Weekend, Italian Style (1965)
Dino Risi's sun-drenched comedy of seaside manners, marital mischief, and the sweet relief of escaping it all.
Weekend, Italian Style - Movie Information
- Original Title: L'Ombrellone
- Release Year: 1965
- Directed by: Dino Risi
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy
- Runtime: 1h 33m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 27, 1965 (Italy - T)
- Alternative Titles: Play-boy party (FR), Weekend Wives (US)
- Production Companies: Les Films du Siècle, Ultra Film, Altura Films
- Production Countries: France, Italy, Spain
Weekend, Italian Style - Plot
Manager Marletti goes to the sea to meet his wife Giuliana to spend the weekend with her and many friends. After three days Marletti comes back driving his car to Rome. So he can sleep, alone and happy, with silence around him.
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Weekend, Italian Style - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Dino Risi
Main Cast
- Enrico Maria Salerno
- Sandra Milo
- Daniela Bianchi
- Leopoldo Trieste
- Jean Sorel
- Lelio Luttazzi
- Raffaele Pisu
- Ana Castor
- Helga Liné
- Trini Alonso
Writers
- Ennio De Concini
- Dino Risi
Producers
- Turi Vasile
Weekend, Italian Style - FAQs
What is Weekend, Italian Style about?
Weekend, Italian Style follows Enrico Marletti, a Roman manager who joins his wife Giuliana and a crowd of friends at a seaside resort for the weekend. What unfolds is a sharp, sun-drenched comedy of flirtation, jealousy, and social pretense — until Marletti quietly escapes back to Rome, relieved to be alone.
Why does Marletti seem so relieved at the end?
The film's wry punchline is Marletti's blissful solitude after the weekend chaos. Dino Risi uses his quiet drive back to Rome as a sardonic commentary on Italian bourgeois life — the beach holiday, meant to be a pleasure, becomes an exhausting performance, and escaping it is the real reward.
Is Weekend, Italian Style a classic of Italian comedy?
Absolutely. Directed by Dino Risi, one of the masters of commedia all'italiana, the film is a sharp and affectionate satire of middle-class Italian beach culture in the 1960s. It captures the era's social dynamics with wit and warmth, and remains a beloved example of the genre.
Where can you watch Weekend, Italian Style?
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Who are the main actors in Weekend, Italian Style?
The film stars Enrico Maria Salerno as the put-upon husband Enrico Marletti and Sandra Milo as his wife Giuliana. They're joined by Daniela Bianchi, Jean Sorel, Leopoldo Trieste, and Lelio Luttazzi, who also composed the film's score — a wonderfully talented ensemble.
What does the tagline tell us about the film?
The tagline — “It's where you try to beat the heat all day...and the competition all night!” — perfectly captures the film's playful spirit. The beach becomes an arena of romantic rivalry and social one-upmanship, where keeping up appearances is just as exhausting as the summer sun.
Who directed Weekend, Italian Style and what is his legacy?
Dino Risi directed the film, and he's one of the defining voices of commedia all'italiana — Italian comedy with a bittersweet edge. Known for films like Il Sorpasso and I Mostri, Risi had a gift for finding the absurdity and melancholy beneath everyday Italian life.
What are some similar films to Weekend, Italian Style?
If you enjoy this film, you might love Avanti! (1972), Billy Wilder's own sun-soaked Italian comedy, or Fun Is Beautiful (1980) and Goodnight, Ladies and Gentlemen (1976) for more Italian ensemble humor. Complexes (1965) is another period-perfect companion piece worth seeking out.
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