SHAKESPEARE

Alternative title

Tea with Mussolini

Synopsis

Feature film comedy drama, based on Zeffirelli’s autobiography, concerning a group of elderly expatriate English women living in Florence in 1934. One of the group (Mary), who are known as the ‘Scorpioni’, finds herself looking after the illegitimate son (Luca) of her employer, after the boy’s mother dies. As the fascist regime tightens its hold, the diplomat’s widow (Lady Hester) contacts Mussolini who invites her to Rome for tea and reassurances. In one scene Mary and Luca enact the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet using a toy theatre. The scene is interrupted by the brownshirts outside. Later, when Luca is sent to Austria, the women send him away with a heartfelt rendition of Henry V’s Crispin Crispian speech.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain; Italy

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1998

Duration

116 mins

Credits

Director

Franco Zeffirelli

Producer

Clive Parsons; Giovannella Zannoni; Riccardo Tozzi

Cinematographer

David Watkin

Music

Alessio Vlad; Stefano Arnaldi

Costume

Alberto Spiazzi; Anna Anni; Jenny Beavan

Art Direction

Carlo Centolavigna; Gioia Fiorella Mariani

Cast

Baird Wallace	Luca (Romeo)
Joan Plowright	Mary Wallace (Juliet)
Charlie Lucas	Luca as a child
Cher	Elsa
Judi Dench	Arabella
Lily Tomlin	Georgie
Maggie Smith	Lady Hester

Additional Details

Production type

Fiction Films

Plays

Romeo and Juliet

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); toy theatres

Production Company

Name

Business Affair Productions

Name

Cattleya Films

Name

Cineritmo

Name

Film & General Productions

Name

Medusa Film

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets