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Full Of Life

1956, Movie, NR, 91 mins

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Charming domestic comedy/drama about a girl without any religious convictions who has married into a very Catholic Italian family. The picture begins as Holliday is in her last month of pregnancy by husband Conte, a writer with no money. Based on a novel by Italian John Fante, this story probably contains a good dose of reality. When Holliday falls through the floor of her termite-ridden kitchen, Conte's father, Metropolitan Opera basso Baccaloni, a carpenter, will fix the floor. That done, he proceeds to build them a huge and totally unnecessary fireplace, complaining all the while about the fact that Conte and Holliday seem to be on a path of planned parenthood, rather than having one of those enormous Italian families. Although officially married, they haven't had a Catholic wedding, and so the enormous Holliday is taken in a maternity wedding gown to the church to do things properly. After the service, she's rushed to the hospital to deliver. That's the plot, but the fun is in the extremely believable characters and dialog by Fante. Good taste is in evidence everywhere, and what could have been a dumb slapstick farce is handled very well. Esther Minciotti, who played virtually the same mama role in MARTY, is superb, as is Baccaloni. All-around good fun. leave a comment
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