Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968)

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Gina Lollabrigida, the Italian 50s and 60s siren, is Carla Campbell, a war widow with a 20 year old daughter Gia. But is everything as it seems? The premise of this film is of course that Gia's father isn't the late Mr Campbell at all, that the name comes from Campbell's soup, and that any one of three GIs could have been responsible for getting the teenage Carla pregnant. Trouble is that they all believe they're the daddy and have been sending financial support ever since.Doesn't this all sound a bit familiar? Yes, Mamma Mia has the three possible fathers angle and to be honest, there isn't a lot else different in this. Gia isn't getting married, and the three men in this version all have wives on the trail when they return to their wartime base in Italy, but otherwise it's the same story.Co-scripted by British humourist Denis Norden, this story is a classic screwball with a modern edge, fitting perfectly with the more permissive mores of the 1960s. As Carla's former lovers, sparky Telly Savalas, perky Phil Silvers, and debonair Peter Lawford shine, while Shelley Winters is particularly good value as one of the wives trying to find out just what went on in her husband's past.Colourful, funny, and charming, this comedy won't change your life but will leave you smiling.

I have loved this movie for years! The quandary of Mrs. Campbell not knowing who her child's father really was. And having to bring them all to town when her daughter wants to get married...funny but not so funny. The cast was great with Gina, Phil and Peter Lawford! Yummy! When Broadway made this movie into the musical, Mama Mia, I was so excited and proud to get copy of the original cast CD. ABBA was the perfect group to use to make this even more memorable. And NOW they are making Mama Mia into a new movie. What could be better!!!! Great story, great songs! I'm hooked twice on this... I will have to see the new movie and get it on DVD when it comes out. Imagine Meryl Streep doing the Gina part? And singing too, I can't wait!

A delightful and heartwarming film that has stood up remarkably well when compared to other comedies of the 1960's. Both Gina Lollobrigida and Shelley Winters give good performances far outclassing the remainder of the cast. Phil Silvers is quite funny and Telly Savalas touching. In my opinion, the only cast member not up to the task is Peter Lawford - as boring as he usually is in any film in which he appears. It is odd that MGM/United Artist have not released the film on DVD, I'm sure that there are many people who would like to add it to their DVD collection. I have read that there are calls for the film to be remade but I don't think that it would work in today's arena. The film was right for its time but that time has now past and I feel that it's better to enjoy the film as it stands rather than try to remake it with a contemporary theme.

For a one-idea plot this is reasonably entertaining if you're prepared to overlook the dubious morality of the eponymous character who not only had unprotected sex with three different men in three weeks but cynically accepted monthly checques from each of them for 20 years which by extension depended on convincing and/or allowing each of the three men to think he was the father of her daughter. Having invented, for the benefit of her neighbors to say nothing of her daughter, a dead husband whose name she took from a can of soup the only suspense element is how and when the truth will leak out. With a premise like this the only way to go is to contrive a way for all three men to be in the same place at the same time and once that happens it's just a matter of how long it takes for them to wise up. Given that the three were all with the USAF during World War II the idea of a twentieth reunion sets the ball rolling on what has the makings of a deft farce in the best Feydeau style but turns out to be club-footed. People like Lee Grant and Phil Silvers are basically slumming here whilst Peter Lawford turns in his usual wooden performance and Shelly Winters does her strident bit. Gina Lollobrigida is good to look at but that's about the best you can give it.