Rating: 
Summary: Delicious Treat
Review: Tea With Mussolini is Franco Zeffirelli's autobiographical remembrance of events of his boyhood in Italy before and during World War II. It concerns the activities of a group of expatriate ladies played wittily by Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, and Lily Tomlin. Zeffirelli performs his usual magic in creating exquisite visual images and intriguing characters. Watching the actions of the characters in this movie is a worthy reminder of how decent people can become so involved in their own lives and interests that they allow horrendous things to happen around them. Fortunately, for the idealistic viewer, all of the main characters "come to their senses" and are redeemed by the end of the film. It is not particularly realistic, but it makes for a wonderful "feel good" movie. The DVD is a little disappointing in that it has no extra features. I yearned to have someone talk about how the real people compared to the characters in the movie. None-the-less, this movie is a delicious treat.
Rating: 
Summary: It's more than tea with trumpets with Mussolini!
Review: Grand, eloquent, exotic, touching! Good descriptives for the Franco Zeffirelli film "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)
Rating:
Summary: An Engaging Movie Worth Your Time
Review: With the many talented actresses in this film, you might have expected to have heard more about it. While the editing is questionable, this is still a wonderfully acted, engaging little film. Although, it does drag a few times, the story is worth knowing and the performances are top notch.Particularly Cher, who lights up the screen as Elsa. Especially, near the film's end as Elsa boards a small boat to escape with the assistance of the charming character Luka. Simply breath taking! Grab your favorite beverage and check this film out!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and worth buying!
Review: One of the best films to ever grace my screen. The film was quite spectacular and really helped to understand the history of WWII more as an outsider caught up in the policies of war. I really felt as though I was there and found myself becoming "friends" with each and every one of the characters. Definately calls for a trip to Florence now! Baird Wallace has a wonderful career ahead of him. Cher was-as usual- great! Judi Dench's character was lovable and emotional. Joan Plowright was truly a gem among stones. She's brilliant! Don't bother to rent this movie. buy it for you, your family and your grandkids. You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Bunch of Dames
Review: This film tells the story of a young man in Italy and the English and American women who had a profound impact on his life. When his father wants little do to with his illegitimate son, he is taken care of by his father's English secretary Joan Plowright and her art-loving friend Judi Dench. A friend of his late mother, wealthy American Cher, becomes a benefactress. Since the story takes place in the 1930s and 1940s, WWII figures prominently into the film, as the women assume that Mussolini isn't as bad as the press outside of Italy report. Chief among his supporters is Maggie Smith, the widow of the former British Ambassador. The women all learn truth about Mussolini as their young charge learns how to be a man. With a cast like this one (Cher, Dench, Plowright, Smith, and Lily Tomlin), of course the acting is very good. Director Franco Zeffirelli does a terrific job establishing the atmosphere and mood of the time, with beautiful shots of Florence, the Italian countryside, and great works of art. The film does tend to wander a bit and does lack credibility in a few places. But this is a rare chance to see such great actresses together, and with a few good moments of dramatic tension, it's an easy film to watch.
Rating: 
Summary: A cross between...
Review: ..."Enchanted April" and "Life is Beautiful"? You must be joking. Those two movies were far superior to this one.
Rating:
Summary: A tremendous film about growing awareness of war and art
Review: Director and writer Franco Zeffirelli - with the assistance of veteran writer John Mortimer - gives a coming of age film a cutting edge. Tea with Mussolini is a mixture of warm and chilly memories. It has impeccable production values and the footage of tuscany alone is worth the price of ticket, but there is much more going on. Zeffirelli's charcter is Luca - first played by Charlie Lucas in youth; and Baird Wallace when older. I liked the subtle reference to Romeo and Juliet that he was later to direct. He is abandoned by his useless father who pays for an education and wants to forget about him. He is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his father but is basically shared among a band of British and American women, who adore Italian art. A cast features Maggie Smith as the impossible British lady, an art enthusiast played by Judi Dench, a lesbian archaeologist played by Lily Tomlin, and an astonishing rich and flambouyant Elsa, played by Cher, in her best role to date. Set against the rise of fascism, the incredible inhumanity of man, is balanced by a small group of women look after each other. Tea with Mussolini is a fine film that seems to float over the dark chasms it covers. Totally recommended
Rating: 
Summary: Great actors. Lovely Italy. Slow and not always credible.
Review: "Tea with Mussolini" portrays the beautiful Italian landscape and the superb acting of the incredible Maggie Smith, Judy Dench, Joan Plowright, Lilly Tomlin and the lovely Cher; however, in spite of these virtues the movie can be quite slow and even tedious at times and does not have the magic of other "Italian" films that come to mind such as "Enchanted April" and "A room with a view".
This is a story of a few lives intertwined by circumstance and World War II. Luca, an illegitimate child, unwanted by his father, is raised by the loving and patient Mary Wallace who is helped by a group of English ladies. Luca's father has a notion of making him "an English Gentlemen", a notion that soon changes according to the new political winds to become a wish of making him a "German businessman".... We meet the "Scorpions", a group of British ladies living in pre world war II Florence, headed by Maggie Smith who plays the widow of the British Ambassador - as she never fails to remind everyone. Scorpions is a nickname invented by Elsa, a rich American performer (Cher) who both laughs at and likes the group. Elsa becomes the benefactor of Luca and opens a trust for him, a favor he will return in the years to come.
I confess that the mixture of Italian charm with British ladies usually works for me and any film bringing us this excellent group of actors cannot be bad. However, "Tea with Mussolini" is not always credible and the characters are somewhat exaggerated. The war remains in the background, as something nor the ladies nor the viewers are able to fully grasp. The ladies would not leave Italy due to their love of the place and their naïve belief in Mussolini and an effort is made to show how their lives are affected. We are supposed to understand the dreadfulness of war from the cruel separation of one British lady from her dog, or from the fact that they are supposed to sleep in a dirty crowded place. On the other hand, an effort is made to show the viewers that the ladies "cannot be given orders". I do wish that would have been true at times of wars. Not very convincing. However, if not taken as a true picture of reality the movie can be quite enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Rich, beautiful, layered, and delicious
Review: With Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Cher, and Maggie Smith, how could this movie be anything but wonderful? Set in Italy in the 30s and 40s, Mussolini's era, with WWII as a backdrop, it's the semi-autobiographical story of director Franco Zeffirelli's childhood. Beautiful scenery and costuming, beautiful sets, it's in many places a mood piece more than a deep examination of the issues involved. It spite of its occasional superficiality, a very wonderful film with stellar acting.
Rating:
Summary: Cher's Best Work, and a Fine Ensemble Cast...
Review: Although I have always enjoyed Cher as a singer and entertainer, I've never been that enthralled with her films. Here, although her role is substantial, she is not left to carry the entire film, and her interaction with seasoned actresses like Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright works surprisingly well. The film is a little slow going in its early stages, and a bit choppy at times, but entertaining overall. Probably it's mostly a "chick flick," but if you're a guy with an open mind, you may enjoy it as well.
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