“When
an elderly princess faces crippling tax debts, her beautiful grand-
daughter steps in to exploit her womanly wiles to part wealthy
gentlemen from their money in the magnifico movie that
sends up stereotype Italian and English characters — Arabella...”
DESPERATE TO SAVE HER GRANDMOTHER from serious tax debts, the
beautiful Arabella Danesi (Virna Lisi, winner of 24 international film awards;
Latin Lover) has a trick or two up her sleeve in the wonderfully funny
1960's satire Arabella, that begins in Rome in 1928.
The
elderly Princess Ilaria (the marvellous Margaret Rutherford: Castle In The
Air) is being hounded by tax officials with ever-increasing demands for the
previous years' tax payments and could be forced into selling her belongings and
her home.
“Arabella...
a wonderfully quirky and funny satire that promises light-hearted
fun. Magnifico!”
Well-intentioned
granddaughter Arabella has been bailing out the princess, but she has hit on an
idea to rescue the family home — by using her womanly wiles to part wealthy
gentlemen from their cash.
Arabella is supposedly engaged to wealthy
lothario Filiberto (Antonio Casagrande), a convenient arrangement that is mutually
advantageous, but his father is keen for him to marry a princess.
Arabella's
escapades collecting the much-needed money involve liaisons with General Sir Horace
Gordon, Duke Pietro Moretti, an hotel manager, and an insurance manager, all played
brilliantly by British comedian Terry-Thomas (Strange Bedfellows).
Kind-hearted Arabella helps the Duke's son, which creates some hilarious
moments; but she is being followed by a young man whose intentions are suspect.
And when the sexy siren finally falls in love, will she have bitten
off more than she can chew? Has someone caught her in her own game and will she
be able fulfil her burning desire to help her grandmother?
Never boring
or mundane, the timeless 1967 film Arabella, set in 1928, expertly merges
classic European cinema with British humour resulting in a wonderfully quirky
and funny satire that promises light-hearted fun. Magnifico!
Arabella also features: James Fox as Giorgio; Giancarlo Giannini as Saverio;
Paolo Borboni as Duchesi Moretti; Milena Vukotic as Graziella.
Costumes
are by Piero Tosi; Music by Ennio Morricone; Director of Photography is Ennio
Guarnieri; Screenplay by Adriano Baracco; English Dialogue by Alan Hackney; Produced
by Maleno Malenotti; and Directed by Mauro Bolognini.
*Arabella
is released on DVD in the UK, courtesy of Simply Media, on 21 March 2016. Certificate:
PG | Running Time: 88 Minutes | Catalogue Number: 164447 | RRP: £12.99.
"Arabella… a wonderfully quirky and funny satire that promises light-hearted
fun. Magnifico!" ~ Maggie Woods
“When
an elderly princess faces