loved her and by the way he just happens to be the oboe soloist who plays for her the anthem of the dying Venice as an ode to better times gone by for both of them....you get the picture. Totally shameless tearjerker of the deep dark 70s. But worth every tear for the non-stop Venice scenery...
For people going to Venice, you obviously have lots of images to feast on in films to get you primed for it, but my two top recommendations are: 1) The already mentioned "A Little Romance" (what more could you want than a very young Diane Lane, Laurence Olivier playing a lovable pickpocket, and that all-important kiss at sunset under the Bridge of Sighs?
and 2) one which no one has mentioned because they might have better taste: the unrivalled "Anonimo Veneziano" (Anonymous Venetian) with the fabulous Florinda Balkan about a woman summoned to see her dying ex-husband who really has always loved her and by the way he just happens to be the oboe soloist who plays for her the anthem of the dying Venice as an ode to better times gone by for both of them....you get the picture. Totally shameless tearjerker of the deep dark 70s. But worth every tear for the non-stop Venice scenery...
Jan 19th, 2004, 07:52 AM
#132
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Isn't there a Woody Allen musical one set in Venice? I think it's called "Everyone says I Love You" or something like that.
Definitely Roman Holiday, Cinema Paradiso and Johnny Stecchino for me.
Definitely Roman Holiday, Cinema Paradiso and Johnny Stecchino for me.
Jan 19th, 2004, 02:16 PM
#135
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Not exactly a movie but PBS aired a series entitled "Visions of Italy". There are three DVDs in the series: "Visions of Italy, Northern Style" "Visions of Italy, Southern Style," and "Visions of Sicily." All with beautiful aerial photography set against Italian music and quiet narration.
Jan 19th, 2004, 06:12 PM
#136
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I just saw "Chasing Liberty" and parts of it were filmed in Venice. I have never been and am going for the first time late September. Oh, the beauty of this city came through wonderfully on screen. I cannot wait to see it with my own eyes.
Truly, the vistas in this movie was a treat to the eyes. Cute chick flick to summarize it.
Linda
Truly, the vistas in this movie was a treat to the eyes. Cute chick flick to summarize it.
Linda
Jan 20th, 2004, 05:43 PM
#138
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Woody Allen's "everyone Says I Love You" with wonderful footage of Venice and Paris, and, oddly, a musical.
And no mention of Corelli's Mandolin yet?
And don't forget Shakespeare, "Much Ado About Nothing" the Kenneth Branagh version with Keanu Reeves. It's better than it sounds and the scenery is stunning.
And no mention of Corelli's Mandolin yet?
And don't forget Shakespeare, "Much Ado About Nothing" the Kenneth Branagh version with Keanu Reeves. It's better than it sounds and the scenery is stunning.
Jan 21st, 2004, 02:46 AM
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Captain Corelli was in Cephalonia, Greece. I purchased both "Malena" and "Ciao, Professore" this weekend. They were both great! Also rented the original "Swept Away." I find it interesting that a common theme in these movies seemed to be the Northern Italians not-so favorable views of Southern Italians.
