Ustarted in 1983, Christmas holidays of the Vanzina brothers returns to the cinema just for one day – Saturday 30 November (here is the complete list of the theaters that show it) – in a restored version that will make you happy the fans. Who know them by heart jokes and the column sound it contains some of the most famous songs of the eighties. Come back, but not only to the theater, because Christmas holidays is also available for streaming on Paramount+, until January 17.
Christmas holidays 1983, the plot of the movie
The center of the film is cortina d’Ampezzoand the variegated humanity that populates the renowned place during the Christmas holidays.
There is it Covelli family from Rome, wealthy building builders with their children Roberto (Christian De Sica), Diamante and Luca. The first arrives separately from New York accompanied by Samantha (Karina Huff), the second is grumpy and restless, the third thinks more of Rome than of his girlfriend Serenella (Antonella Interlenghi).
There is the couple trained by Donatone Braghetti (Guido Nicheli, the famous Milanese industrialist “Dogui”) and Ivana (Stefania Sandrelli), and then there are the Marchettis, Roman villagers in Cortina for the first time after years in Grottaferrata: father Arturo (Mario Brega), mother Erminia, grandmother, and son Mario (Claudio Amendola)friend of Luca Covelli,
Finally here is Billo (Jerry Calà), pianist at the Cristallo hotela single man in his thirties who finds Ivana again, his first love who he tries to win back.
Stefania Sandrelli in a scene from Christmas Holidays. (Nexo Digital)
Why revisit it and why it has become a classic
Filmed immediately after the resounding success of Taste of sea from 1982, Christmas holidays neither follows the choral structure and, in part, the cast. Including Jerry Calà and Christian De Sica.
Filming, which lasted three weeks in the autumn of 1983, was carried out almost entirely in the Faloria ski area and, obviously in Cortina. With the use of foam, cotton and sheets to simulate snow were not yet present on the roofs, trees and ledges.
Over the years and at various times, the Vanzinas have described the film as a “direct” representationalmost documentary, but without real social criticism, of the status symbols and ambitions of those years. Reason why it was chosen as the location Curtain, considered one of the “places to be” of the Eighties.
Christmas holidays cashed in very well, and inadvertently became the precursor of a successful Christmas-themed film genre: That of the “cinepanettone“. But none of the later films are never been able to match the quality of the original model.
Claudio Amendola in a scene from “Christmas Vacation”. (Nexo Digital)
The cast of Christmas holidays, what happened to the actors?
Always along the lines of Taste of seaThe cast mixes famous names of cinema such as Stefania Sandrelli and Riccardo Garrone with semi-newcomers. For example Claudio Amendola, son of Ferruccio, perhaps the best-known voice actor ever. As soon as twenty years old, Claudio had only one small role behind him in the forgettable Far from where.
In the role of Mario Marchetti, the villager in love with Samantha, Amendola demonstrates a natural talent for acting but also a sex appeal which makes him one of the most courted actors, in every sense, of the Eighties.
A separate discussion for the female protagonists, meteors who soon disappeared from radars. As Antonella Interlenghiyoung daughter of the actors Franco and Antonella Lualdi, star of Italian comedies of the 1950s. Despite an enviable beauty, and good acting skills, for personal reasons at the end of the 1980s Antonella abandoned cinema to dedicate himself to his family.
Claudio Amendola and Antonella Interlenghi in 1984. (Getty Images)
Karina Huff, English discovered in 1981 by Gianni Boncompagni in variety Gentlemen, let’s gowas a sort of British clone of Heather Parisi. Arrives at the cinema after the musical programme Popcorn and conquer the audience with the role of Susan in Taste of sea (and its sequel).
In Italy, in addition to other small parts such as in some of Lucio Fulci’s horror films, he gets married. But after the marriage ended, leaves the cinema and the country together with his son Alex, returning to London, where it becomes professor. In 2013 she sees herself again in Sunday Livewhere he talks about breast cancer, which, after three years back with a recurrence that struck her down at the age of 55.
Christian De Sica and Karina Huff in a scene from “Christmas Vacation”. (Nexo Digital)
The soundtrack
Great credit for the success of Christmas holidays it’s due to the songs on the soundtrack. Starting from opening credits with Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield, sung by Maggie Reilly.
But among the songs there are milestones like Desperate love of Nada, In the air by Marcella Bella, Edoardo De Crescenzo with the poignant Still, Theorem by Marco Ferradini, Reckless life by Vasco Rossi.
Above all, in the film there is a lot of Italo disco (a genre “resurrected” by The Kolors with Italo disco): Sweet life by Ryan Paris, I Like Chopin of Gazebo, the intriguer Paris Latino of Bandolero and Maracaibo by Lu Colombo which also appears in the closing credits (as well as being performed by Billo-Jerry Calà at the piano bar)
Exceptional fact, a soundtrack official was never published.
The cult phrases from the film
Mrs. Covelli: Silence! Boys! Dad wants to tell us something! Covelli lawyer: Well, we got the fuck out of it this Christmas too.
Donatone (to his wife Ivana): Make your eye dance on the tick! Via della Spiga – Hotel Cristallo in Cortina 2 hours 54 minutes and 27 seconds! Alboreto is nothing!
Billo: I’m not handsome, I like myself!
Diamond: Are you a photo model? Samantha: Yes, you too? Roberto: And why not! With this big caciotta face that if he finds the newspapers they’ll fight about it!
Ivana: I find this story of your mega tips so rude. Donatone: But which rude person? You’re the one who doesn’t know how to travel, come on! The number one rule when you arrive at a hotel is to introduce yourself to the staff. You spend 300,000 lire and you’re in butter for the whole holiday. Head!
Ivana (quoting the song by Adriano Celentano A caress in a fist): But I wouldn’t want you at twelve-three…Billo: Am I already thinking about another man?
Roberto (to parents who discover him in bed with a boy): And then it’s your fault. Did you make me travel? Did you send me to Swiss colleges? Here you go! Now you can find me in bed with Leonardo Zartolin. Zartolin: What a disgrace!. Roberto: Mum plays Gin at the rowing club and dresses like Versace? Do you wear a watch on your wrist like Gianni Agnelli? And I’m going to bed with Leonardo Zartolin, why not?
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