DVD REVIEW: ‘Come Have Coffee with Us’ is a naughty look behind the bedroom door

Come Have Coffee with Us, Alberto Lattuada’s smart, often funny look at one man’s sexual liaisons, is now more than 40 years old. Having come out in 1970 (the height of hedonism?), the movie is an interesting time capsule of lust and love gone awry.

Ugo Tognazzi plays Emerenziano Paronzini, a middle-aged tax collector on the hunt for the love of his life. He’s built a notable career for himself (a fact he doesn’t mind sharing with the casual passerby), but he wants more, both in the bedroom and the wallet.

This being a cinematic man’s world, Emerenziano takes his pick of the offerings around town and eventually settles his eyes on a trio of virginal sisters sitting on a large inheritance. One by one, the smooth lothario seduces each of the women, including Tarsilla (Francesca Romana Coluzzi), Fortunata (Angela Goodwin) and Camila (Milena Vukotic). He looks past their less-than-stunning looks and finds comfort in their willingness to follow his every move. It doesn’t take long for the ladies to go from novices to experts in the art of eroticism.

Lattuada’s film, which has the comedic touches of a Fellini feature, never exploits the subject matter. The 99-minute movie has no nudity, and although sex is on the mind of just about everyone, it’s dealt with almost like a natural extension of breathing and eating. In fact, in one telling scene near the end, Ugo and the sisters chug wine, devour cheese and bite into fruit, almost as if food consumption were another sexual act.

Writers Adriano Baracco and Piero Chiara smartly keep everything light and airy, and the story speedily moves along to its inevitable conclusion. There’s a side plot about what the local religious leaders think of Tarsilla, the town librarian, and her exploits in a former convent. But Come Have Coffee with Us is less interested in redefining social mores or offering subtle subtext. The movie begins and ends as a sex-driven dark comedy — a funny one, but not terribly earth-shattering.

Fred Bongusto’s original music nicely highlights the plot, working its way in and out of scenes like a fragrance. There’s a real sense of movement to the film; few scenes feel extraneous, and all the characters are constantly changing gear. Ugo and company walk around their neighborhood almost as if they are detached from the outer world. There are several intermediary scenes where the three sisters and their new suitor hold hands and walk the tree-lined sidewalks, taking in the sun and feeling oddly removed from what they are viewing.

Lattuada’s thesis doesn’t hold up perfectly. As much as one would like to look closer at the meaning behind the story, the simplicity and triviality of the proceedings doesn’t instigate much analytical thinking. Come Have Coffee with Us is best summed up by its title: It’s an experience as fleeting, forgettable and fundamental as sipping a cup of java.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Come Have Coffee with Us

• Venga a Prendere il Caffè… da Noi

• 1970

• In Italian, with English subtitles

• Directed by Alberto Lattuada

• Written by Adriano Baracco and Piero Chiara

• Starring Ugo Tognazzi Francesca Romana Coluzzi, Angela Goodwin and Milena Vukotic

• Running time: 99 minutes

• Not Rated

• RaroVideo’s recent DVD release of the film includes HD transfer from 35mm negative, new and improved English subtitles, interview with film history Adriano Aprà and fully illustrated booklet including critical analysis of the film

• Rating: