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This movie holds a special place in my heart. My mum and dad took me to see it at the local cinema when I was only 8 years old and very soon after that, I was the proud owner of the soundtrack LP that my parents bought for me. My father always hated rock'n'roll, so he was pleased I took an interest in Mario Lanza. Since I played the soundtrack ad nauseum I got to know the selections backwards so it's hard for me to knock anything about Lanza's performances, because seeing this movie again on video after about 45 years was like visiting an old friend. I really don't know or care enough about opera to criticize, but the arias here sound mighty fine to me, as does 'La Dona Mobile' in the rain on the car rooftop and 'O Sole Mio' at the wedding party, etc. The song "Pineapple Picker" isn't so much rock'n'roll (as some reviewers have stated) as calypso. It's fun and kinda ordinary until Mario hits that last note. A tear jerker movie to be sure, and fun too, but what really brings tears to my eyes is the pathos and feeling in that magnificent tenor. The movie itself is a colorful, breezy, late '50s romp through Italy and Europe. Even Zsa Zsa isn't annoying. Highly recommended unless you can't stand opera, because there is a lot of music here. Ironically, "For The First Time" was, in fact, for the last time for Mario. He died a year later.... some say under suspicious circumstances.
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