Full of Life *** (1956, Judy Holliday, Richard Conte, Salvatore Baccaloni) – Classic Movie Review 5,704

The enjoyable 1956 film Full of Life stars delightful Judy Holliday as Italian Catholic Emily Rocco, expecting her first child with poor husband Nick (Richard Conte). She is much put out by the meddling of her tippling father-in-law (Salvatore Baccaloni). 

Director Richard Quine’s entertaining 1956 American comedy-drama film Full of Life stars the always effervescent and delightful Judy Holliday as Italian Catholic mother-to-be Emily Rocco (Holliday), who is married to penniless writer Nick (Richard Conte).

Emily, expecting their first child, is greatly put out by the relentless meddling of her tippling father-in-law (Salvatore Baccaloni), a proud Italian immigrant stonemason and carpenter, who agrees to restore her pest-ridden floor but then constructs an unneeded fireplace for them. Nick has a difficult relationship with his dad but is forced ask him to help as the couple can’t afford the home repairs.

The Italian operatic Metropolitan Opera bass star Baccaloni (1900–1969) makes his film début as Papa Vittorio Rocco in a commanding performance that is far too big for the screen and topples the show over. But still, the full-of-life Holliday charms, as ever, and the appealing comedy-drama yarn always diverts and often amuses.

The screenplay is adapted by the author John Fante from his own 1952 novel.

Also in the cast are Esther Minciotti, Joe De Santis, Silvio Minciotti, Penny Santon, Arthur Lovejoy, Eleanor Audley, Trudy Marshall, Walter Conrad and Sam Gilman.

Full of Life is directed by Richard Quine, runs 91 minutes, is made and released by Columbia Pictures, is written by John Fante, based on the novel by John Fante, is shot by Charles Lawton Jr, is produced by Fred Kohlmar, and is scored by George Duning.

Release dates: December 25, 1956 (Los Angeles), February 1, 1957 (New York City), and February 12, 1957 (US).

Box office: $1.3 million in US rentals.

Baccaloni sang for the first time at La Scala, Milan, in 1926. He made his debut at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1928. He often sang in Philadelphia with various opera companies from 1951 to 1966. He performed at the Metropolitan Opera in 1940 and remained at the Met until 1962. He later appeared as actor in a handful of other films.

The cast are Judy Holliday as Emily Rocco, Richard Conte as Nick Rocco, Salvatore Baccaloni as Papa Victorio Rocco, Esther Minciotti as Mama Coletta Rocco, Joe De Santis as Father Gondolfo, Silvio Minciotti as Joe Muto, Penny Santon as Carla Rocco, Arthur Lovejoy as Mr Jameson, Eleanor Audley as Mrs Jameson, Trudy Marshall as Nora Gregory, Walter Conrad as John Gregory, and Sam Gilman as Dr Atchison.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,704

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