Three retired opera stars try to convince a fourth to sing with them at a gala event.

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In a setting that is more public school than retirement home for musicians, the inhabitants are gearing up for a concert that will hopefully raise enough money to save the institution. Old friends Cissy (Pauline Collins), Reggie (Tom Courtenay) and Wilf (Billy Connolly) all used to be great operatic singers. When famous diva Jean Horton (Maggie Smith) arrives, the trio decides to recruit her for a quartet to sing highlights from Verdi's Rigoletto to attract a bigger crowd and more funds. But Jean, who stopped singing in fear that her voice was gone, refuses. Luckily Reggie used to be married to her, so his assignment is to get her on board.

Dustin Hoffmann's directorial debut overflows with good cheer, thanks to refreshing and funny dialogue ("In any case, your fans are all dead," Reggie quips to the reluctant Jean) and the happy troupe of retired artists, recruited from real musicians, is full of life. Except that a director like Dino Risi, with the fierce humor of his excellent "Primo Amore", is better at portraying the wonderful illusions the old have, even when they are still alive and kicking.