Three Coins in the Fountain (TCF 1954, Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire)

In handsomely photographed romance Three Coins in the Fountain, three American women (Jean Peters, Dorothy McGuire, Maggie McNamara) pin their hopes for love on wishes they make by tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Each finds romance; who wouldn’t in a Rome this beautiful? Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra lends his vocal talents to the title song.

Three Coins in the Fountain was the first CinemaScope picture ever shot on location; the widescreen format makes the most of the stunningly romantic Roman and Venetian landscapes that form the backdrop to the story.

Negulesco tried this one again in 1965 as ‘The Pleasure Seekers.’

Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best Picture.

production details
USA | Paramount | 102 minutes | 1954

Director: Jean Negulesco
Producer: Sol C. Siegel
Original Story: John H. Secondari
Cinematography: Milton Krasner
Editor: William Reynolds
Music: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne, Victor Young
Script: John Patrick

cast
Dorothy McGuire as Miss Frances
Cathleen Nesbitt as Principessa
Louis Jourdan as Prince Dino di Cessi
Jean Peters as Anita Hutchins
Norma Varden as Woman at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Clifton Webb as John Frederick Shadwell
Maggie McNamara as Maria Williams
Rossano Brazzi as Georgio Bianchi
Howard St. John as Burgoyne
Kathryn Givney as Mrs. Burgoyne
Gino Corrado as Principessa’s Butler (uncredited)
Celia Lovsky as Baroness (uncredited)
Luciana Paluzzi as Angela Bianchi (uncredited)