CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Sabah Hensley This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

JLRMovieReviews An Italian young lady with time on her hands befriends an American GI while he is serving his country in Italy, and they spend much time together. Soon after, the same Italian young lady with more time on her hands befriends another American GI while he is serving his country, and they spend much time together. Soon after that, the same Italian young lady with even more time on her hands befriends an American GI while he is serving his country, and they spend much time together. But after they are sent home, she discovers she's in a family way. What to do? She writes each one and they each in turn support her and her young daughter, none of them knowing of each other - that is, until now, present day, when they all appear at one time practically at her doorstep. But to save face and explain the baby to her small Italian village, she tells a fib that while she was away (to have her baby) she met and was widowed by an American GI. She makes up the name of Campbell and chaos ensues once the fathers show up. The young lady is Gina Lollabrigida, and what a predicament this is! While this and "Mamma Mia!" have similarities, this film is in fact much better. Take the music out of "Mamma Mia!" and you may have good actors. But "Mrs. Campbell" is a whole lot funnier and has more depth to it. Phil Silvers, one potential father, provides much of the laughs with his zesty love of life and buoyant energy, and his wife, portrayed by Shelley Winters, is simply wonderful as his loud uncouth wife. Telly Savalas, another potential father, provides the real heart and depth of the film, something he's not usually on call to do in his action films. His wife is portrayed by Lee Grant, who is supposedly very superficial. But, by the end of the film, we have grown very fond of both of them and we feel like we understand them. Peter Lawford is another potential father, but while he's an adequate actor, he and his wife aren't really given that much to do in the film to really distinguish them. With other larger-than-life actors (or hams) in the film, such as Silvers, Winters, and Savalas (Who loves ya, baby?), Peter and wife only seem mildly amusing or interesting. And, given the fact that Gina's not ugly, she has her own boy-toy. All this put together in one box creates pandemonium and is quite simply is one of the most completely satisfying 1960s comedies you're ever likely to see. If you've never seen this or even heard of it, that needs to be rectified right now. Hilarity's a bound when you meet Mrs. Campbell. Buona Sera!

jjnxn-1 Absurd but fun little comedy enlivened by Gina's feisty performance in the lead. The supporting cast is sprinkled with quality performers all giving good performances, even the usually obnoxious Silvers comes across well, but this is Gina's show and she carries the film easily. Most of the supporting players are simple types that the actors manage to flesh out the best they can. Telly Savalas and Lee Grant take theirs one step further and create a believably troubled couple who have spent so many years battling they fail to realize that what they both want is the same thing. On the surface they seem mismatched but because of subtle playing they expand the character beyond what was on the page.Back to Gina, under the direction of the competent Melvin Frank, whom had guided her through Strange Bedfellows previously, she has a fine comic sensibility never betraying any doubt that the preposterous situation she finds herself in doesn't make perfect sense. And boy is she a stunner!Full to the brim with beautiful scenery shot in glorious Technicolor, marred only by obvious but probably necessary process shots while Gina is driving, you'll want to jump a plane to Italy at the film's conclusion. A potential seamy subject that could have devolved into crassness is handled with the proper light touch making this a genial farce and terrific showcase for Miss Lollobrigida.

Lee Eisenberg "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell" is one of those movies that had to come about sooner or later. Half excuse for a series of "Oh no...oh yes" situations, half excuse to show Gina Lollobrigida wearing skimpy dresses, it's not quite as funny as many of the comedies that came out during that era, but it does have it's moments. She plays a woman in an Italian village who got pregnant by one of three Americans (Phil Silvers, Peter Lawford, Telly Savalas) during WWII, and they've continued supporting her ever since, as each one believes himself to be the father. Now, all three men are returning to the village for a reunion - and bringing their wives - which of course is going to cause some embarrassing situations! So, this movie's nothing special, but it's just hilarious to see Silvers's conversations with his wife (Shelley Winters) and sons. And Gina Lollobrigida looks mighty fine in those dresses! Meow meow...Also starring Lee Grant, Janet Margolin and Marian Moses.

Andrew David Eskridge Former sex goddess Gina Lollobrigida is a gorgeous 40ish redhead in this screwball comedy set 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.