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It Started in Naples

Play trailer Poster for It Started in Naples Released Aug 7, 1960 1h 40m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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0% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When American lawyer Michael Hamilton (Clark Gable) hears that his estranged younger brother and sister-in-law have died in a car accident, he flies to Naples, Italy, to settle their estate. Upon arriving, the xenophobic Hamilton meets his impish nephew, Nando (Marietto), for the first time, and decides he will bring the boy back with him to the United States. But when Nando's gorgeous aunt, Lucia Curcio (Sophia Loren), protests, a lengthy and heated custody battle ensues.
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It Started in Naples

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine The film tries hard to qualify for top marks in the naughty-but-nice category of comedy but a sense of strain and occasional coyness are drawbacks. Dec 3, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com There's no chemistry between Gable, who's twice as old than love interest Sophia Loren in this lukewarm, utterly predictable culture clash comedy. Rated: C Apr 24, 2012 Full Review Scott Weinberg DVDTalk.com It's a quaint and pretty old movie, to be sure, but it's also more than a little boring. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 16, 2005 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an aimless, thoroughly predictable waste of time masquerading as a romantic comedy. Rated: 1.5/4 Aug 3, 2005 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com a fossil of a bygone age when comedies didn't require scatalogical humor, and romances didn't require any basis in logic Rated: 3/5 Jul 8, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jun 13, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (39) audience reviews
Ryan B Definitely worth watching. Very enjoyable. It actually doesn't start off great but really becomes a solid, enjoyable movie. They don't make em like this anymore Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/07/22 Full Review steve d I am still waiting for the fun to start. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Delightful, light hearted comedy which shows of Capri at a certain time after WW2. The little boy actor, who grew up to become a ohysician, steals the picture. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member You have to forgive this movie several faults in order to enjoy it. Clark Gable, at 59, is far too old for Sophia Loren, 26. The musical numbers are weak with the exception of 'Americano', and let's face it, Loren is no Ginger Rogers. The custody battle for the child - Loren's son and Gable's nephew - is absurd to begin with, and then compounded by silly back and forth melodrama in the second half of the film. The film on the surface seems to be a loving look at Italy and Italians, but Gable's character is condescending with an annoying American arrogance, and the film as a whole is a bit patronizing. And yet, despite all that, I found it somewhat enjoyable, and certainly better than expected. Shot on location in Naples and Capri, the scenery is gorgeous and many of the shots in the streets or piazzas look authentic. Gable gets off a lot of wry one-liners in a script where the dialogue is better than events. Loren may not have the greatest dance moves, but she does show both a comedic side and a touching side in her playful relationship with her son, in addition to, well, being a knockout and all. I love the scene where Loren is sprawled out face down on the bed after a long night dancing, and her son pokes her in the behind with a meat fork in front of Gable. The supporting cast is all-Italian, and the little boy (Marietto) and the lawyer (Vittorio De Sica) turn in good performances. There are moments that seem cliché, but there are also moments that seem spontaneous, and quite true to southern Italy. Far from perfect, but enjoyable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Clark Gable is simply awful in this. He looks old and impotent. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Just watched it on tv and I find this movie not to be a good one to old fashioned and not an interesting movie. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
It Started in Naples

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Movie Info

Synopsis When American lawyer Michael Hamilton (Clark Gable) hears that his estranged younger brother and sister-in-law have died in a car accident, he flies to Naples, Italy, to settle their estate. Upon arriving, the xenophobic Hamilton meets his impish nephew, Nando (Marietto), for the first time, and decides he will bring the boy back with him to the United States. But when Nando's gorgeous aunt, Lucia Curcio (Sophia Loren), protests, a lengthy and heated custody battle ensues.
Director
Melville Shavelson
Producer
Melville Shavelson, Jack Rose
Screenwriter
Melville Shavelson, Jack Rose, Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 7, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Runtime
1h 40m
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