The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No ** (1968, Virna Lisi, George Segal, Lila Kedrova, Akim Tamiroff) – Classic Movie Review 8612

Director Franco Brusati’s 1968 Italian comedy The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No [Il Suo Modo di Fare] [Tenderly] stars George Segal as the prim and proper Italian doctor Franco, who has love problems with his childhood sweetheart, hippie oddball Italian Yolanda (Virna Lisi).

Brusati’s less than entirely happy Swinging Sixties odd-couple comedy has its moments but rather carelessly explores the all too familiar theory that opposites attract. The admirable and thoroughly likeable Segal and Lisi try hard, and with considerable success, while Lila Kedrova and Akim Tamiroff are further assets as Yolanda’s Mother and Uncle Egidio.

However, the film is a bit of dated, low-laughter, low-charm muddle, though, to be fair, Ennio De Concini and Franco Brusati’s sophisticated screenplay is more thoughtful, intelligent and amusing than the average Swinging Sixties comedy script.

The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No was made in Italy by Segal during a lull in his American career.

Also in the cast are Paola Pitagora, Felicity Mason, Luciano Mondolfo, Mario Brega, Vera Nandi, Riccardo Billi, Ciccio Barbi and Nora Ricci.

The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No [Il Suo Modo di Fare] [Tenderly] is directed by Franco Brusati, runs 105 minutes, is made by Fulcro, Italnoleggio Cinematografico and Prima Film, is released by 20th Century Fox (1969) (US) (dubbed), is written by Ennio De Concini and Franco Brusati, is shot in Technicolor by Ennio Guarnieri, is produced by Luciano Perugia and is scored by Riz Ortolani.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8612

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