Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

A delightful and heartwarming film that has stood up remarkably well when compared to other comedies of the 1960's. Both Gina Lollobrigida and Shelley Winters give good performances far outclassing the remainder of the cast. Phil Silvers is quite funny and Telly Savalas touching. In my opinion, the only cast member not up to the task is Peter Lawford - as boring as he usually is in any film in which he appears. It is odd that MGM/United Artist have not released the film on DVD, I'm sure that there are many people who would like to add it to their DVD collection. I have read that there are calls for the film to be remade but I don't think that it would work in today's arena. The film was right for its time but that time has now past and I feel that it's better to enjoy the film as it stands rather than try to remake it with a contemporary theme.

Former sex goddess Gina Lollobrigida is a gorgeous 40ish redhead in this fast-paced comedy filmed on location in Italy in 1968.

La Lollo plays the mother of the lovely Janet Margolin, whose American soldier father was supposedly killed during World War II. The thing is, Gina isn't sure who the father was, since she was friendly with three soldiers at the time, (played by Peter Lawford, Phil Silvers and Telly Savalas), and all are very much alive. Each of the three thinks he is the father and has been financially supporting the girl in secret for over 20 years. Trouble and hilarity ensue when the three men and their wives return to the Italian village for an Army reunion, and Gina has to juggle all six of them while keeping her daughter from finding out the truth.

It's a funny script that hearkens back to Hollywood's great screwball comedies, with especially good jobs from Silvers and Savalas and Shelley Winters and Lee Grant as their wives. But it's Gina who steals the show with her glamorous mugging.

I just saw a trailer for a new 2008 film called MUMMA MIA starring Meryl Streep in the Gina Lollobrigida role! Another remake!

Well this original from 1968 is a very funny film, and I guess, an extension of the 'caper comedy' style so popular in the mid-60s. I haven't seen the famous multi paneled trailer (sounds very Mad Mad Mad World) but we are in the cine-world of other adult level all star 'wacky marital mix-ups' with phrase titles like DIVORCE American STYLE, WHAT A WAY TO GO, NOT WITH MY WIFE YOU DON'T, BOY DID I GET A WRONG NUMBER etc, each the American idea of farce: yelling and door slamming. However, unlike some of those mentioned above MRS CAMPBELL is genuinely hilarious. In fact today would still make a good play, if it wasn't one already. I believe however it was an original screenplay by Melvin Frank who had already excelled with many 40s and 50s comedies and in the early 60s with LI'L ABNER and later with A TOUCH OF CLASS in '73. I clearly remember sitting in a large suburban cinema with a very entertained crowd roaring with laughter and marveling at how gorgeous Lollobrigida was then. Lee Grant as always is superb as someone's wife and moaning Shelley Winters is a great foil even for comedy against Phl Silvers and Telly Savalas. Even the horrible presence of bland and pointless Peter Lawford cannot spoil the clever comedy storyline of this uproarious well written heartfelt comedy. The charming and catchy theme song still plays in my head. Forgotten by 1970 and much unappreciated today, MRS CAMPBELL is by far the best of late 60s all star marriage farces and deserves a big new century DVD release. It makes you realize how these 60s films really knew how to entertain. It also makes one realize how far Holllywood has strayed from what worked. No wonder adults don't bother with going to the cinema much in 2005. However, even if this film was remade today with 2005 swearing and punching it would still be funny, such is the solid script and good story. Try and find this film and settle in for a great experience.

Don't pay any attention to the bad reviews on here (few as they are) this movie must be watched and appreciated for what it is, farce. The stellar cast turn in great performances and the writing is still very funny. This is the film which inspired the musical stage play "Mama Mia" as well as the film. But the two stories are completely different. Now out on DVD, remastered and in wide screen for the first time ever, this is a must see on a big screen TV. The video and sound transfer is amazing, clear, crisp picture and sound. Filmed on location in Italy this was no low budget film. Is it realistic, no, its not suppose to be, just sit back and enjoy it!

Gina Lollobrigida plays a "widow" in Italy with a teenage daughter played by Janet Margolin. In reality Gina was never married but had, in the 1940s, sex with three different Army men (Telly Savalas, Phil Silvers and Peter Lawford) who all believe they're the father! Now they're all coming to town for a reunion and things go crazy.

Light, breezy comedy beautifully filmed on location in Italy. It has a good cast all doing very well in their roles. The standouts are Lollobrigida who is very beautiful and surprisingly good at comedy; Silvers who gets laughs from the stupidest lines and Shelley Winters who is hysterical as his overbearing wife. The only bad acting is by Margolin and Lee Grant as Savalas' wife--but she isn't given much to work with. And there's some hysterically bad process shots when people are riding cars. But these are minor complaints. This is just a silly, fun comedy.

Hard to believe that this was once considered risqué. It was originally rated M (which is the R rating today). It's now been lowered to a PG. I admit is DOES make adultery look OK but who's going to take this film seriously? Recommended. I give it an 8.