February 7, 1962
LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, a classic “woman’s picture” of the era, opens in New York. Julius Epstein (Casablanca) adapts the Elizabeth Spencer novel about a well-heeled mother (Olivia de Havilland) who is conflicted about marrying off her brain-damaged daughter to an aristocratic Italian suitor. The well-received female-centric soap opera is handsomely produced by MGM studio veteran Arthur Freed (An American in Paris, Singing’ in the Rain, The Bandwagon).
Shot on location in Italy, the film is an example of “runaway production” plaguing Hollywood in that era. The story achieves renewed acclaim as a Broadway musical four decades later, before going further upmarket in opera houses in 2019 with a new production starring the contemporary reigning opera diva, Renee Fleming.
