If you have not downloaded the Turner Classic Movie app, here’s a reason to do it before May 20. That’s the date the film Light in the Piazza goes back into the movie vault. Released in 1962, starring Olivia de Havilland as an elegant, clever yet sensible mother who is touring Italy with her beautiful, 26 year-old-daughter, Clara. All looks normal until you learn that Meg suffered a brain injury at the age of 10, leaving her permanently stuck at the age of 10 in her mind.
And you know how things go when you’re young, blonde and beautiful touring Italy — you gather the attention of a handsome young bachelor, who mysteriously appears at every restaurant and pool you visit. Despite her mother’s attempt to discourage this young man’s affections away from Clara, the two kids seem to truly hit it off. And intriguingly, because Clara’s Italian is so broken and new, he doesn’t seem to realize that she is mentally disabled. Against her better judgment, mom finds herself mesmerized and entranced by the budding romance and finds herself unable to stop what is unfolding between Clara and this handsome young man…
Yes — I always have the captions on when I watch a movie — because I like READING my movies…
The movie is in ENGLISH — despite this caption in Italian…
I wanted to show you the back of this beautiful dress — and Olivia’s cute hat…
The dresses from 1962, with matching purses and hats, are a treat within themselves — but what you’ll love to watch is how Olivia so gracefully does what all of us mothers should do with such wisdom — she lets her daughter grow up.
As further evidence to the movie’s charm, according to TCM, the movie’s biggest fan was  Elizabeth Spencer, the author of the novel, The Light in the Piazza, which the movie is obviously based on. They explain, that Spencer “…was relieved to find the movie sincere, sweet, moving, and as kindly attention to her work as her own friends might be.”