It Started in Naples
Encyclopedia
It Started in Naples is an American
romantic comedy
film made by Paramount Pictures
and released in August 1960. It was directed by Melville Shavelson
and produced by Jack Rose
from a screenplay by Suso Cecchi d'Amico
based on the story by Michael Pertwee
and Jack Davies
. The Technicolor cinematography was by Robert Surtees
.
The film stars Clark Gable
, Sophia Loren
, Vittorio De Sica
and an Italian cast.
Michael Hamilton (Gable), a Philadelphia lawyer, travels to Naples, Italy only a few days before his planned wedding to settle the estate of his late brother, Joseph with Italian lawyer Vitalli (De Sica). In the opening narration he states he "was here before with the 5th US Army" in World War II. In Naples, Michael discovers that his brother had a son, nine-year-old Nando, who is being cared for by his maternal aunt Lucia (Loren), a cabaret singer. Joseph never married Nando's mother but drowned with her in a boating accident. Joseph's actual wife, whom he left in 1950, is alive in Philadelphia. Michael discovers to his dismay that his brother spent a fortune on fireworks. After seeing Nando handing out racy photos of Lucia at 2 A.M., Michael wants to enroll Nando in the American School at Rome, but Lucia wins custody of the boy. Despite the age difference, romance soon blossoms between Michael and Lucia, and he decides to stay in Italy.
This was the last film to be released within Gable's lifetime (his final film, The Misfits
, was released posthumously) and his last film in color. One of the highlights of the film is a tongue-in-cheek musical number by Loren called "Tu vuò fà l'americano
" (You Want To Be Americano) written by famed Neapolitan composer Renato Carosone
.
Filmed on location in Rome
, Naples
and Capri
, It Started in Naples was nominated for an Academy Award
for its art direction (Hal Pereira
, Roland Anderson
, Samuel M. Comer
, Arrigo Breschi
). It was released to DVD in North America in 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
film made by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
and released in August 1960. It was directed by Melville Shavelson
Melville Shavelson
Melville Shavelson was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He was President of the Writers Guild of America, West from 1969 to 1971, 1979 to 1981, and 1985 to 1987. He came to Hollywood in 1938 as one of comedian Bob Hope's joke writers, a job he held for the next...
and produced by Jack Rose
Jack Rose
Jack Rose may refer to:* Jack Rose , a classic cocktail* Jack Rose American gambler and underworld figure in NYC* Jack Rose , American guitarist...
from a screenplay by Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Suso Cecchi d'Amico was an Italian screenwriter and actress. She worked with virtually all of the most celebrated post-war Italian film directors, and wrote or co-wrote many award winning films—among them:...
based on the story by Michael Pertwee
Michael Pertwee
Michael Pertwee was a British playwright and screenwriter. Among his credits were episodes of The Saint, Danger Man, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, B-And-B, Ladies Who Do, and many other films and TV series....
and Jack Davies
Jack Davies
Jack Davies may refer to:*Jack Davies , English cricketer, rugby union player and psychologist*Jack Davies , English screenwriter, producer, editor and actor...
. The Technicolor cinematography was by Robert Surtees
Robert Surtees (cinematographer)
Robert L. Surtees, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer who won Academy Awards three times, for the films King Solomon's Mines, The Bad and the Beautiful and the 1959 version of Ben Hur.His son Bruce is also a cinematographer.-Cinematography:Robert L...
.
The film stars Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
, Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
, Vittorio De Sica
Vittorio de Sica
Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement....
and an Italian cast.
Michael Hamilton (Gable), a Philadelphia lawyer, travels to Naples, Italy only a few days before his planned wedding to settle the estate of his late brother, Joseph with Italian lawyer Vitalli (De Sica). In the opening narration he states he "was here before with the 5th US Army" in World War II. In Naples, Michael discovers that his brother had a son, nine-year-old Nando, who is being cared for by his maternal aunt Lucia (Loren), a cabaret singer. Joseph never married Nando's mother but drowned with her in a boating accident. Joseph's actual wife, whom he left in 1950, is alive in Philadelphia. Michael discovers to his dismay that his brother spent a fortune on fireworks. After seeing Nando handing out racy photos of Lucia at 2 A.M., Michael wants to enroll Nando in the American School at Rome, but Lucia wins custody of the boy. Despite the age difference, romance soon blossoms between Michael and Lucia, and he decides to stay in Italy.
This was the last film to be released within Gable's lifetime (his final film, The Misfits
The Misfits (film)
The Misfits is a 1961 American drama film written by Arthur Miller, directed by John Huston, and starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, and Eli Wallach. It was the final film appearance for both Gable and Monroe...
, was released posthumously) and his last film in color. One of the highlights of the film is a tongue-in-cheek musical number by Loren called "Tu vuò fà l'americano
Tu vuò fà l'americano
"Tu vuò fà l'americano" is a Neapolitan language song by Italian singer Renato Carosone....
" (You Want To Be Americano) written by famed Neapolitan composer Renato Carosone
Renato Carosone
Renato Carosone , born Renato Carusone, was among the greatest figures of Italian music scene in the second half of the 20th century. He was also a modern performer of the so-called canzone napoletana, Naples' song tradition.-Beginnings:Carosone was born in Naples...
.
Filmed on location in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
, It Started in Naples was nominated for an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for its art direction (Hal Pereira
Hal Pereira
Hal Pereira was an American art director and production designer....
, Roland Anderson
Roland Anderson
Roland Anderson was an acclaimed movie art director, famous for receiving 15 Academy Award nominations but never winning an Oscar. Anderson's fist Oscar nomination was for his first film in 1933, "A Farewell to Arms". A frequent collaborator with Cecil B...
, Samuel M. Comer
Samuel M. Comer
Sam Comer was a set decorator who worked on almost 300 films during a career spanning four decades. He won four Academy Awards and was nominated for another 22 in the category Best Art Direction...
, Arrigo Breschi
Arrigo Breschi
Arrigo Breschi was an Italian set decorator. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film It Started in Naples.-External links:...
). It was released to DVD in North America in 2005.
Cast
- Clark GableClark GableWilliam Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
- Michael Hamilton - Sophia LorenSophia LorenSophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
- Lucia Curcio - Vittorio De SicaVittorio de SicaVittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement....
- Mario Vitale - Marietto - Nando Hamilton
- Paolo CarliniPaolo CarliniPaolo Carlini was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 45 films between 1940 and 1979.-Selected filmography:* La Grande strada * The Mute of Portici * It Started in Naples...
- Renzo - Giovanni Filidoro - Gennariello
- Claudio Ermelli - Luigi
- Bob CunninghamBob CunninghamBob Cunningham is a retired professional Canadian football fullback. Between 1948 and 1951, he played 29 games for the Montreal Alouettes, scoring a touchdown in their 1949 Grey Cup championship He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1952 to 1955, winning the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy in 1953...
- Don Mc Guire - Train Passenger - Marco Tulli
- Carlo Rizzo
- Yvonne MonlaurYvonne MonlaurYvonne Monlaur is a retired French film actress of the late 1950s and 1960s best known for her roles in the Hammer horror films.Her father's a Russian count; her mother's a ballet dancer....