The literal translation of this Italian title is azure (blue) coast, and is idiomatic for the French names Cote D’Azur or the French Riviera. It was apparently never released theatrically in the United States, but the English title given to this Italian film for television showings in 1967 is WILDCATS ON THE BEACH which leads one to think this will be an entry in the teen beach comedy genre. It is not. It is a romantic comedy of sorts, but not a lot of time is spent on beaches with people in bikinis or with muscles. It's concerned with the misadventures of four grown-up couples visiting the French Riviera. In lieu of a detailed plot summary, a roster of characters will suffice. 1) Rita is an American movie star who is in the middle of getting a divorce while her longtime lover Maurizio is leaving his wife for her, though he grows irritated when she asks him to stay out of sight during her constant encounters with the paparazzi. 2) Adelina is with her wildly jealous husband Leopoldo, a short guy with a big chip on his shoulders, always taking offense to anything that happens around him. The handsome Nicola, whose sister is friends with Adelina, flirts a bit with her, not particularly threatened by her ineffective husband. 3) Giovanna and Alberto are fruit vendors on the beach; she decides to try and get an audition with a famous director, only referred to as the Maestro though her husband is sure she won’t get it. They are both surprised when the director becomes interested in signing Alberto for a small part in the film, saying he looks like a young Jean Gabin—neither seems to notice that the director's constant companion is a young bleach-blond man who is always in a bikini. 4) The rich Carsoli (who may be an arms dealer) is having troubles with his wife Doriana, and Gino, a reporter assigned to do a story on Carsoli, flirts with her; eventually, Carsoli seems to agree to let her go, but there are strings attached to his offer.
Though there are times when the proceedings slow to a crawl, this is basically a fun comedy of sexual matters, though don’t expect any onscreen sex. There are some bodies in bikinis in the background, and at a strip club, we see a skinny drag queen named Bambi tease the audience. Despite the titillation we get in each story, traditional morality wins out in the end for all the couples. Things remain light, with the story of Rita and Maurizio being the most serious. The highlight of the film was watching the totally clueless Alberto (well known Italian comedy actor Alberto Sordi) get courted by the older, overweight gay director. The story manages to play out without getting too homophobic. The American actress Rita Gam (Rita), a familiar face in 70s TV shows, is quite good, as is Georges Marchal (Maurizio), whom I mostly know from peplum movies like SIGN OF THE GLADIATOR though in his youth he was very fetching in LUMIERE D’ETE. Franco Fabrizi is charming as ever as Nicola. I should also mention Elsa Martinelli, who made a number of Hollywood movies in the 60s, who is fine as Doriana, and Tiberio Murgia who is successful at making Leopoldo obnoxiously unlikable yet also a little sympathetic. Not as fizzy as its American title would have it, but not as melodramatic as it could have turned out. But with good looking people, colorful costumes, and the Riviera setting, it's fun. Pictured are Marchal and Gam. [YouTube]