It is only as an adult that I've come to appreciate the voice of Mario Lanza, the tenor heartthrob of 1950's America. Perhaps it happened as a result of my admiration of the recordings of Andrea Bocelli, the tenor heartthrob of 2010's America. Whatever the reason, I know now that Lanza was a great talent, and that fact is brought out in the movies that he made back in the day. By today's standards, those films are pretty hokey, but their exuberance is catchy. The Seven Hills of Rome has very little to do with the actual seven hills of Rome, but takes its title from one of the many numbers that Lanza sings during the course of the story. Basically, the plot has to do with the attempts of Mark Revere, a young American with a killer voice who tries to find his fiancee, who has flounced off to Italy. While in pursuit of that goal, he breaks into song at every possible opportunity, on the streets, in the piazzas, and eventually, in a series of nightclubs and theaters. Naturally, everyone is bowled over, including a pair of young beauties who provide the love interest. As is typical of its era, Lanza's character is ever so friendly, thoughtful, and wholesome, and he did a good job in a role that required a lot of singing and only a little earnest acting.
The Seven Hills of Rome was filmed in the vibrant color we've come to expect from that time. The costumes are very costume-y, the scenes are full of Italian "types" (including some stereotypes), and overall, it's a light, fun romp full of beautiful music,operatic and popular. This guy could sing!
