Synopsis:

Pre-war Florence, Italy is the place to be for any proper British woman who relishes culture & the arts. These three ladies have everything they could ever want or need-including a promise from Dictator Mussolini himself that not event the coming conflict (World War II) will impose upon their lifestyle. But when it appears that his word is not kept, and these expatriates who choose to stay in Italy instead of seeking refuge in their own country-are in trouble, it takes a brazen young American woman & an outcast boy to keep them in the high life and out of harm's way.

Audio:

The soundstage is presented in Dolby 5.1 that in my opinion is a bit like overkill. There are precious few audio textures that would require the use of the 5.1 platform. As scores go, this is definitely not what you would call an aggressive soundtrack. The sub is dormant for most of the movie, save the entry of the military. The surrounds while relatively active, offer no real benefit to the aural presentation of the film. Dolby Stereo would have been just as acceptable.

Video:

Italy is a beautiful country however, you wouldn't know it from this movie. The colors are washed out & dull, the image is soft & not at all engaging. I was really disappointed in the look of the film. I was expecting an awful lot from this film given it's location & stars however, what I got in return was lackluster at best. The widescreen image is very clean with no transfer errors to speak of other than those addressed above.

Extras:

The only extra included on the disc is the film's theatrical trailer.

Overall:

This is a good film with a solid cast. I believe it's the first of it's kind for a WWII film. The storyline is interesting if not extremely shallow but, it's a good watch in any event. Recommended rental