Queen of Hearts (1989)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jon Amiel

Writer:

Tony Grisoni (writer)

Release Date:

October 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A story of love, revenge and cappuccino

Plot:

Eddie Luca is the youngest son in a family of Italian immigrants who has moved to London. Beginning from nowhere...

Plot Keywords:

Italian | Cafe | Italian Immigrant | Immigration | Independent Film

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Vittorio Duse	...	Nonno
Joseph Long	...	Danilo
Anita Zagaria	...	Rosa
Eileen Way	...	Mama Sibilla
Vittorio Amandola	...	Barbariccia
Roberto Scateni	...	Falco
Stefano Spagnoli	...	Young Eddy
Alec Bregonzi	...	Headwaiter
Ronan Vibert	...	Man in Pig Scene
Mathilda Thorpe	...	Woman in Pig Scene (as Matilda Thorpe)
Anthony Manzoni	...	Doorman
Sidney Kean	...	Pepe
Ray Marioni	...	Mario
Sarah Hadaway	...	Teresa
Anna Pernicci	...	Angelica

Also Known As:

Cappuccino (Sweden) [sv]
Cappuccino (Finland) [fi]
Liebe, Rache, Cappuccino (West Germany) [de]
Reina de corazones (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Rotherhithe, London, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Movie Connections:

Features The Vikings (1958)

A Marvelous Film For Everyone To See

One of the most charming films of the 80's. It's a happy, sad, tragic, comic and glorious film about an Italian immigrant family living in England, filled with the kind of characters that used to be so common in 30's and 40's films when we had character actors who played outrageous, over-the-top parts.

The story opens in Italy where Danilo steals Rosa away on her wedding day from the man her mother had chosen for her. Their escape plays with the action of a Republic serial but with a totally unexpected comic ending. The two flee to London where Danilo is given the secret to winning at cards from a talking stuffed pig on a meat platter. But his success is short lived and he and his family soon turn to running a coffee shop that is only marginally successful.

The rest of the film is taken up with marriage and family and the adventures of life that happened while they wait for that lucky break-----------and it happens with an extraordinary event that pulls joy from tragedy. I'll only tell you that for the men in her life, Rosa remains the Queen of Hearts.

The film has all the sweetness and heartache of FORREST GUMP------------and all the love and inspiration, too--------backed my lush romantic music that parallels the emotion of the characters.

If you buy only one film from the MGM Vault Classics, I'd recommend this one.