37-year-old Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini believes she is unlucky in love, and so accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny, even though she doesn't love him. When she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, an emotional and passionate man, she finds herself drawn to him. She tries to resist, but Ronny, who blames his brother for the loss of his hand, has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls for Ronny, she learns that she's not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
Cher
Loretta Castorini
Nicolas Cage
Ronny Cammareri
Vincent Gardenia
Cosmo Castorini
Olympia Dukakis
Rose Castorini
Danny Aiello
Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Julie Bovasso
Rita Cappomaggi
John Mahoney
Perry
Louis Guss
Raymond Capomaggi
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
Old Man
Anita Gillette
Mona
Leonardo Cimino
Felix
Paula Trueman
Lucy
Nada Despotovich
Chrissy
Joe Grifasi
Shy Waiter
Gina DeAngeles
Old Crone
Robin Bartlett
Barbara
Helen Hanft
Lotte
David S. Howard
Irv
Robert Weil
Bobo
Amy Aquino
Bonnie
Tony Azito
Conti
Frank Gio
Florist
Ann McDonough
Nancy
John Christopher Jones
Lowell
Lisa Howard
Patricia
Cynthia Dale
Sheila
Anthony Messuri
Priest
Martha Collins
Mimi
John Fanning
Rodolfo
Antonia Minella
Vesta
Nicholas Pasco
Eddie
Al Therrien
Bob
Lou Pitoscia
Mook
Gilberto Godoy
Rocco
Louis Di Bianco
Jimmy
Betti Orsatti
Woman in Hair Salon
Michael Barbaro
Pietro
Antonio Pariselli
Franco
Corrado Gianna
Old Man
Tommy Hollis
Parking Attendant
Matt Myers
Cab Driver
Michael Dunster
P.A. Announcer
Stella Bruno
Old Woman
Mimi Cecchini
Old Woman
Mimi Lizio
Ruby
Tim Koetting
Al
Gerard Flannery
Harvey
Robert Payson
Man at Bar
Catherine Scorsese
Customer at Bakery
Jack K. Tsirakis
Bar Patron
Stephany Hitchcock
Flight Attendant (uncredited)
David Hummel
Opera Patron (uncredited)
Cathy Ladman
Beautician in Hair Salon (uncredited)
Peter Austin Noto
Opera Patron (uncredited)
Helen Proimos
Opera Patron (uncredited)
Charles Scorsese
Customer at Bakery (uncredited)
Director
Norman Jewison
Writer
John Patrick Shanley
January 14, 2024
7
With his mother seemingly on her deathbed, "Loretta" (Cher) agrees to marry the kindly but rather dull "Johnny" (Danny Aiello) only to find herself amidst a family grudge. He won't invite his brother "Ronny" (Nicolas Cage) to the wedding. She decides to put an end to this childishness and so goes to confront him. It seems he has a good reason for their falling out, but she's determined to reconcile them. He is quickly smitten with his soon to be in-law, and the most Italian of intricate courtships begins - thanks in part to Puccini's "La Boheme" at the Metropolitan Opera - that sees her become genuinely conflicted, much to the frustrated chagrin of her mother "Rose" (Olympia Dukakis). What now ensues is a gently comedic story of burgeoning love, family politics and fair degree of lust! Can they find a way out of their predicament without hurting poor "Johnny", or inducing an heart attack on her increasingly perplexed father "Cosmo" (Vincent Gardenia)? There's quite some chemistry between Cher and Cage as his charm and personality wears her down turning both into, quite literally, moonstruck calves! Norman Jewison allows his character actors to be just that, Dukakis is on great form and the writing is peppered with some, admittedly rather predicable, humour that offers a stylish and engaging romance that bubbles nicely like a good ragout. It's charmingly augmented by a bit of Dean Martin too!
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$15,000,000.00
Revenue:
$122,100,000.00