Ghosts of Rome (Italian: Fantasmi a Roma) is a 1961 Italian comedy film directed by Antonio Pietrangeli.[1] It was released in the UK in 1964 as The Phantom Lovers.
Ghosts of Rome | |
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![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | Antonio Pietrangeli |
Written by | Sergio Amidei Ennio Flaiano Ruggero Maccari Antonio Pietrangeli Ettore Scola |
Based on | idea by Sergio Amidei story by Ennio Flaiano Antonio Pietrangeli Ettore Scola Ruggero Maccari |
Produced by | Franco Cristaldi |
Starring | Marcello Mastroianni |
Cinematography | Giuseppe Rotunno |
Edited by | Eraldo Da Roma |
Music by | Nino Rota |
Production companies | Galatea Film Lux Film Vides Cinematografica |
Distributed by | Gala (UK) |
Release dates |
1964 (UK) |
Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | Italy |
Language | Italian |
Count di Roviano refuses to sell his palace to a developer, despite having no money. He lives with ghosts: Ronaldo, a lady's man, Bartholomew, a friar, Flora, who died with love, and a five year old boy.
The Count is blown up by his water heater and joins the ghosts. His nephew Federico inherits the castle and moves in with his girlfriend Eileen, intending to sell it. The ghosts call in an artist friend, Caparra, and try to get him to finish a painting so the castle is declared a national monument.
One review called it "a jolly little Roman fantasy."[2] The Spectator called it "a cheerful surprise."[3]
The Monthly Film Bulletin called it an "inoffensive comedy has a theme too slight and too lacking to be anything other than tedious when treated at such length."[4]
Sight and Sound called it "a fragile fantasy".[5] Filmink called it "entertaining".[6]