Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10115 in VHS
• Released on: 2001-02-26
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: HiFi Sound, PAL
• Original language: English, Italian
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 138 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The complete obscurity of Avanti is a cinematic injustice that needs to be rectified. Jack Lemmon and director Billy Wilder made their share of hits together (Some Like It Hot and The Apartment, for starters), but this wry, melancholy comedy was completely out of touch with its time (which recalls a Wilder one-liner from the 1970s: "Who the hell would want to be in touch with these times?"). It may have flopped badly in 1972, but it wears well in retrospect. Lemmon plays a jerk American businessman called to Italy to pick up the body of his father, who died while enjoying a secret (and, it turns out, annual) liaison with a mistress. With the help of a delightful Englishwoman (Juliet Mills) who happens to be the daughter of the "other woman", Lemmon finds himself stepping in a few of dad's footsteps, and falling under the sway of the beguiling Italian atmosphere. It's a very leisurely movie, but that's part of the effect. Clive Revill delivers a gem of a performance as a heroic hotel manager, and Juliet Mills (sister of Hayley, daughter of Sir John) had her finest screen hour here. As a director, Wilder spent much of his early career camouflaging his romantic streak under a cynical front; here, despite many acerbic touches and the presence of death as the central plot device, the romance is in full flower under the rich Italian sun. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com

Synopsis
An hilarious black comedy story, which starts when a stuffy American tycoon goes to Italy to collect the body of his father. There he discovers that his father had a mistress and that she died in the same crash which killed him...

From the Back Cover
In this hilarious, light-hearted comedy from comedy from acclaimed writer/director Billy Wilder and screenwriter I.A.L Diamond, a wealthy American discovers romance and the meaning of avanti while in Italy. based on the play by Samuel Taylor, nominated for five Golden Globes and winning one for best actor - Avanti! is as delightful as the Wilder/Diamond/Lemmon classics.

Customer Reviews

what a wonderful surprise
As a movie fan I can´t forgive myself for not discovering this film until my wife told me about it. No wonder it´s her favourite,it´s almost mine too now (among my three favourite films, the others being "Rebecca" and "Wuthering Heights"). We watch it time after time and never get tired of it. It´s Billy Wilder at its best. So witty, funny and perfect! The cast is great and that setting on that tiny italian island makes you want to have an affair yourself. Not to mention the music, which I´ve been after for a long time unsuccessfully. At least I was lucky enough to find the song "senza fine". It´s a pity there´s no soundtrack available. To me this is what films are all about and I will treasure this wonderful surprise from my wife. Thank you, Rosie.

A gem of a movie, very quirky but interesting storyline,
A gem of a movie, very quirky but interesting storyling, great performances from Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills coupled with stunning Italian scenery and a film score that stays in your memory long after the film has ended. The sort of film you can watch over and over without getting bored - a great mix of comedy and romance.

A Billy Wilder classic for any romantics out there...
This charming tale of love that was meant to be shows Jack Lemon at his most endearingly cantankerous (an oxymoron, but completely justified) and Juliet Mills at her most beautiful. The gorgeous scenery perfectly complements the witty yet touching script and the brilliantly crafted peripheral characters make this the perfect film for all classic romantic comedy lovers and purveyors of the human condition. A must for Billy Wilder fans - or, in fact, all fans of fated true love...