I just finished watching a fabulous movie -- AVANTI -- starring Jack Lemmon (he was starting to get that great "bit worn early '70s" look) and Juliet Mills.

Produced, written and directed by Billy Wilder, this 1972 romantic gem is about a man whose rich business tycoon father has died suddenly in Italy. The father had been going to Italy every August for the last 10 years, and when Jack Lemmon goes to retrieve his father's body, he discovers that his father was not just visiting Italy every August for the "rejuvenating waters".

Apparently, his father had been having an affair with Juliet Mill's mother for 10 years. There are lots of colorful characters, misplaced bodies, coffins, and such (I won't tell you what happens or how it ends...) but there are a couple of things worthwhile pointing out.

One was the nudity.

I was shocked, not at the nudity, but at the fact that there was so much of it.

Quite frankly, I've now seen more of Jack Lemmon than I ever thought I would...and I was surprised to see it in a mainstream film from the early '70s. I mean, only a few years before, didn't married men and women have to sleep in different beds on TV? It was wonderful, very natural nudity, with "normal" looking bodies that every man or woman might have. Maybe Hollywood thought it was OK because it took place in Europe.

Another interesting theme was that Juliet Mills' character was constantly referred to as chubby and overweight. By today's standards, she looked positively thin!

The final thing was the constant mention of musicals! From OH CALCUTTA to HELLO DOLLY!, musicals were sprinkled throughout the dialogue, as if it were an accepted part of life back then.

My favorite mention was a made-up rock musical called "SPLASH!" -- about the sinking of the Titanic! And referenced in terms of "no one would ever dare make a musical about the sinking of the Titanic". Ahem.

It was meant to be funny, but just like the mention of "HUNCH!" in Woody Allen's BULLETS OVER BROADWAY it had an obvious modern-day irony.

I can't wait to see this movie again! (And not just to see Jack Lemmon's naked behind...)

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