"Full of Life" flows nice and smooth, like warm molasses on pancakes. John Fante adapted the screenplay from his own novel and the result is chicken soup for the soul. That's probably enough food allegories, though food plays a nice role in the movie.
Star Judy Holliday plays Emily Rocco, a secular girl married into a Catholic Italian family. They live happily with the husband Nick (played by Richard Conte) having drifted from the faith into a more worldly life as well. As the film opens, Emily is pregnant with their first child. They are having the child late, we learn, by choice.
Their rather sterile existence starts to transform with the pregnancy as Emily goes through emotional changes. An intellectual woman, Emily is confused by the new emotions and Nick bears the brunt of her frustration. It is all delivered with gentle humor and genuine affection.
Emily and Nick need to adjust their attitudes from that of young individuals to that of family. The obvious solution is to involve Nick's family, a large traditional Italian unit, but Nick has become estranged. The impetus comes in the form of termites.
The kitchen floor of their stucco home is infested and gives way under Emily in a nicely funny scene, leaving her crying up to her chest in a hole in the floor. Repair estimates are too expensive for them (Nick is a writer between books) and Emily repeatedly suggests that Nick contact his father, Papa Vittorio. Papa, played delightfully by Salvatore Baccaloni, is a stone mason but surely able to do some carpentry work as well.
Papa has noticed how his children have become estranged, seduced by life in the US, and is not very happy about it. After some initial pride-driven stubbornness between Papa and Nick, the wheels are in motion for the family to be reunited.
This is the point of the film, how worldly possessions, achievements and accomplishments cannot replace the family. Those things are important elements of life but only from the perspective of how they emphasize the strength and value of the family. Surprisingly, or perhaps appropriately, Emily with her secular upbringing recognizes and accepts this more quickly than Nick and she is the link that draws all parties together.
A departure from the romantic comedies Holliday was known for, "Full of Life" provides her with an opportunity to aim her tremendous talent at a much more subtle style of humor. Holliday excels here as she always did, providing a performance that captures all the nuances of a multifaceted character. Judy's strength as a technical actress was to deliver a pure illustration of each character. She could take a one dimensional character and make her powerful. She could take an overly complex character and make her familiar and accessible.
Judy Holliday's Emily Rocco will resonate with the viewer long after the movie ends.
One cannot discuss Holliday's genius without lamenting her early demise. Seven features seems shamefully few for such a bright star, but at least we have those.
Of her seven starring roles, I cannot say Emily Rocco is her best, but it is top notch and it is unique. Highly recommended!
Star Judy Holliday plays Emily Rocco, a secular girl married into a Catholic Italian family. They live happily with the husband Nick (played by Richard Conte) having drifted from the faith into a more worldly life as well. As the film opens, Emily is pregnant with their first child. They are having the child late, we learn, by choice.
Their rather sterile existence starts to transform with the pregnancy as Emily goes through emotional changes. An intellectual woman, Emily is confused by the new emotions and Nick bears the brunt of her frustration. It is all delivered with gentle humor and genuine affection.
Emily and Nick need to adjust their attitudes from that of young individuals to that of family. The obvious solution is to involve Nick's family, a large traditional Italian unit, but Nick has become estranged. The impetus comes in the form of termites.
The kitchen floor of their stucco home is infested and gives way under Emily in a nicely funny scene, leaving her crying up to her chest in a hole in the floor. Repair estimates are too expensive for them (Nick is a writer between books) and Emily repeatedly suggests that Nick contact his father, Papa Vittorio. Papa, played delightfully by Salvatore Baccaloni, is a stone mason but surely able to do some carpentry work as well.
Papa has noticed how his children have become estranged, seduced by life in the US, and is not very happy about it. After some initial pride-driven stubbornness between Papa and Nick, the wheels are in motion for the family to be reunited.
This is the point of the film, how worldly possessions, achievements and accomplishments cannot replace the family. Those things are important elements of life but only from the perspective of how they emphasize the strength and value of the family. Surprisingly, or perhaps appropriately, Emily with her secular upbringing recognizes and accepts this more quickly than Nick and she is the link that draws all parties together.
A departure from the romantic comedies Holliday was known for, "Full of Life" provides her with an opportunity to aim her tremendous talent at a much more subtle style of humor. Holliday excels here as she always did, providing a performance that captures all the nuances of a multifaceted character. Judy's strength as a technical actress was to deliver a pure illustration of each character. She could take a one dimensional character and make her powerful. She could take an overly complex character and make her familiar and accessible.
Judy Holliday's Emily Rocco will resonate with the viewer long after the movie ends.
One cannot discuss Holliday's genius without lamenting her early demise. Seven features seems shamefully few for such a bright star, but at least we have those.
Of her seven starring roles, I cannot say Emily Rocco is her best, but it is top notch and it is unique. Highly recommended!