The Seven Hills of Rome

The Seven Hills of Rome

aka Arrivederci Roma

LeCloud / Titanus / MGM, 1958, Color, 104 minutes, ***

Released January, 1958



Sumptuous photography, sensational singing from one of the world's greatest tenors and a sentimental story line make this film a cinematic and musical delight.



Marc Revere (Mario Lanza), a popular American TV singer, is in Rome searching for his jet-setting fiancée Carol (Peggie Castle). He moves in with his cousin Pepe (Renato Rascel), a struggling artist who always has room for another kindred soul. They befriend a beautiful young girl (Marisa Allasio), and soon it's music and dance all night long. Marc starts singing at local clubs and in no time he's drawing huge crowds. But when Carol shows up, complications arise because Rafaella has fallen in love with her handsome American hero, Marc.



Directed by Roy Rowland (Meet Me in Las Vegas), written by Art Cohn and Giorgio Prosperi, and filmed entirely on location in beautiful Rome, this "vocal tour-de-force" (Variety) for Lanza is based on a story by Giuseppe Amato.

Features many wonderful shots of Rome, including a helicopter tour! Mario is in great voice and Rascel is a lot of fun. Lots of great music!



Interesting that the film has several scenes which could almost be right out of the novel The Ugly American by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, which was originally published the same year. In the movie, a group of American tourists that Mario and Renato meet up with can talk about nothing but wanting to go home, complaining about nearly everything in Rome.


Produced by: Lester Welch

Titanus Chief of Production: Silvio Clementelli

Directed by: Roy Rowland

Assistant Director: Mario Russo

Screen Play by: Art Cohn and Giorgio Prosperi

Based on a story by Giuseppe Amato

Music Coordinator: Irving Aaronson

Musical Supervised and Conducted by: George Stoll

Song: "The Seven Hills of Rome" Music by Victor Young, Lyrics by Harold Adamson

"Arrevederci Roma" by Renato Rascel

"Calypso Italiano" by George Stoll

Choreographer: Paul Steffen

Art Direction: Piero Filippone

Set Decoration: Luigi Gervasi

Costumes Designed by: Maria Barony

Make-Up: Otello Fava

Hairdressing: Tina Cossetti

Sound Recordist: Mario Messina

Director of Photography: Tonino Delli Colli

Filmed in Technirama, a Product of Technicolor

Film Editor: Gene Ruggiero

Filmed by Titanus S.p.a. at Titanus Studios in Rome



Cast: Mario Lanza [Marc Revere], Renato Rascel [Pepe Bonelli], Marisa Allasio [Rafaella Marini], Peggie Castle [Carol Ralston], Clelia Matania [Beatrice], Rossella Como [Anita], Amos Davoli [Carlo], Guido Celano [Luiggi], Carlo Rizzo [Director of Ulpia Club], Marco Tulli [Romoletto], Giorgio Gandos [Commissario Rugarello], Carlo Guiffre [Franco Cellis], Adriana Hart [Landlady], Patrick Crean [Mr. Fante], Pennachi [Helicopter Pilot], April Hennessy [Mrs. Stone], Stuart Hart [Miller], Luisa DiMeo [Street Singer]



Musical Program: [0:00] All the Things You Are (excerpt sung by Mario Lanza); [0:18] There's Gonna Be a Party Tonight / Calypso Italiano (sung by Mario Lanza, Renato Rascel, Marisa Allasio and Chorus); [0:23] Come Dance with Me (sung by Mario Lanza and Chorus); [0:26] Goodbye, My Friends, Goodbye (Goodbye to Rome) (excerpt sung by Renato Rascel); [0:27] Venticello di Roma (sung by Renato Rascel); [0:59] Montage of street singers (includes many excerpts of Italian songs sung by various people as Mario walks through the streets of Rome); [0:46] Arrivederci Roma (sung by Mario Lanza and Luisa DiMeo); [0:52] Questa o quella (from the opera RIGOLETTO, sung by Mario Lanza); [0:56] unidentified Italian song or aria (sung by Mario Lanza); [1:03] unidentified Italian song (sung by Renato Rascel); [1:06] M'appari tutt' amor (from the opera MARTHA, sung by Mario Lanza); [1:08] Sequence of Mario Lanza imitating other singers: Perry Como singing Temptation, Frankie Laine singing Jezebel, Dean Martin singing Memories Are Made of This, and Louis Armstrong singing When the Saints Go Marching In; [1:16] Ay, Ay, Ay (sung by Mario Lanza); [1:38] The Loveliest Night of the Year (sung by Mario Lanza); [1:39] The Seven Hills of Rome (sung by Mario Lanza); There are many more short excerpts of instrumental dance numbers throughout the film.