Directed by Jean Negulesco
Written by John Patrick, based on the novel ‘Coins In The Fountain’ by John H. Secondari
Starring Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters, Louis Jourdan, Rossano Brazzi and Maggie McNamara
Three Coins in the Fountain is a simple film, with no heavy themes, or pretense. And so devoted is it to simplicity that the song playing over the opening credits – scenes of life in Rome, around Trevi Fountain – spells out the entire conceit of the film: if you make a wish and throw a coin in Trevi Fountain, you’ll have that wish granted, especially if it’s a wish for love. Sure, the wishes that two of the three leading women in the film[1] make are not so much about finding love as returning to Rome,[2] but that hardly matters because the fountain gives all three women love anyway.[3] One, finds it in a forbidden office-romance with an Italian law student. Another finds it with a roguish Italian Prince. The other finds it with an aging ex-pat writer she’s been secretary to for 15 years.