Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)

Nominee

Whelp, here we have a movie that encompasses a travel advertisement and a B version of Roman Holiday, and it only really succeeds at one. Lets just say I really want to see Rome for myself after this film because I want to make sure it is more exciting live than it is stagnant on the screen.

We have an hour and forty minutes total. The first hour shows areal shots of Italy which apparently in 1954 warranted a win for best cinematography. But lets face it how hard is it really to get beautiful shots of...Italy?...I think I rest my case, nothing particularly notable or impressive here.

The last forty minutes are poorly developed love plots with boring characters, save perhaps Miss Frances, played by Dorothy McGuire who presents the only memorable scene in the entire movie. Yes six double scotches later we have some entertainment in this movie from Miss Frances.  However everyone else could easily have been replaced by anyone, there is no real character work needed.

In addition, what little plot there is was not even good. Three American women try to find love in Italy after throwing TWO coins in the fountain. That's right readers, there aren't even three coins in the fountain...even the title gives us expectations it doesn't meet. Also, the ending is the most heinous thing I have ever watched. If you are looking  for the definition of contrived watch the last three minutes of this movie.

Overall: I will acknowledge this may be in part a generational gap, but if I would liken this movie to something in modern media it would be the Bachelorette. We are watching attractive people doing fun things in beautiful places, but it has no actual substance. I would say in lieu of watching this movie book a trip to Rome. It may be way more expensive but incredibly more worthwhile.