Copyright 1956 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at Loew's State: 3 April 1957. U.S. release: 29 March 1957. U.K. release: 13 May 1957. Australian release: 11 May 1957. Sydney opening at the St James. 10,269 feet. 114 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: An American hotel magnate journeys to Rome to survey his new purchase.
NOTES: Dean Martin's first film without his former partner, Jerry Lewis.
COMMENT: A harmless, blandly innocuous little musical batted out by M-G-M's quickie director, Dick "Print It" Thorpe. The title may mean one thing to the innocent man-in-the-street. To the seasoned movie- goer, however, it signifies nothing more spicy than that Dean Martin owns a chain of luxury hotels. He's not a modern-day Casanova at all.
Still, the film was lensed in Rome, and we do see all the sights in CinemaScope. Even a reprise of "Three Coins in the Fountain". For all that location filming, production values are very moderate. Lots of process screen work, for instance.
Some of the songs are medium bright, but the staging is strictly minor. The best is Munshin's one number, "Money Is a Problem", which he shares with Dino virtually right at the end.
Anna Maria looks absolutely smashing, but for all the efforts of the players, "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" tends to outstay its welcome. Trimming would definitely help. Lisa Gaye's songs — "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock" by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy De Knight; and "No-One But You" by Jack Lawrence and Nicholas Brodszky — could go for a start. (And go they did. Reports suggest they're missing from the current TV print — not that anyone would be masochistic enough to watch this movie on TV — though they were definitely heard in the 117 first-release minutes). Martin and Alberghetti's "You I Love" and "Only Trust Your Heart" are strictly for rabid fans.
I wasn't completely sold on Robert Bronner's lighting either. I thought it just a little too dark. Doubtless the lab has corrected present prints.
Although it out-rated many far bigger theatrical hits when initially presented on American television — oddly it rated even more on its second network showing than on its first — "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" promises much but actually delivers precious little.
SYNOPSIS: An American hotel magnate journeys to Rome to survey his new purchase.
NOTES: Dean Martin's first film without his former partner, Jerry Lewis.
COMMENT: A harmless, blandly innocuous little musical batted out by M-G-M's quickie director, Dick "Print It" Thorpe. The title may mean one thing to the innocent man-in-the-street. To the seasoned movie- goer, however, it signifies nothing more spicy than that Dean Martin owns a chain of luxury hotels. He's not a modern-day Casanova at all.
Still, the film was lensed in Rome, and we do see all the sights in CinemaScope. Even a reprise of "Three Coins in the Fountain". For all that location filming, production values are very moderate. Lots of process screen work, for instance.
Some of the songs are medium bright, but the staging is strictly minor. The best is Munshin's one number, "Money Is a Problem", which he shares with Dino virtually right at the end.
Anna Maria looks absolutely smashing, but for all the efforts of the players, "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" tends to outstay its welcome. Trimming would definitely help. Lisa Gaye's songs — "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock" by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy De Knight; and "No-One But You" by Jack Lawrence and Nicholas Brodszky — could go for a start. (And go they did. Reports suggest they're missing from the current TV print — not that anyone would be masochistic enough to watch this movie on TV — though they were definitely heard in the 117 first-release minutes). Martin and Alberghetti's "You I Love" and "Only Trust Your Heart" are strictly for rabid fans.
I wasn't completely sold on Robert Bronner's lighting either. I thought it just a little too dark. Doubtless the lab has corrected present prints.
Although it out-rated many far bigger theatrical hits when initially presented on American television — oddly it rated even more on its second network showing than on its first — "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" promises much but actually delivers precious little.