A small gem, Light in the Piazza is a sweetly affecting little film that will please fans of romantic drama. It is not a perfect film, veering as it does occasionally into light soap opera and featuring a few unconvincing moments, but overall, Piazza is very pleasant and involving. Julius J. Epstein's screenplay oversimplifies the original Elizabeth Spencer novella and skirts over some of the book's issues, but on the whole, it is a respectful adaptation and one that is professionally crafted without becoming overly manipulative or mechanical. It also gives Olivia de Havilland one of her finest late-career roles, a character that is complex enough for the actress to really sink her teeth into. De Havilland carries much of the film with her richly textured performance, revealing a woman caught between reality and fantasy, between what she desires for her beloved child and what she knows is right, and this fine actress handles every demand of the part with assurance and expertise. Yvette Mimieux's performance is less impressive, but she's ideally cast, and George Hamilton, while perhaps not as believably Italian as one could wish, pairs her very well; Rossano Brazzi brings genuine continental charm to his role. Director Guy Green's work is good, if at times not as imaginative as might be desired, but he works with cinematographer Otto Heller to create an exceptionally handsome film. While it falls short of greatness, Piazza is an engaging movie with plenty of appeal.