Seven Hills of Rome (1957)
"Arrivederci Roma" (original title)

On a train to Rome, the American singer Marc Revere meets the Italian Raffaela. He notices that she intends to work and live at her uncle's. When he gives her a ride, it turns out that said... See full summary »

Director:

Roy Rowland

Writers:

Giuseppe Amato (story), Art Cohn,

Stars:

Mario Lanza, Renato Rascel, Marisa Allasio

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Mario Lanza	...	Marc Revere
Renato Rascel	...	Pepe Bonelli
Marisa Allasio	...	Rafaella Marini
Peggie Castle	...	Carol Ralston
Clelia Matania	...	Beatrice
Carlo Rizzo	...	Director of Ulpia Club
Rossella Como	...	Anita
Guido Celano	...	Luigi
Carlo Giuffrè	...	Franco Cellis
Marco Tulli	...	Romoletto

Storyline

On a train to Rome, the American singer Marc Revere meets the Italian Raffaela. He notices that she intends to work and live at her uncle's. When he gives her a ride, it turns out that said uncle has moved to South America. So Revere offers her to live with him at his cousin's, an impecunious pianist.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | song | rome italy | place name in title | singing | 

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

30 January 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Seven Hills of Rome

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Titanus, Cloud Productions / The Olen Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Perspecta Sound)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 25576 delivered on 31-10-1957.

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Quotes

Pepe Bonelli: Maybe Paris is the most beautiful city in the world... CONSCIOUSLY; but Rome is the most beautiful city in the world... UNconsciously.

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Soundtracks

"When the Saints Go Marching In"
Traditional Spiritual

User Reviews

Mario's Roman travelogue

After a whole lot of incidents and the accompanying bad publicity, Mario Lanza took his family to live in Rome and became one of a growing group of expatriate American stars living in Europe. His last two films for MGM were shot in Italy.

The real star of Seven Hills of Rome is the eternal city itself. Rome was really popular in the Fifties. Paramount did Roman Holiday and then 20th Century Fox followed with Three Coins in the Fountain both beautifully photographed. And now the best photographed of all is this one.

It's almost a shame that a movie plot had to interfere with the promotional travel film. But Mario is an American singer, a whole lot like the real Mario Lanza, hovering between the classical and pop worlds. A spat with girl friend Peggie Castle sends him to Europe and Rome chasing her. He has a cousin there played by Italian performer Renato Rascel who puts him up.

And he meets a girl, Marisa Allascio on the train to Rome who's stranded in Rome so he and cousin Renato take her in. The inevitable happens of course.

Renato Rascel had a nice comic style and was a good performer. He reminds me a lot of Joe Pesci. Too bad he never broke into the American market. Kind of like the French comedian Fernandel that way.

Back in the day, the song Arrivederci Roma was played EVERYWHERE, you couldn't get away from it. It's the biggest song that came out of Seven Hills of Rome. A whole lot of American singers back then recorded this one. I have versions of Dean Martin, Vic Damone, and Jerry Vale doing it. But Mario's all Italian version is the best and he's joined on screen by a young female street singer in an affecting duet.

Nothing pretentious about Seven Hills of Rome. Good for a nice enjoyable afternoon. Fans of the eternal city will love it.