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Average Customer Review
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Film making at its best!, 27 Dec 2001
By A Customer
Set in Florence in the 1930s and 1940s - in a haven for English 'gentility' where tea is served at 4 o'clock precisely each tranquil afternoon.A declaration of war is a mere detail since securing the 'word' of Il Duce that their safety was in his personal guarantee at a tea party so magnanimously hosted by the man himself.
How could the word of such a nice man be doubted since, after all, he made the trains run on time, didn't he! With the grim reminders of war reverberating in their ears, how were they to prevail? This moving and compassionate film is studded with marvelous one-liners from Maggie Smith aimed mainly at Cher's character who shares the limelight equally with a powerful cast, including Jean Plowright and Dame Judy Dench. A 'must see' movie, no question.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
"Should we change our lives because some idiot wants war?", 22 Sep 2004
Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who also wrote the screenplay with John Mortimer, this (1999) semi-autobiographical tale revolves around an illegitimate Italian child named Luca, whose wealthy father provides financial support but otherwise ignores him. Taken under the wing of Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright), one of a group of British women who have remained in Italy during the rule of Mussolini, he learns English and enjoys the only stability he has ever known. When Italy allies itself with Germany, his father sends him off to school in Germany, but Luca remains close to "Miss Mary." Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith), artist Arabella (Judi Dench), and several other expatriots, are all in Mary Wallace's very British social circle. Under Lady Hester's direction, they are insulated, self-satisfied, and exclusive, and regard people like Elsa Morganthau-Strauss, an American parvenu and art-collector (Cher), as beneath them. She mockingly refers to them as the "scorpioni," an opinion shared by Georgie, an American archaeologist (Lily Tomlin). When the fascists threaten their lifestyle, Lady Hester, widow of the former ambassador, has tea with Mussolini, who promises to look after her and her friends personally. When war breaks out, however, promises are broken, and it is up to Luca, back from Germany, to try to help. The level of irony is suggested in the title, as the "scorpioni" refuse to believe that Mussolini's "ungentlemanly" behavior could possibly affect them. Zeffirelli, alternates semi-serious scenes with extravagant, absurd scenes, much like the comic relief of the Shakespearean plays he has also directed, and he casts the film so that each of his stars plays to type--Maggie Smith as the hopelessly snobby aristocrat, Judi Dench as a fey and flighty artiste, Joan Plowright as the sweet and thoughtful grandmotherly sort, Cher as the most extravagant and crass American ever filmed, and Lily Tomlin as the no-nonsense realist who enjoys sticking pins into those who puff themselves up. The roles do not call for subtlety or originality, but it is great fun to watch these screen legends having fun here. The gorgeous scenery, art, and architecture of Tuscany are well filmed by David Watkin, and the tone of the film remains light, focusing on the women and Luca almost exclusively. A satiric tale poking fun at everything from American crassness and British class-consciousness to the absurdities of Mussolini's pretentions, the film virtually ignores fascism's serious realities for the sake of the story line and its humor. Mary Whipple
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Tea with Mussolini, 16 Jun 2004
By A Customer
An underlying serious drama produced in a clever humorous style, with a superb acting cast,creating maximum impact and food for thought. I look forward to seeing the film again.For the student of the language, the Italian, when spoken, was great along with the vernacular and other colloquial expressions. The sub-titles were pretty good! I am buying this video as a gift for my very mature Italian professoressa, who did live through some of the times depicted and hails from the region. It is a pleasure to see the beautiful countryside and revisit San Giminagno.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
wonderful!, 5 April 2004
A beautiful, beautiful film. Outstanding acting from some of the world's best. Spectacular scenery and a story that some may dismiss as light-weight, but for me, shows its true strength
in its ability to draw attention to the horrors of war in a human
and memorable way. Special mention should be given to Joan Plowright, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Also the film would not have been the same without Lilly Tomlin and Cher. If you want to fall in love with Italy this film is for you.
Hope a DVD edition will follow soon.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
It's tea with sympathy for 'Mussolini' film, 26 Jun 2000
By A Customer
Grand, eloquent, exotic, touching! Good descriptives for the Franco Zeffirelli film "Tea with Mussolini"! Considered autobiographical of Zeffirelli himself, this film soars--and one can readily see Franco's cinematic touches--not only with the all-star cast (a trite expression but nonetheless apt) but with the storyline itself. Set just shortly before World War II in Florence, the movie showcases a group of proper British ladies (where else would they be but in Italy?) who seem perfectly at peace here. They have undertaken the care of a young outcast boy and set about to teach him proper British ways. They interact as if there were no cares. After all, they have the personal world of Il Duce that no harm will come to them should the war descend. And descend it does and only the naive (Maggie Smith) could believe in the integrity of Mussolini! These expatriate Brits choose to stay in Italy and, of course, the worst case scenario transpires. They are caught in the crossfires of the war machine. The other ladies in the film include Cher, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, and Lily Tomlin. Cher scores one of her best roles as the lone American in the film, a friend of the British ladies, and as the war continues, even her money and influence are no longer enough to save her. Her Jewish background does not settle well with the Fascists there, who are more than eager to please Herr Hitler and his war machine. Zeffirelli fills his film with typical cinematic beauty--whether it be in the actors, the acting, the scenery, the score, it's all superb. His ability to fuse the drama with appropriate amounts of comic relieve also add to the film, and his reputation. Hats off to the entire movie company!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
As my late husband, the ambassador would have said: splendid entertainment, 2 Aug 2007
Semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli looks at the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman. The boy's mother has died, and he is raised by an Englishwoman (Joan Plowright) in pre-WWII Fascist Italy. Living to each other in Florence, and presided over by an ambassador's widow (Maggie Smith), a group of Englishwomen live a sheltered existence which they believe is guaranteed personal protection in a tea reception given by Il Duce. However, as war breaks out, the women are interned. Occasionally in this English colony is a wealthy American (Cher), who visits among her travels and marriages to wealthy older men. She respects the "Scorpioni", as they are known, and secretly arranges for their stay in a hotel. When the United States enters the war, the American too is taken into custody. Only then does she discover that her Italian lover has tricked her into signing over all her money and modern art collection to him, and is now arranging her execution. This obliges all to join forces.
Tea With Mussolini is great entertainment. It is maybe not the great film so many had thought it would be, but with a true story, great casting and performances, and an interesting setting and time it is highly enjoyable. The female cast was fantastic. In particular Maggie Smith as Lady Hester, the crusty, sharp tongued wife of the former ambassador, Joan Plowright as the sweet but strong grandmotherly type and Julie Dench as the "arty" one. Cher as the brash, nouveau riche American was well cast. The men in general cannot match the female cast. The only objection I have that the characters might be a bit too stereotyped: the film perpetuates the idea of British as tea-drinking stiff upper lippers, Americans as rich, brash, everything is buying but in the end good at heart. Well all in good fun.
I enjoyed every minute of it!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Every time I watch it I enjoy it even more, 15 Nov 2000
By A Customer
Knowing that this is semi autobiographical just makes it more interesting but the sheer enjoyment for me is - due to the excellent casting - the way all the characters "gel" so well together. I've seen it three times now and each time I pick up something else - you do need to follow closely to catch the whole plot - but with a movie as good as this repeat watching is just more enjoyable and good value for money!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Poetic, moving, excellently directed and played, 17 Mar 2000
I am simply too grateful Master Franco Zeffirelli could make this autobiographical film, so charged with true emotions, the emotions of a young kid left by his parents, and the troubles of a teenager during World War II and Nazi occupation of Italy. The English community living in Florence is a tribute Zeffirelli pays to all the English who love Tuscany and Italy and his own personal tribute for making him love England so much. It is a truthful, emotional connotated, moving, delighful and fresh film.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
The cast is the lifeforce of this production, 14 Jun 2000
To watch such greats as Joan Plowright, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith in one picture is a joy. In this case, "the cast's the thing". Very entertaining in general.
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
A good laugh, but very complicated, 16 Sep 2000
By A Customer
I enjoyed this film because of the humour of Maggie Smith, Cher and Judi Dench - a great ensemble of actors! However, the film has to be closely followed, or you might lose the plot a little.
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