Avanti!
| Avanti! | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster by Sandy Kossin | |
| Directed by | Billy Wilder |
| Screenplay by | Billy Wilder I. A. L. Diamond |
| Based on | Avanti! by Samuel A. Taylor |
| Produced by | Billy Wilder Alberto Grimaldi Jack Lemmon |
| Starring | Jack Lemmon Juliet Mills Clive Revill Edward Andrews |
| Cinematography | Luigi Kuveiller |
| Edited by | Ralph E. Winters |
| Music by | Carlo Rustichelli |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 minutes |
| Countries | United States Italy |
| Languages | English Italian |
| Budget | $2.75 million |
| Box office | $1.5 million (rentals) |
Avanti! (Italian: [a•vːàːŋ•ti]; Italian interjection – 'come in!') is a 1972 comedy film produced and directed by Billy Wilder, and starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills. The screenplay by Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond is based on Samuel A. Taylor's play, which had a short run for the 1968 Broadway season. It was co-produced by Wilder and Diamond's Phalanx Productions and Lemmon's Jalem Productions.
The film follows a businessman attempting to recover the body of his father from Italy. It premiered on December 17, 1972. The film was nominated for six Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Director (Wilder), Best Screenplay (Diamond & Wilder), Best Supporting Actor — Motion Picture (Revill), Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical (Mills), and Best Actor – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical—the last of which was won by Lemmon, who set a record by winning his third Golden Globe in this particular category.