CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : L'ARBITRO! / PLAYING THE FIELD .. MINERVA PICTURES .. ITALY 1974

 

Minerva Pictures Group

Presents

From Documento Films

L'ARBITRO!

Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Eleanor Sperani

LANDO BUZZANCA as Carmela Lo Cascio

GABRIELLA PALLOTTA as Laura

IGNAZIO LEONE as Vito Fichera

MARISA SOLINAS as Luisella

MASSIMO MOLLICA as La Forgia

DINO CURCIO as Mayor

GIOVANNI ROSELLI as Saro Lo Cascio

UMBERTO D'ORSI as Doctor

ELIZABETH TURNER as Evelyn

Director Of Photography - Sergio Doffizi A.I.C

       Screenplay by G.Scarnicci - R.Vianello - S Continenza -

                    From a Story by Luigi Filippo D'amico

Edited by Marisa Mengoli  Music by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis

                      Produced by Gianni Hecht Lucari

                      Directed by Luigi Filippo D'amico

(c) 1974  DOCUMENTO  110 MINS

Aka The Referee / Playing The Field (USA) /  Football Crazy (EU)

Everyone is gone Football Crazy! Not least international soccer referee, Carmela, who has a frustrated wife, who is begging him to make love to her! But Carmela is saving himself for the game! That is until, at a wild party, he meets spunky reporter, Eleanor, when soon his passions erupt! Can he save his marriage, the game, not to mention his sanity? When everyone's Football Crazy and Playing The Field, it is time to call in The Referee!!

"L'arbitro" was another of Joan's Italian films that she probably only did to keep working and to put her children through school. The film was inspired by the life of international soccer referee, Concetto Lo Bello, who was due to retire at the time of filming. The film was shot on location in Italy in Umbria and Joan was said to be enchanted by the beauty of the Umbrian landsvcape. Apart from Joan, all the cast are Italian. Although billed as a comedy, it is far from hilarious.

The film was available on dvd from Telavista in a dubbed version as 'Playing The Field' in 2006 but this release is not currently available. You can however buy an Italian version of the film under it's original title 'L'Arbitro' from Raro Video at the following link!

ORDER L'ARBITRO ON DVD HERE!

Joan with co-star Massimo Mollica

The English language version, however is dubbed using the standard voice artists, with every print I have seen, Joan's voice is nowhere to be heard! She does look amzing in a variety of kitsch outfits. As was the norm in Italian films of the period, Joan appears in some nude scenes, although very tastefully done! For today's viewer, it's only redeeming feature, is to see Joan as an adventurous hands on reporter! The film was available on DVD in the USA as "Playing The Field". An Italian release is available from Sony Pictures Italy, however this is in Italian, with no subtitles. The film has been screened on tv in the UK under the "Football Crazy" title...