What a repulsive movie - The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965) Discussion

[–] pilarinhavana 10 years ago

I didn't think it was repulsive. I remember seeing this when I was a kid and, I guess like audiences then, I rooted for the kids to break up the relationship between O'Hara and Brazzi...now I think why should two people so in love break up over spoiled brats. Oh, and to leave that villa for rainy old England.

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[–] lnoft97 10 years ago

And to refuse to eat that wonderful Italian food in that gorgeous mansion!

I am truly torn. I understand the feelings of the children about their mother very well, and in 1965 justice and morality had to trump all. Very touchy situation, especially with the son. On the other hand, how tragic to have to break up and leave that glorious place. I don't know what *I* would do. I would be unhappy either way.

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[–] waldenpond88 10 years ago

We just spent 3 sunny and dry weeks in "rainy old England". I think the bad British weather is just a myth...it's not worse than the German weather.
May and September are gorgeous months in England, mostly sunny and dry.
I've been there in August and it was great. Almost too hot!

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] waldenpond88 10 years ago

That was my reaction to pilarinhavana's post about "rainy old England" :). I thought it might interest a few people that there is not always rain or fog in England, their summers can be quite nice.

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[–] parisel 10 years ago

I just tuned into it and am horrified by this movie. And your post is the first I saw, and says exactly how I feel. How could such a repulsive movie even be made.

I really can't imagine that Maureen O'Hara would appear in this horrible film.

I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.

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[–] Rpdsf 10 years ago

I'm glad the kids exposed him to be the controlling, hostile person he was. The way he treated the children when they refused to eat said a lot about him. I'm sure had they ended up married she would have eventually regretted it. Also, what kind of example did the mother present to her children. Moving in and sleeping with a man while she's still married? Pathetic! As the British husband I would never want her back explaining to the kids that there are repercussions one must accept for unconscionable behaviour.

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[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

I understand that the guy became rather controlling and did not play his cards well. But by that point it was difficult to tell whether he was just getting frustrated by the kids being overt meddlers in the love affair.

With Moira going back to England, and presumably her husband, I can't see her being happy. It's not even clear her husband will want her back. At best it would be quite awkward. In the end how will that make even the children happy? Yes, this is a central problem with the film. Still I enjoyed it almost entirely for Maureen O'Hara's luminous and (given the oddities of the narrative) relatively convincing presence.

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[–] Gary O. (997) 7 years ago

My view of this film is somewhat different. This was a charming film that likely would not be made today. Maureen O'Hara, the wife of a senior diplomat runs away from her husband and children to live with widowed Italian musician, played by Rozzano Brazzi. Her children follow her to Italy to try and take her back home.

Once in Italy, they discover an unlikely ally.

Movies today would not, I believe, be so 'judgmental' in their view of O'Hara's and Brazzi's relationship. This is why I don't think this film would be made today. The children tried to do the right thing, and make their parents see it as well. The children in this case knew what the right thing was and tried to do it.

At least, that's how I see it.

This is one of Olivia Hussey's first films and she, along with the rest of the cast did superbly here.

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