Tea With Mussolini

Starring:Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Lily Tomlin, Baird Wallace, Charlie Lucas (II), Massimo Ghini, Paolo Seganti, Claudio Spadaro, Mino Bellei, Paul Chequer, Tessa Pritchard, Michael Williams, Paula Jacobs, Bettina Milne, Hazel Parsons, Helen Stirling, Kathleen Doyle, Gisella Mathews
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
In filming this semi-autobiographical account of life in Italy during the dawn of World War II, director Franco Zeffirelli imbues Tea with Mussolini with the mixed blessings of fond reminiscence. It's a warmly inviting film, as impeccable as any Merchant-Ivory production, but like a hazy memory it's uncertain in its narrative intentions. And yet with an exceptional cast to compensate, the film's as engaging as it is inconsequential.

Zeffirelli's alter ego is Luca (Charlie Lucas in youth; Baird Wallace as a teenager), who is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his absentee father. Luca lives among a loose band of British and American women, nicknamed "Il Scorpioni" for their stinging wit in the shadows of Mussolini's thuggish dictatorship. Along with Mary there's Hester (Maggie Smith), a crusty ambassador's widow; Arabella (Judi Dench), a lively bohemian; lesbian archaeologist Georgie (Lily Tomlin); and Elsa (Cher), a flamboyant American who quietly finances Luca's education.

Amazon.com

In filming this semi-autobiographical account of life in Italy during the dawn of World War II, director Franco Zeffirelli imbues Tea with Mussolini with the mixed blessings of fond reminiscence. It's a warmly inviting film, as impeccable as any Merchant-Ivory production, but like a hazy memory it's uncertain in its narrative intentions. And yet with an exceptional cast to compensate, the film's as engaging as it is inconsequential.

Il Scorpioni witness the rise of fascism and the dangers of resistance, weathering dictatorial custody and (in Elsa's case) falling prey to heartbreaking betrayal. But Tea with Mussolini carries little dramatic weight; you have to forgive its unfocused structure to appreciate its merits. Zeffirelli gently conveys the passage from pleasantry to wartime, and he's drawn uniformly fine performances from this seasoned cast. If the film is vaguely unsatisfying, it's only because it had the makings of greatness and settles instead for an ethereal quality of anecdotal enchantment. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Florence, Italy, on the brink of WWII: it was a time of social unrest and, of course...afternoon tea. Join OscarÂ(r) winner* Cher and an incredible cast of leading ladies as they host this "radiant, beautiful film" (Gene Shalit, "Today Show") that is "worth savoring" (Mademoiselle).Prewar Florence is the place to be for any proper British woman who relishes culture and the arts. These ladies have everything they could ever want or needincluding a promise from dictator Mussolini himself that not even the imminent world war will impose upon their lifestyle. But when itappears that his word is not kept, and these expatriateswho chose to stay in Italy instead of seeking refuge in their own countryare in trouble, it takes a young outcast boy and a brazen American woman (Cher) to keep them in the high life and out of harm's way.

Customer Reviews:

The scenes where the women stand up to the Germans and then the Americans are priceless.......2007-04-27

I enjoyed this movie, it accurately portrays some of the English fascination with Benito Mussolini before the second world war. The setting is Florence with all its incredible artwork and the major players are a collection of eccentric English women, two unusual American women and an Italian boy born to the mistress of a married man. His father does not want to have a relationship with the boy, so he is "adopted" by the man's English secretary.
Cher plays a wealthy and eccentric American woman that is good-hearted but very naïve in the ways of the world. In the beginning, the women utter the cliché, "Mussolini makes the trains run on time." However, as there is growing evidence that Mussolini's regime is a thugocracy, they go into denial. One of the women, the widow of a former ambassador, manages to schedule a tea session with the Italian dictator. In his typical bombastic style, Mussolini pledges to uphold their dignity and keep them safe.
Eventually, the war comes and the British women are interned as enemy aliens. The widow of the ambassador believes that Mussolini is the one paying for their keep when it is in fact the Cher character. When America is drawn into the war and the Americans join the British ladies in confinement, a slick Italian man cons the Cher character out of all of her assets. Her response is to retire to her room in total defeat. She is finally brought out of her depression by a visit from the ambassador's widow, who admits to her mistakes and past snobbishness, but now points out that they must work together if they are to survive. From that point on, the women work together to try to protect the artwork and eventually the Americans drive out the German troops. The last scenes where the women stand up to the Germans and then the Americans are hilarious.
The interaction between the women is excellent; all play their roles exceptionally well. As a peek into the inter-war period and how the British viewed the Mussolini regime this movie is excellent. It is loosely based on the life of the filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli and demonstrates a tragedy of history.
Mussolini was originally in strong opposition to Adolph Hitler and his expansionist plans in Europe. He was the one that stopped Hitler when he first attempted to annex Austria. While Italy was in no way a superpower, it was in Mussolini's best interest to stay out of the war and play to both sides. And had he remained opposed to Hitler, the war would have gone quite differently.

Celebration of women.......2006-11-07

This is one of my all time favorite movies. I love all the actresses--Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Lily Tomlin, Cher. The women they portray, although fictional, are a testament to the strength and character of women during a very difficult time. Don't miss it!

worth seeing.......2006-09-16

In spite of the disastrous title and the repulsive cover picture, this is the best film Zeffirelli has made since "Romeo and Juliet." It has a nice balance of atmosphere, characterization and action. The photography and scenery alone are worth the price of admission. Missing is the magnificent music that Zeffirelli usually has in his films. Contrary to the amazon reviewer, the film is quite focused and carries with it a tension, although the tension is deliberately kept from becoming oppressive. The path of the story is not at all "predictable" with several surprising turns. There are a few laughs in the beginning, but this is a serious film.

I went back to Zeffirelli's Autobiography to re-read the passages dealing with the scorpioni. They were real, of course, but apparently this story is fictional, as are all the characters except Mary Wallace. Zeffirelli put some incidents from his own life into the movie, and the actor who played Luca bears a striking resemblance to the young Zeffirelli, but that is all. Zeffirelli was illegitimate. He lived with his mother the first few years until she died. He was then brought up by a cousin. He was accosted by his father's wife, and his father did put him to study English with one of the old English ladies of Florence, Mary O'Neill, who was fond of playing the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet with him. But when the scorpioni were rounded up and shipped out of Florence, Zeffirelli says (p. 24) that he never saw Mary O'Neill again. He hid out in the mountains to avoid the draft and headed south, finally meeting up with the Allied front lines. The encounter with them in the movie is more or less like the book.

I would like to have seen a little more of the scorpioni before the war hit, but I'm sure I'll be watching this movie again and again.

Delightful Film - Cher's Best!.......2006-08-05

This is a charming film with a great cast. The story is the perfect blend of bittersweet and endearing. And the countryside of Tuscany is a star itself! Cher, Lily Tomlin and Maggie Smith give phenomenal performances. Everything about the picture is first rate: the writing, the acting, the visuals, the soundtrack. One of my very favorite films of all time!

You Can't Go Wrong With Director Franco Zeffirelli!.......2006-07-29

Whenever director Franco Zeffirelli is at the helm, you can be assured of great acting, fascinating scenery, and beautiful music. He has shown this in his "Romeo and Juliet," "Taming of the Shrew," "Hamlet," and "Jesus of Nazareth." Generally speaking, I DO NOT like war movies. Mainly because one, they tend to glorify people getting killed. Also, because character development normally takes a back seat to people getting blown up. Well, this movie qualifies as an exception. The story starts in Italy few years before World War II. The young Luca gradually realizes that his mother has died. To be sure, his father helps a little, but very little. Well Luca falls under the care of Maggie Smith (English), Joan Plowright (English), Judi Dench (English), Cher (Jewish), and Lily Tomlin (American). What these women share in common is that Italy will of course declare war on their different countries. Mussolini promises Maggie Smith (who may be able to provide some diplomatic favors) that she and her friends will be safe. Of course we don't need to think too hard to understand that this promise will only be carried through if it serves Mussolini in some way. (Despite the title, Mussolini only has a brief part.) Well, later, Luca's father decides that German "...is the language of tomorrow." So, Luca has to leave these women who were so kind to him. And of course, Italy joins Germany in the war. These women become prisoners, though not all at once. (Cher and Lily Tomlin have a bit more time of freedom.) Well, Luca (now grown up) returns, and offers what comfort he can to these women. He also has an on and off relationship with the energetic Cher. While Cher has her faults, she is heroic. She shows care for the Jews who will be in danger if they don't get out of Italy. She also uses her own money to move Smith, Plowright, and Dench to a hotel. (It is still a prison, but it is more of a country club type prison.) Another plot comes into play when a playboy is after Cher's money. Maggie Smith does not care for Cher, but will she rise to the occasion and save Cher? What makes this so different (as far as war movies are concerned) is that the war is in the background. The real story is the suffering of these women. So, we have the horrors of war without the glory. (But we can trust that Hollywood probably won't ever figure this out.) Interestingly, Luca never loses his love of art, and in a moment of desperation, Dench throws herself in front of art to stop the Nazis from blowing it up. Even if you don't like war movies, this is one you should make an exception for. If you like this, be sure to see Director Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet," "Taming of the Shrew," "Hamlet," and "Jesus of Nazareth."

Charlie Rose with Judi Dench; Maggie Smith (August 28, 2002)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Judi Dench; Maggie Smith (August 28, 2002)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

Charlie Rose with Dexter Filkins; Judi Dench & Maggie Smith (April 25, 2005)
The Judi Dench Collection
Charlie Rose with Judi Dench & Stephen Fears; Grover Norquist (December 6, 2005)
Notes on a Scandal
The Queen

ASIN: B000HBL4DY
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

An interview with actress Dame Judi Dench, about her recent Oscar-nominated role as author Iris Murdoch in the film Iris, and her lengthy career on screen and stage. Then, Oscar-nominated actress Dame Maggie Smith talks about her career and recent Oscar-nominated role in Robert Altman's film, Gosford Park.

Average customer rating:

Judi Dench

Charlie Rose (June 11, 1999)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Judi Dench Collection
Charlie Rose with Dexter Filkins; Judi Dench & Maggie Smith (April 25, 2005)
Charlie Rose with Judi Dench; Maggie Smith (August 28, 2002)
Notes on a Scandal
The Queen

ASIN: B000MXOTD4
Release Date: 2007-01-26

Description

First, Charlie talks to James Hoge, editor of Foreign Affairs magazine and James Steinberg, the deputy national security adviser to President Clinton in the White House, about the next step for peace in Kosovo. There is an uneasy peace in Yugoslavia today, following 79 days of bombing, as Serbian troops begin pulling out of the region, and NATO forces prepare to move in tomorrow. Topics of conversation include returning the Kosovar refugees, demilitarizing the Kosovo Liberation Army and bringing Milosevic to justice. Then, an interview with Dame Judi Dench. She talks about her latest film, Tea With Mussolini, and her return to Broadway, following a 40-year absence, in David Hare's Amy's View.

Customer Reviews:

Judi Dench.......2007-04-02

I love Charlie's interviews with Judi Dench. He has a great deal of affection for her and it comes out in his interviews.

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