Tea With Mussolini (US)

7 / 10
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A Story of Civilized Disobediance
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 117 mins
Retail Price: $14.95
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
Florence, Italy on the brink of WWII - it was a time of social unrest and, of course - afternoon tea. Join Oscar winner Cher and an incredible cast of leading ladies as they host this radiant, beautiful film, that is worth savoring. Pre-war Florence is the place to be for any proper British woman who relishes culture and the arts. These ladies have everything they could ever want or need - including a promise from Dictator Mussolini himself that not even the imminent World War will impose upon their lifestyle. But when it appears that his word is not kept, and these expatriates - who chose to stay in Italy instead of seeking refuge in their own country - are in trouble, it takes a young outcast boy and a brazen American woman to keep them in the high life and out of harm`s way.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Collectible "Making of" Booklet
Original Theatrical Trailer

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
Pan & Scan 1.33:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 French

Subtitle Tracks:
French
English
CC: English

Directed By:
Franco Zeffirelli

Written By:
Franco Zeffirelli
John Mortimer

Starring:
Charlie Lucas
Baird Wallace
Lily Tomlin
Maggie Smith
Joan Plowright
Judi Dench
Cher

Casting By:
Emma Style
Mirta Guarnaschelli

Soundtrack By:
Alessio Vlad
Stefano Arnaldi

Director of Photography:
David Watkin

Editor:
Tariq Anwar

Costume Designer:
Alberto Spiazzi
Ermanno Daelli
Jenny Beavan
Anna Anni

Producer:
Giovannella Zannoni
Riccardo Tozzi
Pippo Pisciotto
Clive Parsons
Frederick Muller

Executive Producer:
Marco Chimenz

Distributor:
Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Your Opinions and Comments

7 / 10

A wonderful movie that describes the life of a group of English and American women in Italy before and during WWII. The plot is very good and the acting is as well (despite Cher`s participation).
The video transfer is ok. While there are no compression signs at all, several scenes reveal some dust particles. Still, it`s nothing major and the landscapes of Italy are all very nice.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is a bit flat, but I guess you cannot expect this kind of a movie to utilize the surrounds very often. Still, the dialog is always clear.
The menus are animated with sound.
The disk contains no extras whatsoever.
Bottom line - a very nice movie, that is, unfortunately, presented in a rather mediocre disk.

posted by Zvi Josef on 6/10/2001 21:41