Better a Widow

Better a Widow (Italian: Meglio vedova) is a 1968 Italian comedy film. It stars actor Gabriele Ferzetti.

Cast

• Virna Lisi: Rosa Minniti
• Peter McEnery: Tom Proby
• Gabriele Ferzetti: don Calogero Minniti
• Jean Servais: Baron Misceni
• Lando Buzzanca: Massito
• Agnès Spaak: prostitute
• Nino Terzo: Carmelo
• Carla Calò: governante di Rosa
• Roy Bosier: direttore d'orchestra
• Bruno Lauzi: direttore d'albergo

Reception

"Werb." of Variety found the film to be a "modest imitation" of American styled romantic adventure films, noting "fine photography, sets, costuming and music" but that "screenplay is one of the major flaws but it is difficult to determine whether vet Italo writer Ennio De Concini and director Duccio Tessari are responsible or whether fault is with collaborators Brian Degas and Tudor Gates."

Storyline

In this delightful romantic comedy, Peter McEnery plays Tom Proby, a representative from a British engineering firm. He is sent to Sicily to convince the landowners (all in the Mafia) to allow his company to build an oil refinery on some waterfront real estate. Proby talks to the mob bosses about the project, but disagreements between different bosses complicate his efforts. One group wants to build the refinery, the other prefers a luxurious resort. Proby meets Rosa (Virna Lisi), the beautiful daughter of a mafia don, and the two begin a flirtation. Since Rosa is engaged to another mob boss, she creates a stir when she declares her love for Proby. The mob fights over the issue of the refinery and Proby courts danger by romancing Rosa.