MovieChat Forums > It Started in Naples (1960) Discussion > It Couldn't Be Made Today

It Couldn't Be Made Today

posted 16 years ago by murph24
2 replies | jump to latest

Can you imagine the outcry? An eight-year-old smoking?? An eight-year-old getting drunk?!? Such things can't be tolerated under ANY circumstances!

If this is the case, then I can rest assured there will never be an idiotic, totally unnecessary remake of IT STARTED IN NAPLES. Actually, the film was ahead of its time; for Mike, the dynamic businessman, to finally admit that the American way of life isn't the ONLY way of life - that there's something to be said for being a simple carriage driver on Capri - was a refreshingly intelligent observation for 1960 (and in many ways a bold one).

However, when one of the residents of Capri vents anti-American sentiments to Mike ("Why don't you get out of the Middle East? All you want is oil, oil, oil"), you realize some things haven't changed too much in 48 years.

Something else that hasn't changed (and I doubt will ever change) - IT STARTED IN NAPLES is as delightful now as it was when it was first released.

[–] trpdean 16 years ago

Actually I think they would do it much the same today - the depiction of the child - and Mike's dislike of the way he was being brought up - would even more be in the audience and cause it to side with Mike. Since that's what the movie wants you to feel, it would be fine!

I really enjoy this movie too! When I first heard of it, I thought "oh well, probably a not very funny, lesser effort by Gable when he was no longer a big star, just cashing in" - but then I saw it, and it's instead a completely charming, thoughtful, warm, wonderful.

[–] murph24 16 years ago

It's probably just wishful thinking on my part - I'm hoping there would be an outcry, because I NEVER want to see this movie remade. I cringe at the thought of who they'd get to play Nando; it would probably be some overly cutesy, thoroughly obnoxious show-biz tyke. No one could give the performance that Marietto gave in this film.

Come to think of it, no one could give the performances that Sophia Loren and Clark Gable gave, either.

YOU DANCE THAT ROCK 'N' ROLL
YOU PLAY AT BASEBALL
THOSE CIGARETTES YOU SMOKE
LEAVE MOMMA BROKE
THEY SHOULD ONLY MAKE YOU CHOKE