User Reviews

I saw this nearly thirty years ago on, I believe, Jordanian television. I was living in Israel at the time and was fortunate enough to pick up programming from Jordan, which carried wonderful programs from the UK. In any event, I have never forgotten this movie or teleplay and have searched for it assiduously since gaining access to the Internet. Laurence Olivier plays the senile grandfather, a retired haberdasher or tailor, and Joan Plowright is either his daughter or is married to Olivier's son. The play takes place over Saturday, Sunday, Monday and the plot line includes suspected adultery, a missing hat, and the usual generational miscommunications. It is screamingly funny in places and wonderfully touching in others. Would that I could find a videotape of this play I'd be a happy girl indeed.

I laughed till I cried. The acting was superb and the screenplay portrayed life in an Italian household magnificently. Anyone who has stayed a while in Italy could really relate to the story and long to return to that wonderful country. Joan Plowright's performance of an Italian housewife worrying about the excellence of her 'ragu' was outstanding and Laurence Olivier as the retired hat maker just brilliant. In fact all the actors made their characters believable. A must for anyone who is Italian or loves the country. If only they would run it again or at least bring it out on DVD. The whole series of Laurence Olivier presents was excellent, but this was the best.

Even tho i watched this TV Movie years ago when the world & i were young, it left an indelible memory of it being oh-so-Real & Moving. It is indeed a realistic Portrayal of Family-Life when they are put together over a weekend.

& this is True-to Life not only of an Italian Family it depicts, but it's situation is Universal ... ... as i can testify since i am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Actually had forgotten the main Actor's name; only remembered Fin-somethin' ... When i Googled, Albert Finney's name kept comin' up. But then i persisted with the title which i remembered went like a week-end -Saturday, Sunday, Monday & VOILLA ~! ... d Beauty of the Internet found this Gem for me ~! : )

Probably a current series near to it cud be : Brothers & Sisters, but Frank Finlay was & still is an astounding Actor ~! NJOY ~!

.... Abi Leong, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA