weezeralfalfa My title is a quote from Maria Salvatini(Francoise Rosay), said to her piano student Manina Stuart(Joan Fontaine), in trying to induce her to face up to the fact that, by pretending to have died in an oceanic airplane crash, along with her recent lover, David Lawrence(Joseph Cotton), so as to start their adult lives anew, they are just fooling themselves, and creating much grief and trouble for their family and associates, except for Maria, who reluctantly agrees to keep quite. David was the primary advocate of this absurd deception, and Manina was a sucker to fall for it(putting it harshly). David was straightforward in that he was married(though unhappily), with a college-age son. Seems David was also temporarily burned out with his demanding work schedule. He and his wife had lost whatever magic used to be in their marriage.At the time Maria made this statement, Manina didn't agree. But when Mrs. Lawrence and son made a visit to Maria to find out why David had sent her a large check, Manina happened to be present. She was favorably impressed with them then, and during a later visit. This started Maria thinking that this woman didn't seem so bad, after all. She began to feel more guilty about their deception. On the other hand, Mrs. Lawrence began to feel guilty that she had refused to give David a divorce, since Manina seemed like a nice woman. As a result, Mrs. Lawrence writes a note to David saying she will start divorce proceedings soon. Manina ends the affair in the US, saying she is going to Rio, then presumably back to Italy. But we are left wondering whether Mrs. Lawrence will go through with the divorce. What it amounted to was an illicit romantic, sexual, and touring vacation. I can't believe that, during her 12 years in Italy, Manina hadn't already experienced most of these cities, which included Naples, Pompeii, Capri, and Florence. These tours are pretty superficial and in B&W, which is a turn off for today's people.The theme song: "September Song", was introduced in a Broadway play in 1938. It's inclusion in this film renewed it's popularity such that it toped the pop music charts for a while. Parts are played in the background periodically. In addition, 2 full vocal renditions are included, one a recording, the 2nd a live rendition by Jimmy Lydon.The actors were all good. Cotton came across as a real engineer. Joan was adequate, if not spectacular. Jessica Tandy was good as Mrs. Lawrence, and Robert Arthur as David,Jr..On the whole, it's pretty dated because of the silly plot and B&W cinematography. But, if interested, presently available on YouTube

MtnShelby I've had the good fortune in my life to visit all of the major locations in this film at least once, and three times for two of them. How wonderful to revisit Capri through this film, albeit in black and white and decades before I traveled (which made the cinematography all that more interesting). But the film isn't a documentary (thank goodness with the understandable but annoying Italian clichés and stereotypes). . . so there's that troublesome plot with, as others have pointed out, some fundamental flaws that require an enormous suspension of disbelief. I just couldn't get past these challenges, nor could I find much to celebrate in two people abandoning all responsibilities to conduct an adulterous affair as "ghosts" of themselves. Despite very solid acting and an always lovely Joan Fontaine, I just could not be swept away be the charm and the fantasy and found myself squarely in line with the grande dame piano teacher as she chastises Joan's character for her behavior. I know many viewers adore this film, and I suppose at some level I can see why (even as I watched the film I had a brief urge to sell everything and go back), but the premise of the romance just doesn't work for me.

MartinHafer I can see by the reviews that most folks seem to have liked this film. Well, you can see me as an old fashioned and moralistic guy, but I strongly DISLIKED the movie because I felt the main characters were just selfish jerks and the picture seemed to make excuses for bad behavior. The film begins in Italy. A man on business (Joseph Cotton) and a woman (Joan Fontaine) going to see a friend meet after the first leg of an airplane trip. Instead of waiting at the airport for their connecting flight, they take off together to see the countryside...and they hit it off very well. When they return to the airport, they see that their plane has already left. Soon, they get word that the plane has crashed and they are assumed to be dead. They decide that instead of telling everyone they are alive, they decide to use this opportunity to start new lives. After all, Cotten has been in a loveless marriage and he's sick of the corporate life. They settle down in a small Italian town and live an ideal life...that is, until his family learns, accidentally, that he is alive. To see what's next, see the film yourself....if you'd like.While I could sympathize with Cotten wanting to make a new start, he just seemed very cowardly doing what he did. And, the film also seemed to highly romanticize and endorse this sort of behavior. So, while the film is slickly made and the acting is quite good, I just couldn't get it out of my mind that the pair were just selfish...and far from the sort of folks I'd want to see in a romance. Yes, call me moralistic, but this just seemed wrong and it hurt my enjoyment of the film. For a similar sort of theme, "Avanti" also wholeheartedly endorses hanging about in Italy and living the adulterous dream. Again, I find this less than romantic.Now if you don't mind the sort of relationship that the film portrays, the film still is quite flawed. It strongly stretched the limits of believability, as the plot was, to put it mildly, quite far-fetched. Also, the film really didn't seem to know where and when to end and just went on and on AFTER the denouement AND the ending really made little sense. There are better ways to spend your time than watching this disappointing film.

riomar I've been a Joan fan for a while now, so when I saw the laser disc for this movie I got it right away. I was definitely not disappointed.This movie has got a great story that could actually happen in real life. Joan gives a great performance as usual, of course Joseph is also perfect as the man she falls in love with at the same time saving her life. A great movie to watch if you like romance and a beautiful setting for a movie Italy.