Tea with Mussolini
Directed by Franco ZeffirelliIn 1930s fascist Italy, adolescent Luca just lost his mother. His father, a callous businessman, sends him to be taken care of by British expatriate Mary Wallace. Mary and her cultured friends - including artist Arabella, young widow Elsa, and archaeologist Georgie - keep a watchful eye over the boy. But the women's cultivated lives take a dramatic turn when Allied forces declare war on Mussolini.
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Tea with Mussolini Ratings & Reviews
- ርልዪረDecember 30, 2025This film is directed and co-authored by Franco Zeffirelli, and I couldn't resist speculating on how much of it was actually true, since it is said to be based on Zeffirelli's autobiography. However, true in part, true completely, in the end it doesn't really matter. What matters is the amazing ensemble acting by Maggie Smith, Cher, Joan Plowwright, Judi Dench and Lily Tomlin (listing them in the order of significance to the story) and the stunning beauty of Florence where the film is set. The director and photographer plainly love the city, matching the love for it of the characters. Maggie Smith as the widow of a former British ambassador, the character that actually has tea with Mussolini, is the dominant figure in the film. However, Cher, playing a wealthy American -- vulgar in the eyes of he British ladies -- who turns out to be a complex, philanthropic Jew who must be smuggled out of the country in the end; Joan Plowwright as a kind lady who takes in the bastard son of an Italian businessman and teaches him to be an English gentleman; Judi Dench as an eccentric artist whose passion is to preserve a renaissance fresco from the Nazis during the war, and Lily Tomlin as a lesbian American archaeologist all deliver sterling performances. Cher's performance is the most amazing -- she holds her own in formidable company -- but one expects, of course, to be dazzled by Maggie Smith, Joan Plowwright, Judi Dench and even by Lily Tomlin. It's a sentimental, even melodramatic, tale, but see it for the ensemble acting. I can't think of another film that equals Tea with Mussolini in that respect.
- DANNYZUKO78June 29, 2025♥️♥️♥️♥️MAGGIE SMITH AND JUDI DENCH AND JOAN PLOWRIGHT AND CHER AND LILLY TOMLIN AND MAYBE ONE MORE OH HELL YES ITS GOING TO BE A GREAT MOVIE. ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Tea with Mussolini Trivia
Tea with Mussolini was released on March 26, 1999.
Tea with Mussolini was directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
Tea with Mussolini has a runtime of 1h 57m.
Tea with Mussolini was produced by Marco Chimenz, Clive Parsons, Riccardo Tozzi, Frederick Muller, Giovannella Zannoni.
In 1930s fascist Italy, adolescent Luca just lost his mother. His father, a callous businessman, sends him to be taken care of by British expatriate Mary Wallace. Mary and her cultured friends - including artist Arabella, young widow Elsa, and archaeologist Georgie - keep a watchful eye over the boy. But the women's cultivated lives take a dramatic turn when Allied forces declare war on Mussolini.
The key characters in Tea with Mussolini are Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith), Arabella (Judi Dench), Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright).
Tea with Mussolini is rated PG.
Tea with Mussolini is a Drama, Comedy, War film.
Tea with Mussolini has an audience rating of 7.6 out of 10.
Tea with Mussolini had a budget of $12M.
Tea with Mussolini has made $21M at the box office.