Three Coins in the Fountain: Lookin' for Love

Louis Jourdan and Maggie McNamara.

Time has not been kind to Three Coins in the Fountain, a 1954 blockbuster that earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination. What may have once seemed fresh, colorful, and romantic now comes across as lightweight, sluggish, and a little condescending to its three female protagonists. Of course, the Rome scenery is still spectacular and the title song, as crooned by Frank Sinatra, has become something of a standard. Incidentally, the cinematography and the song each won Oscars.

Stars Maggie McNamara (The Moon Is Blue), Jean Peters, and Dorothy McGuire play secretaries who room together in the city of love. Maria (McNamara) has just arrived and quickly become enamored with a handsome, playboy prince (Louis Jourdan). Anita (Peters), who has fallen into a rut and decided to return to the States, suddenly realizes she and a good-looking interpreter (Rossano Brazzi) have romantic feelings toward each other. Finally, there's Frances (McGuire), who has been working for a reclusive author (Clifton Webb) for 15 years--hiding her love for him behind a strictly professional veneer.

Jean Peters and Maggie McNamara--framed for Cinemascope.

Each woman must overcome significant obstacles en route to finding true love. This is where Three Coins in the Fountain becomes borderline condescending, implying that love is necessary for a single woman to find happiness. It would have been more effective--and certainly more realistic--if one of the three experienced an unhappy ending. Flash forward just six years later to Where the Boys Are, in which four female college students spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, and you'll find a more potent ending.

Three Coins in the Fountain must also overcome an oddly-structured screenplay in which each woman's love story is presented as almost a stand-alone tale. For example, Anita's subplot takes place near the start of the film and then is virtually forgotten when the narrative shifts to Maria and then Frances. The separate stories link up hastily at the end, but, by then, you may be trying to remember the subplot with Anita.

The Rome locations are striking, though they were used more effectively in the previous year's Roman Holiday. Also, for a film that won an Oscar for cinematography, it's jarring to see several scenes utilizing grainy rear-screen projections.

The Loni Anderson remake.

Still, there is no denying that Three Coins struck a chord with post-war audiences looking for love fantasies. The premise has also proven to be a reliable one. Three Coins director Jean Negulesco helmed a 1964 remake, The Pleasure Seekers, which was set in Madrid and starred Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley, Pamela Tiffin, and Gene Tierney. Yvonne Craig starred in an unsold 1970 pilot for a Three Coins in the Fountain TV series. And Loni Anderson starred in 1990 made-for-TV version called Coins in the Fountain.

Fathers Day...or...Who's Your (favorite) Daddy?

Our new poll takes a look at five accomplished actors in five classic father roles. Which one is your favorite? The nominees are:

Leon Ames as Alonzo Smith in "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944)...Ames was well known for playing fathers and fatherly figures, though he also had his share of serious roles during his career. His portrayal of successful attorney Smith in one of the ultimate classic family films is timeless. Smith tended to bluster and blow hard, but also had an endearing tender side. The sole breadwinner for his wife, five children and his own father, Smith chose with his heart when faced with deciding between a major career move and his family's happiness. Ames as Smith was an ideal "Turn of the Century" dad.

Claude Rains as Adam Lemp in "Four Daughters" (1938)...TCM's "Star of the Month" for September excelled in every kind of character role. Rains played Adam Lemp in this popular film and its two sequels (Four Wives and Four Mothers). A widower, Lemp was a brilliant master-musician who took in boarders to help meet ends for himself and his four gifted and beautiful daughters. He was the rock in a close-knit family that weathered much melodrama. Rains as Lemp was a noble Depression era dad.

James Stewart as Roger Hobbs in "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" (1962)...Stewart played dads many times and Hobbs is one of his standouts. Mr. Hobbs and family embark on a seaside vacation during which everything goes wrong. Hobbs tries his best to deal with every disaster, but becomes increasingly perplexed and frazzled as the vacation progressively unravels. Stewart as Hobbs was an archetypal early 60's dad--it was the "New Frontier" and he was getting pressure on all sides.

Spencer Tracy as Stanley Banks in "Father of the Bride" (1950)...Tracy portrayed a vast array of characters in his career, and this is arguably his best dad role. The film is told from the viewpoint of Banks, a prosperous businessman about to lose his adored daughter to wedded bliss. Sometimes annoyed and often befuddled, Banks manages to muddle through each step leading to his daughter's wedding. Tracy played Banks again in a sequel the following year, Father's Little Dividend. Tracy as Banks was a classic dad of the affluent Post-war 1950's.

Clifton Webb as Frank Gilbreth, Sr. in "Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950)...Webb played villains, eccentrics and various scrupulous types in his career. As Gilbreth, Webb portrayed an early 20th Century pioneer in motion study who tries to apply principles of scientific management to raising 12 children. The film ends with Gilbreth's sudden death and a sequel, Belles on Their Toes, followed minus his character. Webb as Gilbreth was a sometimes-curmudgeonly but oddly charming "Machine Age" dad.

To cast your vote, click on your favorite actor/character in the poll located in the green sidebar to the right.