The Battle of the Villa Fiorita

The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Directed by	Delmer Daves
Screenplay by	Delmer Daves
Based on	The Battle of the Villa Fiorita 1963 novel by Rumer Godden
Produced by	Delmer Daves
Starring	Maureen O'Hara Rossano Brazzi
Cinematography	Oswald Morris B.S.C.
Edited by	Bert Bates
Music by	Mischa Spoliansky
Production company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner-Pathé Distributors
Release date	26 May 1965 (1965-05-26)
Running time	111 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Battle of the Villa Fiorita is a 1965 British drama film, based on the 1963 novel by Rumer Godden, directed by Delmer Daves. It stars Maureen O'Hara and Rossano Brazzi. ^{[1] [2]}

This was the last film for Delmer Daves who, two years earlier, wrote, produced and directed another film in which Maureen O'Hara played the female lead, Spencer's Mountain . This is the first film for Argentina-born English actress Olivia Hussey who, three years later, played Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet .

Synopsis

In Italy, two children, Michael (Martin Stephens) and Debbie (Elizabeth Dear), learn that their mother, Moira (Maureen O'Hara) has left them for a lover, Lorenzo (Rossano Brazzi) who is a famous Italian composer. Michael convinces his sister to run away with him to the Villa Fiorita, where the couple are staying, to fetch their mother; he forces Debbie to sell her prized pony to afford the journey.

When Michael and Debbie arrive, Lorenzo calls their father to tell him the children are there and that he will send them home. However, Michael falls ill and Lorenzo allows them both to stay. Debbie joins forces with Lorenzo's daughter Donna to manipulate Moira into returning to Britain. A hunger strike by the girls ensues, but fails and ends in Moira slapping Debbie and Lorenzo spanking Donna.

Lorenzo decides to send the children home, but Michael and Donna try to flee on a sailboat during a storm. After the two nearly drown, Moira and Lorenzo agree they have lost the battle, and a heartbroken Moira returns to England with her children.

Cast

• Maureen O'Hara as Moira
• Rossano Brazzi as Lorenzo
• Richard Todd as Darrell
• Phyllis Calvert as Margot
• Martin Stephens as Michael
• Elizabeth Dear as Debbie
• Olivia Hussey as Donna
• Maxine Audley as Charmian
• Ursula Jeans as Lady Anthea
• Ettore Manni as Father Rossi
• Richard Wattis as Travel Agent
• Finlay Currie as Concert Emcee
• Clelia Matania as Celestina

Home media

Warner Bros. released the film for digital streaming through Vudu and Amazon Prime Video, albeit in standard definition. ^{[3] [4]}

References

1. "The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965) - Overview - TCM.com". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
2. Todd, Richard (1989). In camera : an autobiography continued. Hutchinson. p. 241.
3. "Vudu – Watch Movies". www.vudu.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
4. "'Villa Fiorita' on Amazon Prime". Amazon.

External links

• The Battle of the Villa Fiorita at IMDb
• The Battle of the Villa Fiorita at the TCM Movie Database
• The Battle of the Villa Fiorita at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• The Battle of the Villa Fiorita at the British Film Institute ^{[ better source needed ]}