Arrivederci Roma

Here,s a film after my own heart, not so much for its plot, which is limited, but rather for the beautiful 1950's atmosphere, romantic Italy, beeeeautiful women ( Rafaella in Particular ) and that lovely music. A feast for the eyes and ears. I m not much into Opera, but Mario Lanza's voice is just something else. I so much prefer the 1950's atmosphere of romance and beautiful music, to the violence and aggressiveness of today's films. That alone is more than a saving grace for a film of which the plot would be judged no doubt by today's critics as being too weak. You just have to hand it to the Italians, they have an innate sense of beauty, whether it be art, music or women ! For these reasons alone, the film is worth having.

Louisa DeMio, did a magnificent job singing, "Arrivaderchi Roma"...such a great voice.

Seeing her perform, brought me back to a memory of another little girl, Raphaela Fesano, who was dying of Hodgkin's Disease. She was a big fan of Mario Lanza, and her mother managed to contact co-workers, and when Mario was told about her, he flew her and her mother, to his Hollywood home to celebrate her last Christmas. His kindness will always be remembered.

Mario Lanza did another kindness, insisted Louisa DeMio sing with him in "Seven Hills of Rome. He enjoyed her upstaging him. Lovely man with a heart.

The "6" rating is only because Mario Lanza gets to sing a good number of worthwhile songs as only he can. But I could have done without his impersonation scene where he makes fun of popular Italian crooners like Perry Como and Dean Martin.

The story is so flat and unconvincing that it's hardly worth a mention. It's sufficient to say that you can forget it while enjoying abundant glimpses of Rome's landmarks and terrain, all nicely photographed in Technicolor.

Lanza was beginning to look heavier than usual but his voice is still able to belt out a mixture of operatic arias and pop tunes. The film itself is not an "essential," even for Lanza fans because the script is an uninspired bit of tedium. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

TV, radio and recording star Mario Lanza (as Marc Revere) quarrels with beautiful blonde fiancée Peggie Castle (as Carol Ralston). She leaves Mr. Lanza's New York studio and heads for Europe. Lanza follows. On a train to Rome, the operatic tenor meets beautifully-proportioned Marisa Allasio (as Rafaella Marini). The young woman got wet in the rain. Lanza advises her, "You better take that dress off." Just in case you didn't notice Ms. Allasio has arousing curves, director Roy Rowland makes it obvious as she jiggles out of her clothing, on screen...

Allasio's clothes stay on for the rest of the film, alas, but she remains eye-catching. The location photography, by Tonino Delli Colli, is also lovely. A low-point is Lanza's increasingly excruciating impersonations of Perry Como, Frankie Laine, Dean Martin and Louis Armstrong. Lanza is not a great impressionist. Still, he's a great when he does Mario Lanza. His beautiful co-stars, Italian "cousin" Renato Rascel (as Pepe Bonelli) and the incidental music are pleasant enough to offset a substandard story. In less than two years, Lanza would be gone, sadly.

**** Arrivederci Roma (11/21/57) Roy Rowland ~ Mario Lanza, Marisa Allasio, Renato Rascel, Peggie Castle

Mario Lanza and the city of Rome get equal notice in this paean to all things Italian. The film industry turned itself inside out after World War II, romanticizing Italy and France. This movie could have been produced by a travel agency, introducing the world to the classic song "Arrivederci Roma." Lanza's glorious tenor voice shines as he bursts into song against the Eternal City backdrop; unfortunately the songs are too few and the drooling over Italian women a little sickening. All over the map, the movie even takes a couple of comic swipes at Cole Porter and rock 'n' roll, and Lanza's imitations of Perry Como, Dean Martin, Louis Armstrong, and Frankie Laine are hilarious.