Seven Hills of Rome

Bella Roma, si', but what about a decent story?
I'm probably being a little generous in giving this film three stars. After all, it's undoubtedly Mario Lanza's weakest movie effort. The fault isn't his, but rather the meandering script and lack-lustre direction. To make matters worse, there is very little in the way of substance for Lanza to sing. Still, there are a few compensations along the way...

Lanza's previous film, the much underrated Serenade, was a poor performer at the box office in 1956. Nervous producers decided that Lanza's next movie should shift the emphasis away from the drama and solid operatic selections to a much lighter presentation of the popular tenor. Unfortunately they went too far, reducing Lanza to just one aria (Questa O Quella from Rigoletto) and a fragment of another. Instead of his usual role as an opera singer, Lanza is merely a TV/nightclub performer this time, and his selections include the pretty Arrivederci, Roma and a handful of largely forgettable popular ballads. Ironically, the biggest...

a great Mario Lanza film.
'Seven Hills of Rome," was Mario's later film but great as well. It's beautiful locate din Rome and Mario sings a lovely repitore of songs. It's romantic funny, and will really hold your interest. A must for all Mario fans.

Could Have Been Better
I have watched this and the other Lanza films many times over the years. The question that keeps arising whenever I view "Seven Hills of Rome" is, why isn't it better? When it first came out, I was in 8th grade, and I remember a review in Highlight, a magazine for kids. The review was glowing, recommending it for all audiences as a family film with gorgeous footage of Rome and a wonderful story. Well, it is an absolute gem of a travelogue presenting (especially in its wide screen version) a panorama of all things Roman in 1958...from a helicopter.

I saw the film with my Dad in its first release in Philadelphia, Mario's home town, and the theater was packed. People responded favorably throughout the flick. The famed imitation sequence was especially appreciated with much laughter and applause. Mario has his vocal exercises interrupted by a bunch of (Italian) teens jitterbugging out on the patio. He steps onto his balcony to see what the din is all about. The kids ask, "You...

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