Cheap Tea With Mussolini (DVD) (Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith) (Franco Zeffirelli) Price

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Customer Reviews of Tea With Mussolini

Considered autobiographical of Zeffirelli himself, this film soars--and one can readily see Franco's cinematic touches--not only with the all-star cast (a trite expression but nonetheless apt) but with the storyline itself.

Set just shortly before World War II in Florence, the movie showcases a group of proper British ladies (where else would they be but in Italy?) who seem

perfectly at peace here. They have undertaken the care of a young outcast boy and set about to teach him proper British ways. They interact as if there were no cares. After all, they have the personal world of Il Duce that no harm will come to them should the war descend. And descend it does and only the naive (Maggie Smith) could believe in the integrity of Mussolini! These expatriate Brits choose to stay in Italy and, of course, the worst case scenario transpires. They are caught in the crossfires of the war machine. The other ladies in the film include Cher, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, and Lily Tomlin.

Cher scores one of her best roles as the lone American in the film, a friend of the British ladies, and as the war continues, even her money and influence are no longer enough to save her. Her Jewish background does not settle well with the Fascists there, who are more than eager to please Herr Hitler and his war machine.

Zeffirelli fills his film with typical cinematic beauty--whether it be in the actors, the acting, the scenery, the score, it's all superb. His ability to fuse the drama with appropriate amounts of comic relieve also add to the film, and his reputation. Hats off to the entire movie company!

(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Charming entertainment but not much depth
Based loosely on the autobiography of the director, Franco Zeffinelli, this film is a light frothy comedy about a serious subject. It is the story of Italy in the 1930s and Mussolini's rise to power. It is also the story of the young illegitimate son of a textile merchant who gets adopted by a group of eccentric aging Englishwomen living in Florence. The delightful cast includes English Maggie Smith as a dowager grande dame who looks down her nose with disdain at everything around her, Judy Dentch as an dotty art lover, Joan Plowright as a sensible motherly type and Lily Tomlin as an a forthright lesbian. Surrounded by the art and grandeur of Florence, these ladies love Italy and refuse to believe that their lives will change under the darkening clouds of fascism. Into this mix comes Cher as the rich American ex-chorus girl who marries rich men wears beautiful outfits. I recommend this video for what it is -- a couple of hours of light and charming entertainment. Florence is beautiful, the costumes are great, the acting is good, and the war is sanitized. However, if you are looking for depth and complexity, you won't find it here.

This Is The Best Tea I've Ever Had!
Tea with Mussolini is an excellent movie. I have to agree with most everyone else's comments. My personal favorite is Hester. Played brilliantly by Maggie Smith, she is a pivitol character with a comically blind faith in Mussolini. I would (and do) recommend this movie in a heartbeat.