Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)

63% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(1,843 ratings)

Adapted by playwright John Patrick from a novel by famed globetrotter/filmmaker John H. Secondari, Three Coins in the Fountain offers the splendors of Rome in Technicolor, CinemaScope and Stereophonic Sounds. For all its lovely picture-postcard images, the film is at base a reworking of 20th… More Adapted by playwright John Patrick from a novel by famed globetrotter/filmmaker John H. Secondari, Three Coins in the Fountain offers the splendors of Rome in Technicolor, CinemaScope and Stereophonic Sounds. For all its lovely picture-postcard images, the film is at base a reworking of 20th Century-Fox' favorite plotline: three pretty girls on the prowl for husbands. The three lovelies, who toss their coins in the Trevi fountain and wish for romance, include Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters and Maggie McNamara. Before the film is over, secretary McGuire has wooed her boss, Clifton Webb, Peters has won the heart of a co-worker Italian translator Rossano Brazzi (despite being fired, in the process, for having an office romance); and McNamara finds happiness with prince Louis Jourdan. Three Coins in the Fountain won two Academy Awards: "Best Color Cinematography" (Milton Krasner), and "Best Song" (written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, and sung in the pre-credits sequence by an uncredited Frank Sinatra). The film was remade in 1965 as The Pleasure Seekers, and also served as the basis for a never-sold TV pilot starring Yvonne Craig, Cynthia Pepper and Joanna Moore. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr.
Directed By: Jean Negulesco
Written By: John Patrick, John H. Secondari
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 2, 1954 Wide
On DVD: Nov 2, 2004

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The film has warmth, humor, a rich dose of romance and almost incredible pictorial appeal.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Three Coins in the Fountain is quite clearly a film in which the locale comes first. However, the nonsense of its fable tumbles nicely within the picture frame.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This pleasant boy-meets-girl story (times three) is more distinguished for its photography and title song than for its predictable plot.
, Empire Magazine
Formulaic fifties romantic tish.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The melodic song and grand Rome setting are more memorable than anything in the plot, characters, or acting; the movie is credited with helping increase American tourism to Italy.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Not very nice to the women, for what was probably considered a 'woman's picture.'
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
This touristy romance was an unexpected hit in its day, but you'd hardly think it to look at it now.
, Film4
Given that this is the stuff of movies, you can pretty much guess the outcome, but the journey to true love is undeniably sweet.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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AJ V

Not a bad movie, but it's really just another romantic comedy, which just happens to be set in Italy. It has it's moments, but overall it's not a great movie.

Cast

            Clifton Webb as John Frederick Shadwell

            Dorothy McGuire as Miss Francis

            Jean Peters as Anita Hutchins

            Louis Jourdan as Prince Dino Di Cessi

            Maggie McNamara as Maria Williams

            Rossano Brazzi as Georgio Bianchi

            Howard St. John as Burgoyne

            Cathleen Nesbitt as Principessa

            Mario Siletti as Bartender

            Alberto Morin as Waiter

            Dino Bolognese as Headwaiter

            Tony DeMario as Venice Waiter

            Willard Waterman as Mr. Hoyt

            Zachary Yaconelli as Ticket Agent

            Celia Lovsky as Baroness

            Renata Vanni as Anna

            Maurice Brierre as Butler

            Grazia Narciso as Louisa the Maid

            Gino Corrado as Butler

            Merry Anders as Girl

            Iphigenie Castiglioni
            
            Kathryn Givney as Mrs. Burgoyne

            Charles La Torre as Chauffeur

            Vicente Padula as Dr. Martinelli

            Luciana Paluzzi as Angela

            Norma Varden as Woman at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
See full cast

Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Cast