I've had the good fortune in my life to visit all of the major locations in this film at least once, and three times for two of them. How wonderful to revisit Capri through this film, albeit in black and white and decades before I traveled (which made the cinematography all that more interesting). But the film isn't a documentary (thank goodness with the understandable but annoying Italian clichés and stereotypes). . . so there's that troublesome plot with, as others have pointed out, some fundamental flaws that require an enormous suspension of disbelief. I just couldn't get past these challenges, nor could I find much to celebrate in two people abandoning all responsibilities to conduct an adulterous affair as "ghosts" of themselves. Despite very solid acting and an always lovely Joan Fontaine, I just could not be swept away be the charm and the fantasy and found myself squarely in line with the grande dame piano teacher as she chastises Joan's character for her behavior. I know many viewers adore this film, and I suppose at some level I can see why (even as I watched the film I had a brief urge to sell everything and go back), but the premise of the romance just doesn't work for me.
Review of September Affair
