Light in the Piazza (1962)
- General info
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- Synopsis:
Upper class Americans Noel (Barry Sullivan) and Meg (Olivia de Havilland) Johnson have a twenty-six year old daughter named Clara Johnson (Yvette Mimieux). Clara suffered a head injury as a child which resulted in her being mentally disabled. Clara's mental capacity is equivalent to that of a ten year old. In many social situations, Clara's disability can be passed off as a simple joy of life. The issue of Clara's care has placed a strain between Noel and Meg, the latter who clings to the hope that one day Clara can lead a "normal" life. While on an extended vacation through Italy, Meg and Clara meet a twenty-three year old Italian named Fabrizio Naccarelli (George Hamilton) in Florence. Fabrizio is instantly smitten with Clara, who returns the affection. Always protecting Clara, Meg initially resists Fabrizio's constant measures to insinuate himself into their lives. But as Meg learns more about Fabrizio and meets his family, Meg begins to believe a marriage between Fabrizio and Clara is Clara's chance for that normal life, all the while not telling the Naccarellis of Clara's issue. This belief places a further strain between Meg and Noel, who still wants Clara placed in some sort of institution. Not having met the Naccarellis, Noel also believes they have ulterior motives in their actions. But what happens if the Nacarellis find out about Clara's disability? - Actors:
- Olivia De Havilland, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux, Rossano Brazzi, Isabel Dean, Moultrie Kelsall, Nancy Nevinson, Barry Sullivan
- Directors:
- Guy Green
- Writers:
- Elizabeth Spencer, Julius J. Epstein
- Others:
- George Hamilton
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Romance
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Reviews (1) of Light in the Piazza
Italian Romance. - Light in the Piazza review by Steve
One of the better films about the romantic adventures of American women in a touristic Europe that were popular at the turn of the 60s. And there is an interesting premise. Olivia de Havilland is a rich American taking an extended holiday with her beautiful daughter (Yvette Mimieux) who attracts the attention of a young, prosperous, handsome Italian (George Hamilton).
Only the girl has a brain injury and the mental age of a ten year old... and as she is such a blonde head turner, her mother has to keep her one step ahead of the constant attention she gets. Mimieux does well with the part, which is pure Hollywood daydream, though Hamilton's clumsy Italian caricature is a big negative.
When the mother captures the attention of the suitor's father (Rossano Brazzi), she re-evaluates her own marriage and expectations and this is the best part of the film. There's a long standing motif in cinema, the woman who finds herself in the liberating Italian sunshine... And maybe that's a convention, but Olivia and Rossano are so good together that it succeeds yet again.
The film makes an equivalence between mental disability and the assumed simple Italian love of life! Which is an amazing insult. But the film works for a typical reason; the photography and locations are sublime. It's possible to feel a little emancipation, just watching. It's a fantasy and the screen is filled with convenient magic, where the daughter can meet a rich husband, and the mother can find freedom.