As such, he often runs away looking for his mother. Tea with Mussolini is a 1999 Anglo-Italian semi-autobiographical film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, scripted by John Mortimer, telling the story of a young Italian boy's upbringing by a circle of British and American women before and during the Second World War. Elsa Morganthal (Cher), a brash rich young American widow whom Scorpioni matron Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith) barely tolerates, sets up a financial trust for Luca when she learns of the death of his mother, whom she was fond of and to whom Elsa still owes money for her dressmaking services. Mussolini Crew Franco Zeffirelli Director, Screenwriter Albert Guiliani Assistant Hair Alberto Spiazzi Costume Designer Alessandro Lai Assistant Costume Designer Alessandro Loy Production Manager Alessio Vlad Composer (Music Score) Alistair Hopkins Post Production Supervisor Angela Allen Script Supervisor Anna Anni Costume Designer Anna Orazi Tea with Mussolini and One day when the ladies are in a restaurant for afternoon tea, it is vandalised by Fascists, reflecting the increasingly uncertain position of the expatriate community. The city rejoices as the Scots arrive, with Luca now serving as their commander's Italian interpreter. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of Tea With Mussolini with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at TVGuide.com Because the United States is not at war, Elsa and her American compatriot Georgie Rockwell (Lily Tomlin), an openly lesbian archaeologist, remain free. On a mutual agreement between Paolo and Mary, Mary becomes Luca's guardian, she who will receive help in raising Luca by her fellow Scorpioni and financial help from Paolo as needed. Tea with Mussolini (1999) is a Anglo-Italian semi-autobiographical film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, scripted by John Mortimer, telling the story of a young Italian boy's upbringing by a circle of British & U.S. women before & during WWII. One of those Scorpioni, Mary Walsh (Dame Joan Plowright), works as the English secretary for Paolo Innocente (Massimo Ghini), who, in part because of his own wife's adamant refusal, largely neglects his illegitimate adolescent son, Luca (Baird Wallace), despite Paolo's want for Luca to grow up to be a proper young man, much like the English. The ongoing clash between two worlds i.e. Maggie Smith as the widow of a former British ambassador, the character that actually has tea with Mussolini, is the dominant figure in the film. In 1935 a group of elderly British women, whom the Italians have named the Scorpioni, have chosen Italy, specifically Florence, as a place to live to blend their proper British sensibilities with their love of Italian art and culture. The Crossword Solver finds answers to American-style crosswords, British-style crosswords, general knowledge crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Here are the pros & cons of this film as I see it, I hope this helps. It is probably the best performance I have seen by Maggie Smith, who often seems to be playing the same character actually. Understated but none the less effective, probably more so, because of it.If you haven't seen this film, see it as soon as you can. 16-year old novice Maria leaves her convent and returns home to avoid the plague. Elsa falls for Vittorio's scheme to embezzle her art collection and money, which would deliver her to the German Gestapo in a phony escape to Switzerland. Amazon.com: Tea With Mussolini: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Cher, Lily Tomlin, Baird Wallace, Charlie Lucas, Massimo Ghini, Paolo Seganti, Claudio Spadaro, Mino Bellei, Paul Chequer, Franco Zeffirelli, Clive Parsons, Frederick Muller, Giovannella Zannoni, Marco Chimenz, Pippo Pisciotto, Franco Zeffirelli, John Mortimer: Movies & TV. First, that an ensemble cast of talented actresses and lavish scenery in an exciting place and time is a certain formula for cinematic success. Her stepmother and her half-sisters ... See full summary ». Luca has lived in an orphanage since his dressmaker mother's death, death a concept that Luca does not yet understand. This FAQ is empty. Michael Williams, who was married to Judi Dench in real life, died not long after the film was finished. Elsa consents to an escape plan hatched by Mary, Luca and Wilfred. How accurate "Tea with Mussolini" is, I cannot say, but it is based on the autobiography of the film director Franco Zeffirelli, who directed and co-wrote it, so we can be sure it is true to what he remembers, or wants to remember. An epidemic of cholera is hitting the region. Huggo. Dame Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith CH DBE (born 28 December 1934) is an English actress. Enter the answer length or the answer pattern to get better results. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. Notebook/August Rush/Ladies In Lavender. I had wanted to see this film for some time and when the opportunity finally materialised I was enthralled. Franco Zeffirelli's semi-autobiographical Tea with Mussolini implies two things. Title: Pros: 1. Written by The cast members of Tea with Mussolini have been in many other movies, so use this list as a starting point to find actors or actresses that you may not be familiar with. This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 09:27. Cameron Diaz – Being John Malkovich as Lotte Schwartz; Cate Blanchett – The Talented Mr. Ripley as Meredith Logue; Mena Suvari – American Beauty as Angela Hayes; Thora Birch – American Beauty as Jane Burnham Was this review helpful to you? Select from premium Tea With Mussolini of the highest quality. Zeffirelli mentions her and a couple of other ladies of the Scorpioni in his autobiography. 38 of 39 people found this review helpful. Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith) versus Elsa (Cher) reaches a satisfying resolution which it would be unfair to reveal.There are splendid comic vignettes mixed into the overall drama. According to IMDb, Tea with Mussolini has been shot in and around locations of Italy. Tea With Mussolini Critics Consensus. List actors include Cher, Judi Dench … The last days of legendary opera singer Maria Callas. I remember the many outrageous things she did because she could afford to be arrogant and bossy. Here are some well-known faces from Sundance over the years, as they brought their early movies to the festival. The movie is popular for showing the Italian art and culture and … A depressed housewife whose husband is having an affair contemplates suicide, but changes her mind when she faces death by a killer hired to do her in. She is one of only seven actresses to have won in both categories. Pros: 1. Mary learns of it from Elsa's art dealer (Mino Bellei) and scolds Luca. On a mutual agreement between Paolo and Mary, Mary becomes Luca's guardian, she who will receive help in raising Luca by her fellow Scorpioni and financial help from Paolo as needed. The major has orders to evacuate the Scorpioni but Lady Hester refuses to cooperate, resolved that they will resume their former lives in Italy. Here are the pros & cons of this film as I see it, I hope this helps. Four English women, after World War I, who are unhappy with their lives, and their time away on vacation in a beautiful Italian villa. Lady Hester Random is based upon a real resident of Florence whom Zeffirelli knew in his childhood. Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright), who works as the man's secretary, steps in to care for him, turning for support to her Scorpioni friends, including eccentric would-be artist Arabella (Judi Dench). Maggie Smith. Dames Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith get together for tea to reminisce and discuss their acting careers. Elsa still refuses to believe Vittorio's betrayal and is ultimately convinced only when Lady Hester, informed by Mary and Luca of what Elsa has secretly done for all of them, repents of her contempt for Elsa and offers her gratitude and help. He said: "I don't remember if she was called Hester, but I remember this terrible, fantastic woman. 2000 – Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists – Best Costume Design (Migliori Costumi); Anna Anni, Alberto Spiazzi. The film opened tenth at the U.S. box office with $1,633,183 for the weekend, eventually grossing a total of $45,566,200, considerably more than its budget. He finds that most British nationals are fleeing the country, anticipating Mussolini's declaration of war on Great Britain, and that Mary has moved in with Lady Hester and the other English hold-outs. Closing texts explain the mostly happy fates of the characters, concluding with the remark that Luca went on to become an artist and "helped in making this film" – in other words, as writer and director. At a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Composer Giuseppe Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean (Dame Maggie Smith), an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents. From Ilford, Essex, England, UK. An orphaned Italian boy is raised amongst a circle of British and American women living in Mussolini's Italy before and during World War II. Judi Dench and her dog being thrown out of the cathedral, sharply contrasts with the chilling moment when the Jewish arts professor is taken away by the Gestapo. The film was produced by three Italian companies (Medusa Produzione, Cattleya and Cineritmo) and one British ( Film and General Productions Ltd), Mussolini's declaration of war on Great Britain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tea_with_Mussolini&oldid=999666842, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Tessa Pritchard as Connie Raynor, a journalist for The Morning Post, Baird Wallace as Luca Innocente, as a teenager, Charlie Lucas as Luca Innocente, as a child, Mino Bellei as Cesare, an art dealer and close friend of Elsa. Baird Wallace, Actor: Un tè con Mussolini. Tea with Mussolini (1999) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Lady Hester, widow of Britain's former ambassador to Italy, retains an admiring faith in Benito Mussolini (Claudio Spadaro) and takes it upon herself to visit him, receiving his insincere assurances of their safety, and proudly recounts her "tea with Mussolini". 1999 Press Photo Actress Judi Dench and co stars in ""Tea With Mussolini" This is an original press photo. TEA WITH MUSSOLINI seems to be marketed as the "Cher Movie" but it's not. One of those Scorpioni, Mary Walsh (Dame Joan Plowright), works as the English secretary for Paolo Innocente (Massimo Ghini), who, in part because of his own wife's adamant refusal, largely neglects his illegitimate adolescent son, Luca (Baird Wallace), despite Paolo's want for Luca to grow up to be a proper young man, much like the English. He arrives at the house just as they – and Hester's ineffectual grandson Wilfred (Paul Chequer), disguised as a young woman for his safety – are being rounded up and put onto a transport truck, which he follows to the nearby Tuscan town of San Gimignano. 38 used & new from $4.20. She has won a record four BAFTA Awards for Best Actress, including for A Private Function (1984) and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1988), a BAFTA Best Supporting Actress for Tea with Mussolini … Find the perfect Tea With Mussolini stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Rated PG for thematic elements, language, brief nudity and some mild violence, Franco Zeffirelli, Italian creator of sumptuous visuals, dies at 96, Franco Zeffirelli, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Director, Dead at 96. Believing that Mussolini himself issued the orders, Lady Hester is delighted, proudly brandishing the newspaper photo of her tea with Il Duce. Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy. 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