Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4025 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-03-06
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
In filming this semi-autobiographical account of life in Italy during the dawn of World War II, director Franco Zeffirelli imbues Tea with Mussolini with the mixed blessings of fond reminiscence. It's a warmly inviting film, as impeccable as any Merchant-Ivory production, but like a hazy memory it's uncertain in its narrative intentions. And yet with an exceptional cast to compensate, the film's as engaging as it is inconsequential. Zeffirelli's alter ego is Luca (Charlie Lucas in youth; Baird Wallace as a teenager), who is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his absentee father. Luca lives among a loose band of British and American women, nicknamed "Il Scorpioni" for their stinging wit in the shadows of Mussolini's thuggish dictatorship. Along with Mary there's Hester (Maggie Smith), a crusty ambassador's widow; Arabella (Judi Dench), a lively bohemian; lesbian archaeologist Georgie (Lily Tomlin); and Elsa (Cher), a flamboyant American who quietly finances Luca's education.

Il Scorpioni witness the rise of fascism and the dangers of resistance, weathering dictatorial custody and (in Elsa's case) falling prey to heartbreaking betrayal. But Tea with Mussolini carries little dramatic weight; you have to forgive its unfocused structure to appreciate its merits. Zeffirelli gently conveys the passage from pleasantry to wartime, and he's drawn uniformly fine performances from this seasoned cast. If the film is vaguely unsatisfying, it's only because it had the makings of greatness and settles instead for an ethereal quality of anecdotal enchantment. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Tanks a lot!!!
This film is a mighty one, from the great/dark atmosphere of the times, the stunning locations and what a cast, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin and Cher. Superb, or you would think?

Then the illusion came crashing down for me and I was brought back to reality that I was just watching a film. German troops entering San Gimignano, some riding on a tank. The tank in question is an American Sherman tank, with German insignias painted on. Luckily this was far into the film. How can a director of Franco Zefferelli stature allow sure a cheap stunt to happen. Is it a case that this film is directed mainly at a woman audience!
Even Captain Corellis mandolin had the right tanks, and tea is a better film by half.
Hence the four stars only. A glaring mistake...........

As my late husband, the ambassador would have said: splendid entertainment


Semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli looks at the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman. The boy's mother has died, and he is raised by an Englishwoman (Joan Plowright) in pre-WWII Fascist Italy. Living to each other in Florence, and presided over by an ambassador's widow (Maggie Smith), a group of Englishwomen live a sheltered existence which they believe is guaranteed personal protection in a tea reception given by Il Duce. However, as war breaks out, the women are interned. Occasionally in this English colony is a wealthy American (Cher), who visits among her travels and marriages to wealthy older men. She respects the "Scorpioni", as they are known, and secretly arranges for their stay in a hotel. When the United States enters the war, the American too is taken into custody. Only then does she discover that her Italian lover has tricked her into signing over all her money and modern art collection to him, and is now arranging her execution. This obliges all to join forces.


Tea With Mussolini is great entertainment. It is maybe not the great film so many had thought it would be, but with a true story, great casting and performances, and an interesting setting and time it is highly enjoyable. The female cast was fantastic. In particular Maggie Smith as Lady Hester, the crusty, sharp tongued wife of the former ambassador, Joan Plowright as the sweet but strong grandmotherly type and Julie Dench as the "arty" one. Cher as the brash, nouveau riche American was well cast. The men in general cannot match the female cast. The only objection I have that the characters might be a bit too stereotyped: the film perpetuates the idea of British as tea-drinking stiff upper lippers, Americans as rich, brash, everything is buying but in the end good at heart. Well all in good fun.

I enjoyed every minute of it!

An entirely lovely film
I caught this film a few years ago on Channel 4 (in England), and was quite taken with its story telling. One cannot but notice the stellar cast - Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Lily Tomlin and, believe it or not, Cher. They, however, do not dominate the film, nor does it become a case of watching actors trying to out-act each other. Much more, each plays a gracious part to the other, allowing the story to come through.

The cinematography is excellent, with San Gimignano and Florence caught beautifully. The music score is supportive and well-written without drowning the scenes in emotion.

All in all, the film comes across as very 'English' (or rather, what 'English' once was) - balanced, gracious, never too much and always polite. If anything, the film is worth £7 just for Maggie Smith's line at the end.