Mimi, she was re-enacting the scene from the movie where Anita Eckberg was in the fountain and Marcello Mastroianni went into the water and got her out.
Whatever, she was still wasted in this film.

Yes I realize that, and she WAS very miscast.

Not just miscast, but the part itself was foolish and irritating, and added nothing to this film. The scene in the fountain made me cringe, and how unrealistic that Sr. Martini would go into the fountain just because Diane Lane's character asked him to and ruin his suit.
I sort of resent the idea that it has been called a chick flick, most chicks and hens (!) that I know like intelligent movies.
But, sigh, I did love the scenery.....

For Mimi

Thanks Scarlett, I see now there are two threads on this film.
Re=fountain scene, yes and it was the waste of a good suit.

Aloha Kalena! I've followed you here to Europe!

Just wondering. I have a bet with my sister Melissa: I told her that there were TWO scenes in the movie where Diane Lane is pursued in the street by men. I do remember vividly one scene, just before she meets Marcello in Rome. But I can't remember the other scene, although I could swear there was one.

Just awful!!!!!!

topping so I can win my bet

Re: The Bet
In the first scenes of Frances arriving in Italy on the bus-she is walking through the town, buys some postcards,etc..was that when some guys followed her? I only remember clearly the three guys who followed her so she grabbed whats-his-name and kissed him.

The movie was awful. And was it me or was that not even Cortona? I was just there a week ago and aside from the scene on Christmas Eve and where she is looking at the for sale ads, it didn't even look like the same village. As for feeling sorry for Frances Mayes having to sell, I hardly feel sorry for her and now consider her somewhat of a sell out given the ad I saw yesterday for her line of "Tuscan" furniture now available in certain furniture stores--oh please!!!

Amazingly Mayes is now pushing a furniture line (in a bogus Tuscan style), alongside quotes presumably from one of her books. The furniture, at its best, is dark, heavy and very lumpy looking, and somehow soaks up the lovely italian light falling upon it. See the new Architectural Digest (the cover with that hotey Tom Cruise on it). I think Mayes has simply decided to cash in on her momentary fame, in whatever crass approach she and her agency can devise. This awful film was just a prelude to more commercialism by someone who should have stopped with the charm of the first book. IMHO.

The three guys following her were later in the film after she got off the bus in Rome in front of the V.E. Monument.

Well, we did finally see the movie
...yes as some say it is a chick flick but my wife didn't care for it much either. Main problem, of course, is that it invents a story of its own. Frances Mayes did remodel a house in Cortona, they got that right.

But the book was mostly about the adventures of fixing up and eating rather than some romance with an Italian guy. Well, I did like the Polish workers and the scenery (except it was more Positano than Tuscany).

I'm being too picky. It was after all a light weight romance no matter what the title or location.
Bill in Missouri

Hey Bill, nice to see your name again!

Don't you think it was a pretty easy call for the movie's producers? "We want a movie that will appeal to women. After all, what's a chick flick without the chicks? Hmmmmm...let's see, what should we focus on, the woman fixing up a house or having a romance with some handsome Italian guy?"

I enjoyed the movie. The scenery was breathtaking.

Hey, back to you, capo, my friend. You never did reveal where you live...

Ouch, but you did hit the nail on the head about making up a romance with an Italian guy. Isn't movie making often a matter of selling a product? After all, who would go to a movie house to be bored? So what if it corrupts the story! Well, of course, add a dash of Positano and Tuscany scenery.

On the other hand, we've been to lots of flicks that really were thoughtful and slow rather than sentimental and violent. On some other list it would be fund to talk meaningful movies.

Ciao! Bill in Missouri

Bill, didn't realize you had asked; I live in Seattle. One of my favorite bands from the past is from the area where you live: the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Re: <i>Isn't movie making often a matter of selling a product?</i>

That depends. For large studios, I'm sure that's the primary reason. But I'm equally sure there are smaller independent filmmakers who are more concerned with telling a story or provoking thought (although they undoubtedly wouldn't mind if their film also made a lot of money.)

am in tuscany right now, october 6. where exactly is the fountain used in the film under the tuscan sun? can't seem to find on google, other than trevi in rome and that's not it. thanks for your help, anyone?

It isn't.

A temporary fountain made of foam &amp; fiberglass composite, was placed in Piazza Signorelli for the filming.

Keith

In Tuscany right now and looking for a fountain that doesn't exist...does it get any better than this?

This movie was so disappointing even though some of the cinematography is lovely.