It Started in Naples (1960)

Simply Perfect

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

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.

Gable looks old here, though they really lathered on his hair color to make Clark look younger. The story has him as a Philadelphia Lawyer. That would make him the bane of Groucho Marx jokes about them, but here Gable is not in court.He is in Naples and the lucky guy gets to meet a young beauty, Sophia Loren. Then he has an affair with her, and steals the heart of her son. What steals the show here is the great filming locations. Naples looks great in technicolor. The location shooting is a bonus and I am sure Gable enjoyed the trip, I mean to be portrayed as a lover young enough to handle Loren is a stretch, but most men in their late 50's would think they were living the dream if they could do this.For some reason, late in his career, Gable got many roles with the hottest women around. I mean after this he finishes with Marilyn Monroe. Before this, well there was Doris Day. I will tell you this, if I had been Gable, I would have died with a smile on my face. His reputation as a great lover is on display here, and his boyish type of charm is too. Not a great film, but definitely a good one.

I've always been sentimental over this film. My grandmother took me up to the big city on November 16, 1960 -- when I was just 11 -- to see it on Rochester, New York's biggest movie screen. Quite a different setting than our usual small hometown theater. When we left the theater they were hawking newspapers with the headline that Clark Gable had just died of a heart attack. The theater was either the old RKO Palace Theater or the old Lowe's Rochester Theater (both demolished a few years later). I saw the movie a second time a few days later...on the day Gable was buried.And so, I remember Clark Gable for this film and, of course, for "Gone With The Wind". Here he is just perfect as the "Americano" who has come to settle his brother's estate, only to find his brother had a second wife and a son.But this is also the film where -- at age 11 -- I simply fell in love with Sophia Loren. This film and the earlier "Houseboat" (with Cary Grant...which I only later discovered on television...same director) convinced me that Loren was the most beautiful woman in the world (with a little competition from Lana Turner). And now, over 50 years later, I still find those two to be my ideal impression of true beauty. Here, Loren is at her most playful, and a perfect match for the over-serious character Gable plays.One of the things that makes this movie so charming is that both Gable and Loren appear to be actually enjoying themselves in making the film. Gable shows humor we didn't get to often see him demonstrate, particularly later in his career. And, Loren is so entertaining, particularly in her night club dance number.The story is a decent one (although the plot is pretty transparent. You know that in the end the tired American is going to fall in love with Loren and Capri...and stay there with his new family. But on most vacations you know where you are going, the fun is in getting there...and this movie -- filmed on location -- is darned fun in the journey.In addition to the obvious on-screen chemistry between Clark Gable and Sophia Loren, the supporting cast is quite good. Of particular note is the young boy -- Marietto, who plays Nando; what a character! And Vittorio De Sica is very entertaining as Loren's lawyer.This is a delightful light comedy and romance which in beautifully filmed. I liked Gable's performance here more than any since GWTW, and it's one of my favorite performances by Loren.Highly recommended!

I've just seen this on a beautiful DVD and I want to echo the positive comments. While not the funniest movie ever made it is amusing and a good family-type picture---assuming that families watch this type of picture these days.What makes it happen for me is seeing Clark Gable and Sophia Loren together on screen with a beautiful background full of Capri Italy, 1960. The story is pretty basic but {like most good movies}provides a framework, plot situations and dialog- a lot of it in Italian, but still understandable- to keep the action moving and show off the Star Power on screen.There is great chemistry between Loren and Gable as well as co-star Vittorio De Sica and the young kid who plays the boy Nando - a star turn at age 10. Charming,amusing with eye-filling scenery and three legendary cinema personalities. Diverting and entertaining.