Light in the Piazza

Director: Guy Green Guy Green

Overview

In this melodrama, a wealthy family is divided as to how to care for their daughter. Having suffered an injury as a child, the beautiful young woman has the mentality of a ten year old. While her father wants to institutionalize Clara, her mother encourages her to follow her heart.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/01/2011
UPC:	0883316381830
Original Release:	1962
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	17,523

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Olivia de Havilland	Meg Johnson
Yvette Mimieux	Clara Johnson Naccarelli
George Hamilton	Fabrizio Naccarelli
Rossano Brazzi	Signor Naccarelli
Barry Sullivan	Noel Johnson
Isabel Dean	Miss Hawtree
Moultrie Kelsall	The Minister
Nancy Nevinson	Signora Naccarelli
Rosella Spinelli	Guiseppi Naccarelli
William E. Greene	The Consular Agent
Robert Rietty	The Priest
Steve Plytas	Concierge
Luciano Barontino	Marchese
Bonas Eugevio	Policeman
Peppino De Martino	Train Conductor

Technical Credits

Julius J. Epstein

Guy Green	Director
Julius J. Epstein	Screenwriter
Arthur Freed	Producer
Tom Howard	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

A small gem, Light in the Piazza is a sweetly affecting little film that will please fans of romantic drama. It is not a perfect film, veering as it does occasionally into light soap opera and featuring a few unconvincing moments, but overall, Piazza is very pleasant and involving. Julius J. Epstein's screenplay oversimplifies the original Elizabeth Spencer novella and skirts over some of the book's issues, but on the whole, it is a respectful adaptation and one that is professionally crafted without becoming overly manipulative or mechanical. It also gives Olivia de Havilland one of her finest late-career roles, a character that is complex enough for the actress to really sink her teeth into. De Havilland carries much of the film with her richly textured performance, revealing a woman caught between reality and fantasy, between what she desires for her beloved child and what she knows is right, and this fine actress handles every demand of the part with assurance and expertise. Yvette Mimieux's performance is less impressive, but she's ideally cast, and George Hamilton, while perhaps not as believably Italian as one could wish, pairs her very well; Rossano Brazzi brings genuine continental charm to his role. Director Guy Green's work is good, if at times not as imaginative as might be desired, but he works with cinematographer Otto Heller to create an exceptionally handsome film. While it falls short of greatness, Piazza is an engaging movie with plenty of appeal.