Light in the Piazza **** (1962, Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton, Rossano Brazzi, Barry Sullivan) – Classic Movie Review 6837

Director Guy Green’s tasteful and quite rousing 1962 British romantic drama Light in the Piazza is sweetly told, expertly made and neatly acted, and is notable for its extensive location shooting in Florence and Rome by cinematographer Otto Heller.

Julius J Epstein’s rock-solid, elegant script is based on Elizabeth Spencer’s National Book Award-winning novel, which first appeared in The New Yorker in June 1960. It is all about a lovely 26-year old mentally disabled young woman called Clara Johnson (Yvette Mimieux) on holiday in Italy with her concerned upper-class American mother Meg (Olivia de Havilland) when they meet a handsome 23-year old Italian lad named called Fabrizio Naccarelli (George Hamilton) in Florence.  The two young people are instantly smitten with each other, but Meg is initially worried.

Light in the Piazza is an unexpected pleasure, telling a charming story, and oozing with gorgeous scenery, lovely cinematography and convincing performances all round.

Also in the cast are Barry Sullivan as Meg’s husband Noel Johnson, Rossano Brazzi and Nancy Nevinson as Fabrizio’s parents Signor and Signora Naccarelli, Isabel Dean as Miss Hawtree and Moultrie Kelsall as the Minister. Robert Rietty has a minor role as The Priest and dubs seven other cast members.

Light in the Piazza is directed by Guy Green, runs 102 minutes, is produced and released by MGM, is written by Julius J Epstein, based on Elizabeth Spencer’s novel, is shot in Metrocolor by Otto Heller, is produced in his last film by Arthur Freed and scored by Mario Nascimbene.

Filming took place in Florence – Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery – and in Rome – the Via Veneto and Roma Ostiense railway station. Traffic was diverted for three days to shoot at the busy Via Veneto. Interiors were shot at MGM-British Studios in Borehamwood, near London, England.

After actively campaigning for the role, Hamilton replaced Tomas Milian, who was originally cast as the Italian groom.

It cost $1,261,000 and flopped, taking $2.2 million but losing $472,000.

A hit Broadway musical version opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York on April 18, 2005, ran for 504 performances and won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Score.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6837

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