David_Brown This is a movie that (If possible) should be seen as a Double Feature with "The Pigeon That Took Rome". They are very similar movies (Although I prefer "Pigeon") slightly. They are both movies about the "Fish Out Of Water" American mixed up with an Itallian Woman. What is different, is this film is about learning who you really are and what you can actually be: Countess Francesca De Montefiore (Sylvia Koscina)reached that stage (Being an average woman who married into royalty). MAJOR Spoilers Ahead: This is what will happen to Harry. "Are You A General Or Private?" Harry (Paul Newman) "A Little Of Both". And at the end where Harry tells the Countess "I Still Run Into The Generals From Time To Time, They Are Still Generals, But One Day I Will Get My Bars Back". Harry's plan (With the FULL participation of the Countess), is to marry her, rent the Villa/"Prison" he and the Generals were staying at DOUBLE the rent (That place was the softest definition of a prison possible), and live in the guest quarters with Francesca (Personal note: Mmmmmmm living with Sylvia Koscina, I would have signed up for that "Duty" in an instant). I have little doubt that he would have succeeded in his plan, because not only is he smart (And thinks outside the box), and has the Countess by his side, but has General Prentess (James Gregory), over him (Who knows that Harry can get things done, and made him an officer), finally, he learned quite a bit from Col. Enrico Ferrucci (Vito Scotti), on how to make Generals quite content.

ferrell-3 This movie changed my life!I know this sounds like a melodramatic exaggeration, but it's true. The scene in which Harry is asked to name his favorite restaurant had happened to me in similar circumstances not six months before this movie was released in the theaters. I knew exactly how he felt. I am sure many of watching this movie might be able to relate to this. I determined, like Harry, to do something about it so that I wouldn't be embarrassed like that again. I couldn't afford to become an expert on "Chateau LaTour 1932", so I decided to become an expert on French onion soup. Sounds silly, and it was, but I was a young salesman and traveling all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe. It wasn't too hard to collect names of restaurants from far flung places that had superior French onion soup. And I am amazed to this day how handy this pedantic info has come in at fancy-shmancy parties!Other than this personal note, I still find the movie as fresh today as when I originally saw it. I have had the pleasure of introducing it to hundreds of new viewers over the years. Almost without exception it is adored by young and old alike.There are all sorts of technical inaccuracies if you want to be picky. But this film is what movies were intended to be ... pure entertainment! I give it my highest recommendation.

Robert Reynolds I admit this is not the best thing Paul Newman has done. But it's an entertaining little comedy that is charming and quirky in its own special way. There are plenty of familiar faces, particularly if you watched lots of television in the '60's and '70's. A move that's a bit rough around the edges but still well worth watching on it's own merits.

frichard I saw this movie when I was (maybe) 14 or so. At the time, it had a big impact on me, but I'm not sure why. In any case, I highly recommend it.