Avanti! [VHS]

This is not necessarily the most well-known Jack Lemmon film but it is quintessentially Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon,with the delightful addition of charming Juliet Mills and the romance of Italy thrown in. With a wonderful soundtrack entirely suited to the film adapted from Italian songs, Avanti is a romantic comedy which puts most romantic comedies in the shade.Yet, while being an entirely romantic comedy, it is also a black comedy in that the whole reason for the romance which emerges is that the couple are on their way to reclaim the bodies of their father (Lemmon) and mother (Mills) who, it turns out, had been lovers in Italy for years.The film in some ways is a series of perfect comedy moments whether it is Juliet Mills's character pronouncing all the varieties of pasta with their lovely Italian sounds (on the boat on the way to Ischia), or her keeping the band up all night as she - losing her inhibitions - sings and dances to the romantic 'Senza Fine' tune, or the shenanigans with the Trotta family (mock-Mafia) who demand an exorbitant sum in compensation for the fact that the father and mother died in a car accident on their land (another black humour set piece), or when the US diplomat arrives by helicopter from Paris only to find the airport official is having his lunch - you don't interrupt an Italian's lunchtime!The other actor who must be mentioned is Clive Revill, who does a brilliant job as the Italian all-seeing, all-knowing hotel manager whose role acts as a buffer, a go-between, a mentor, an advisor, who manages everything with Italian-style efficiency and aplomb. His delivery and facial expressions are some of the funniest titbits in the film.I think this is Juliet Mills's highlight film. Encouraged by Jack Lemmon (who, you can see, nurtures her through the film) and Clive Revill's consideration, she has obviously responded so well to Wilder's direction. She is absolutely delightful throughout. Jack Lemmon does what he does best, delivers lines with perfect timing, charms the viewer with his disingenuous naiveté, accentuates his Americanism to contrast with Juliet Mills's Britishness, and as always, gives a perfect performance.If you ever feel even a little blue, this is the go-to film. You cannot but help feel much better having watched it. I love it so much that I have bought the soundtrack separately so I can play it in the car and when I'm washing up, or just when I'm not in the best mood. I can guarantee I'll feel fine after listening to it.

Other reviewers have explained why the film deserves five stars, but some information on the current BluRay may be helpful. The picture quality is excellent, and the sound perfectly adequate. Although this version is for the German market it comes with the original English soundtrack, and a choice of German or English subtitles, and the interviews with Juliet Mills and Clive Revill are in English with German subtitles. One small warning - this version is Region B so won't be playable on machines that do not support this region code.

A lovely, funny romantic comedy from the legendary director Billy Wilder (Some like it hot). Set in beautiful Southern Italy, the film explores amusing differences between the hectic and often unhappy life of an American executive ( Jack Lemmon) against the slow pace of life and huge bureaucracy of 1970s Southern Italy. Juliette Mills plays a kind of go-between between these different worlds who is able to see and appreciate the beauty and romance of Italy, despite its problems. Italy ends up being an escape for both of them.

I love the film, the film would be 6 stars if I could give them, it is one of the most witty and charming films every made. However for this bluray English purchasers be warned that this French import does have an English version as stated, but what it doesn't state is that it's not easy to turn off subtitles and at first it looked like it wasn't possible - in the main screen you are just presented with the option of the French version, or the English version with subtitles. However I did find a way to turn them off by going into my bluray players (in this case a PS3) own options but it took a while to work out that I could do that. I think this accounts for the disparity between people saying you can't turn the subtitles off and some saying you can.

Witty, clever. How to make a tasteful comedy out of a funeral.Jack Lemmon is a busy American tycoon torn from the golf links to fly to Iscia by the death of his father.Juliette Mills is a flower shop assistant in London who meets him on the ferry on her way to attend her mother's funeral.The tycoon wants to get his father back to America subito because all the factories are going to close down for half an hour to watch the funeral service by televised link. But this is not the way things are done in Italy! The hard pressed hotel manager has to arrange everything and not all is as it might be....A family film, so long as you don't mind a quick flash of nudity in the best possible taste and quite within the story.Should not be watched after a recent family bereavement.

Five stars for the film but only one for this release.It is criminal that this little gem of a movie has not had a decent 'all regions' Blu-ray release. Jack Lemmon won an Oscar for this film, for crying out loud! I can only echo what others have said about the comedy genius of Wilder/Lemmon/Mills/Revill. This is a gentle comedy that delights in taking its time, which is perfectly in tune with the slow relaxed pace of life of its setting. It slowly seduces you into the story and lets it unfold instead of forcing it on you at a wholly inappropriate pace.Fortunately I saw that language and subtitles were only in French for this import so I was able to avoid a costly mistake. The quality of the DVD I have is good so I'm sure it would look fabulous on Blu-ray without the need for costly restoration. Sadly with so many of the creative and acting talents now lost to us, and seemingly no 'behind the scenes' material available, it doesn't look like there would be much extra to put on the disk. But as Juliet Mills and Clive Revill are still with us at the time of writing, it would be wonderful if they would be able to reminisce and provide some background to the making of the film. Please, if anyone is in a position to make this happen can you do so and make us happy. Maybe a Wilder retrospective at the BFI could tempt them to appear in a Q&A that could be recorded?