The Battle of the Villa Fiorita

I liked the movie mainly for the picturesque views of the lake,( Lake Como?) the surrounding area, and scenes of the villa itself. So much of the architectural style is remincient of the paintings done by Maxfield Parrish in the early part of the 20th century. You sort of have to look around the actors in the various scenes to get glimpses of ornate retaining walls, stairs and elaborate ballusters around and into the lake. There is an elegance about marble (or granite, or just old concrete?) stairs going down into the water. And old world gardens full of flowers. Itn reminds me of the book "Italian Villas and their Gardens" by Edith Wharton, 1907, Which was illustrated by Parrish. And yes, the children in the movie steal the show; All three have a much stronger determination to achieve their goals than do any of the adults. It's a good story line , dated for the sixties. And is'nt this Olivia Hussey's first feature film?

I saw this movie as a teenager when it came out. Typical of its time and genre. Two kids go alone across Europe to bring their mom, who has left dad for new man, back to dad. Great scenery. O K young teenager travel adventure fantasy. O'Hara and Brazzi OK but film stolen by kids. A young Olivia Hussey prior to her starting in Romeo and Juliet. The result of their attempt is in keeping with the morals of its time.

Delmer Daves created some of the great lush romantic dramas of my youth such as A Summer Place, Parrish and Rome Adventure all starring Troy Donahue, and then also at WB directed Spencer's Mountain starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O Hara. Daves then cast the beautiful Maureen in this film shot in Italy. In her book 'Tis Herself Ms. O Hara said she was simply aghast when seeing the rushes she noted that her face was shot with shadows. At first I did not believe a major star would be photographed against her wishes and that the veteran renowned cinematographer Oswald Morris held a grudge against the lovely star because of a football bet! Whether this is true or not, the fact is that La O Hara one of the cinema's great beauties has some scenes that back up her complaint.

I thought the film was fine and the casting of Ms. O Hara with Rosonna Brazzi who was in Daves' Rome Adventure as well- also very fine. The location shot were gorgeous.

This delightful 1965 film appeared at the local theater where I was a 16-year-old usher. Ushers used to tire of repeated film screenings, however, I couldn't get enough of this cinematic gem. An attractive British housewife (Maureen O'Hara) falls for a charming Italian musician (Rosanno Brazzi) and the adventure begins. Her thunderstruck children (Martin Stephens and Elizabeth Dear) become determined to rescue their love-struck mother and to restore family unity. Director Delmar Daves gives the children plenty of opportunities for abundant scene stealing. Olivia Hussey makes an auspicious film debut as the beautiful Donna. Cinematographer Oswald Morris captures the breathtaking beauty of Italy's Lago di Garda. Battle of the Villa Fiorita is an enchanting film that the whole family will enjoy.

Maureen O'Hara has a perfect husband (Richard Todd) and two lovely children, a boy and a girl, in a splendid estate outside London, when she falls in love with an Italian (Rossano Brazzi) and decides to leave her family with him. He brings her to his fabulous estate by the Lago di Garda in Italy (with Gabriele d'Annunzio's working place in sight), where they lead a luxurious life in splendour, until we learn that he also has a child, a daughter (Olivia Hussey in her first part), whom he brings to the villa, shortly after Maureen O'Hara's two children have come there on their own, on a special mission to fetch her back to their father in England, entirely on their own initiative - we never learn that Richard Todd was ever informed about it. Now, what is wrong in all this? That's what the battle of the Villa Fiorita is about, the children fighting hard to separate their parents from their lovers, and they will go to any length. This provides the drama of the film, which actually reaches rather critical heights. Rossano Brazzi, this great invincible lover and he-man, has to finally admit, that the children (especially Maureen's very determined daughter) won the moment they showed up at his house. The film is beautifully made, with gorgeous music all the way by Mischa Spoliansky (Rossano plays a successful composer and pianist, and it's Spoliansky's music he is playing,) with splendid colours and cinematography, but the interesting part is the acting of the children. They take charge of the film and their parents and lead them right, in spite of their almost equally determined resistance. It's a great film and story for child psychology, and as all true and good parents know, children always know better.