I had never seen Ten Thousand Bedrooms before. What a weird title? But still I enjoyed this one and what a cast! There were a few I couldn't name at first, but these names finally came to me; they were Jules Munshin who appeared in Kelly, Sinatra films namely On The Town; and Paul Henried, who played Anton the sculptor. The singing of four sisters including Anna Marie Albergetie and Dean Martin sing a couple of beautiful songs, and Dean and Jules sing a funny song about The Problem of Money. The actor who steals the show is indubitably Walter Slezak; a fine character actor. He is the confused father of four daughters who are asked to be married, but it takes a long time for the confusion to be resolved. It is not a very fast well paced movie but it is enjoyable. It was Dean Martin's first movie after his breakup with Jerry Lewis in 1957.
14 Reviews
Not great, but better than its given credit for
vincentlynch-moonoi17 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
For those of us who admire Dean Martin, this is a rather famous film -- the one that almost sank his career after splitting with Jerry Lewis. It was a flop, and I agree it's just a "pretty good" movie. But as I watched it this time around I tried to figure out why it just didn't come together.
I don't think it's the general plot -- a rich hotel mogul falls in love with an Italian girl...well, actually two Italian girls...sisters. And, their papa insists they be married in order of their age. I can see that, although some of the ins and outs of the story are a little...well...a bit of a waste. The story could have been told better.
And, we've got a pretty good cast here, too -- Dino, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Eva Bartok, and Walter Slezak. And pretty good scenery, with significant parts of the movie filmed on location in Rome. A producer and director who both had any number of successes in film history. Dean's two primary songs -- "You, I Love" and "Only Trust Your Heart" are decent songs for the late 1950s, although his Capitol recordings of the songs are better than the soundtrack versions.
I think in addition to some scenes that should have been deleted or completely rewritten, that the other sisters should have had their characters developed just a bit more, and without question, the pace of the film should have been picked up quite a bit.
I disagree with a number of our reviewers who see this as a failed romantic COMEDY. I don't think it is a comedy...although perhaps that's what the public wanted to see Dean doing right after his decade with Jerry Lewis. Instead, this is a romantic musical film.
It's worth watching, though admittedly it's a bit weak. But then again, so are lots of films. This one is "okay", and quite interesting (historically) for fans of Dean Martin.
I don't think it's the general plot -- a rich hotel mogul falls in love with an Italian girl...well, actually two Italian girls...sisters. And, their papa insists they be married in order of their age. I can see that, although some of the ins and outs of the story are a little...well...a bit of a waste. The story could have been told better.
And, we've got a pretty good cast here, too -- Dino, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Eva Bartok, and Walter Slezak. And pretty good scenery, with significant parts of the movie filmed on location in Rome. A producer and director who both had any number of successes in film history. Dean's two primary songs -- "You, I Love" and "Only Trust Your Heart" are decent songs for the late 1950s, although his Capitol recordings of the songs are better than the soundtrack versions.
I think in addition to some scenes that should have been deleted or completely rewritten, that the other sisters should have had their characters developed just a bit more, and without question, the pace of the film should have been picked up quite a bit.
I disagree with a number of our reviewers who see this as a failed romantic COMEDY. I don't think it is a comedy...although perhaps that's what the public wanted to see Dean doing right after his decade with Jerry Lewis. Instead, this is a romantic musical film.
It's worth watching, though admittedly it's a bit weak. But then again, so are lots of films. This one is "okay", and quite interesting (historically) for fans of Dean Martin.
Dean Martin is not so bad in his first film without Jerry Lewis-Ten Thousand Bedrooms
tavm31 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Just watched this, Dean Martin's first movie without Jerry Lewis, on YouTube. He plays hotel magnate Ray Hunter who's buying a long popular Italian inn in Rome. While there, he meets the Martelli family of which the head is Papa Vittorio (Walter Slezak) who has four daughters of which the oldest is Maria (Eva Bartok) and the youngest is Nina (Anna Maria Alberghetti). For a while he seems interested in the former but when he meets sculptor Anton (Paul Henreid) and finds out about their relationship he allows himself to be charmed by the latter (who's just turned 18 or 19 depending on whose statement is right). Nina is also pursued by Mike Clark (Dewey Martin) who's a pilot for Hunter. I'll just say that while not much happens for the first 15 or 30 minutes, once the plot I mentioned kicks in, it becomes an intriguing premise to see how it all ends up. And Dean not only warbles some good romantic tunes, with one of them a duet with the also compellingly musically talented Ms. Alberghetti, he also gets a nice comic tune with Jules Munshin as his servant Arthur. Whatever laughs come gradually builds until the climatic scene with Slezak having to deal with all the potential son-in-laws. No great shakes, but as Dean's first film he has to carry on his own, not a bad one to start with. So on that note, Ten Thousand Bedrooms is worth a look. P.S. The gorgeous lady in the opening credits is played by one Monique van Vooren.
Charmless fifties comedy
lorenellroy15 November 2003
This was Dean Martin's first solo movie after his split with Jerry Lewis and a pretty dire one it is too. He plays "Hunter" a millionaire hotelier who flies to Rome to oversee the latest addition to his empire-a traditional old Roman hotel acquired from its aristocratic patron.While there he becomes engaged to the youngest of the four daughters of a musician (played winningly by Walter Slezak in the best performance in the movie).He refuses permission for the marriage until the other (elder)daughters are wed .So ,Martin sets out to locate husbands for them .Further complicating matters is the growing affection between his bride to be and his pilot ,as played by Dewey Martin. It helps if you are writing a comedy to include some funny lines or scenes but -some 48 hours after watching the picture not one line or scene stays in my mind as even mildly amusing .Nor are the regular musical interludes in which Martin breaks into song memorable in any way . Martin is woeful -in a role calling for charm he merely appears smug and self satisfied .Thankfully he was to get better at light comedy but this performance is a total misfire . Some nice travelogue shots of Rome compensate but for the most part this is trite and derisory.
**1/2
edwagreen25 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Marrying the wrong sister has become a basic theme in Hollywood films. No, this isn't "Green Dolphin Street," where the actual wrong marriage took place. Rather, this is a silly, pretentious film of a wealthy executive becoming enamored with the youngest daughter of Walter Slezak in Italy. Slezak steals every scene he is in along with Paul Henried, of all people, who turns in a gem of a performance as a Polish count-sculptor who loves the oldest daughter.
Slezak is perplexed because he strongly believes in the old European custom that his children marry by who is the oldest, and so on and so forth.
Dean immediately concocts a plan to marry his executives to the remaining three. He finally realizes at film's end that he is meant for the eldest daughter.
The ending where all four girls march out of church married leaves a confused Slezak as he incorrectly pairs them with their beaus.
Slezak is perplexed because he strongly believes in the old European custom that his children marry by who is the oldest, and so on and so forth.
Dean immediately concocts a plan to marry his executives to the remaining three. He finally realizes at film's end that he is meant for the eldest daughter.
The ending where all four girls march out of church married leaves a confused Slezak as he incorrectly pairs them with their beaus.
Below Dean's usual standard!
JohnHowardReid8 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 1956 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at Loew's State: 3 April 1957. U.S. release: 29 March 1957. U.K. release: 13 May 1957. Australian release: 11 May 1957. Sydney opening at the St James. 10,269 feet. 114 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: An American hotel magnate journeys to Rome to survey his new purchase.
NOTES: Dean Martin's first film without his former partner, Jerry Lewis.
COMMENT: A harmless, blandly innocuous little musical batted out by M-G-M's quickie director, Dick "Print It" Thorpe. The title may mean one thing to the innocent man-in-the-street. To the seasoned movie- goer, however, it signifies nothing more spicy than that Dean Martin owns a chain of luxury hotels. He's not a modern-day Casanova at all.
Still, the film was lensed in Rome, and we do see all the sights in CinemaScope. Even a reprise of "Three Coins in the Fountain". For all that location filming, production values are very moderate. Lots of process screen work, for instance.
Some of the songs are medium bright, but the staging is strictly minor. The best is Munshin's one number, "Money Is a Problem", which he shares with Dino virtually right at the end.
Anna Maria looks absolutely smashing, but for all the efforts of the players, "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" tends to outstay its welcome. Trimming would definitely help. Lisa Gaye's songs — "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock" by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy De Knight; and "No-One But You" by Jack Lawrence and Nicholas Brodszky — could go for a start. (And go they did. Reports suggest they're missing from the current TV print — not that anyone would be masochistic enough to watch this movie on TV — though they were definitely heard in the 117 first-release minutes). Martin and Alberghetti's "You I Love" and "Only Trust Your Heart" are strictly for rabid fans.
I wasn't completely sold on Robert Bronner's lighting either. I thought it just a little too dark. Doubtless the lab has corrected present prints.
Although it out-rated many far bigger theatrical hits when initially presented on American television — oddly it rated even more on its second network showing than on its first — "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" promises much but actually delivers precious little.
SYNOPSIS: An American hotel magnate journeys to Rome to survey his new purchase.
NOTES: Dean Martin's first film without his former partner, Jerry Lewis.
COMMENT: A harmless, blandly innocuous little musical batted out by M-G-M's quickie director, Dick "Print It" Thorpe. The title may mean one thing to the innocent man-in-the-street. To the seasoned movie- goer, however, it signifies nothing more spicy than that Dean Martin owns a chain of luxury hotels. He's not a modern-day Casanova at all.
Still, the film was lensed in Rome, and we do see all the sights in CinemaScope. Even a reprise of "Three Coins in the Fountain". For all that location filming, production values are very moderate. Lots of process screen work, for instance.
Some of the songs are medium bright, but the staging is strictly minor. The best is Munshin's one number, "Money Is a Problem", which he shares with Dino virtually right at the end.
Anna Maria looks absolutely smashing, but for all the efforts of the players, "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" tends to outstay its welcome. Trimming would definitely help. Lisa Gaye's songs — "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock" by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy De Knight; and "No-One But You" by Jack Lawrence and Nicholas Brodszky — could go for a start. (And go they did. Reports suggest they're missing from the current TV print — not that anyone would be masochistic enough to watch this movie on TV — though they were definitely heard in the 117 first-release minutes). Martin and Alberghetti's "You I Love" and "Only Trust Your Heart" are strictly for rabid fans.
I wasn't completely sold on Robert Bronner's lighting either. I thought it just a little too dark. Doubtless the lab has corrected present prints.
Although it out-rated many far bigger theatrical hits when initially presented on American television — oddly it rated even more on its second network showing than on its first — "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" promises much but actually delivers precious little.
Dino Solo
bkoganbing10 July 2005
Ten Thousand Bedrooms has its place in movie history as Dean Martin's first solo effort without Jerry Lewis. It also nearly sunk his career. Good thing The Young Lions came immediately after this and Dino got deserved rave reviews for that one.
To be fair MGM did give him a good supporting cast and apparently spared no expense in filming this on location in Rome. Ever since Roman Holiday, Rome was pretty popular with movie audiences. Three Coins in the Fountain and Seven Hills of Rome did pretty good box office in the 1950s.
But this wasn't a Dean Martin role. I think MGM probably dusted off a property they had offered to Cary Grant and gave it to him. There was no real effort to exploit the unique personality that was Dean Martin.
Nicholas Brodzky and Sammy Cahn wrote four songs for Dino to sing, none of them especially memorable. As if they were hedging their bets, they gave him a comedy number to do with Jules Munshin who plays his valet. Kind of like the material he used to do with Jerry Lewis at Paramount.
According to the definitive biography of Dean Martin by Nick Tosches, Dino turned down the lead in The Pajama Game for this one. Well movie audiences did get to see John Raitt finally do one of his Broadway starring roles for the screen. But Dean would have been perfect opposite Doris Day.
Not his best career move.
To be fair MGM did give him a good supporting cast and apparently spared no expense in filming this on location in Rome. Ever since Roman Holiday, Rome was pretty popular with movie audiences. Three Coins in the Fountain and Seven Hills of Rome did pretty good box office in the 1950s.
But this wasn't a Dean Martin role. I think MGM probably dusted off a property they had offered to Cary Grant and gave it to him. There was no real effort to exploit the unique personality that was Dean Martin.
Nicholas Brodzky and Sammy Cahn wrote four songs for Dino to sing, none of them especially memorable. As if they were hedging their bets, they gave him a comedy number to do with Jules Munshin who plays his valet. Kind of like the material he used to do with Jerry Lewis at Paramount.
According to the definitive biography of Dean Martin by Nick Tosches, Dino turned down the lead in The Pajama Game for this one. Well movie audiences did get to see John Raitt finally do one of his Broadway starring roles for the screen. But Dean would have been perfect opposite Doris Day.
Not his best career move.
Dino Goes Solo
wes-connors2 August 2013
Millionaire businessman Dean Martin (as Ray Hunter) buys a ritzy hotel in Rome, where he sings a few songs and attracts beautiful Italian women. The first is lady reporter Eva Bartok (as Maria Martelli), but Mr. Martin arouses her teenage sister Anna Maria Alberghetti (as Nina) much a-more. She proposes and he agrees, but they are told that family tradition dictates young Alberghetti's three older sisters must marry first. So, the plan is to get everyone hitched. "I have to marry four girls," says Martin. His pilot is around to help, but Dewey Martin (as Mike Clark) may want the same girl as his boss...
This film opens with a sexy blonde, in bed, inviting us to see, "Dean Martin in Ten Thousand Bedrooms." Later, we later learn the elicited promiscuous thoughts are wrong - the title actually refers to Martin's character being in the hotel business. This was Martin's first film without former partner Jerry Lewis. Everyone expected the funny half of the comic team to do well, and Martin to fail. Of course, Martin had something Jerry did not have - a successful recording career. That, too, seemed in jeopardy with the advent of rock 'n' roll. Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" is heard herein, although not sung by Martin...
Surprisingly, Martin did very well in the movies and exceptionally well on television. Not only did he survive Elvis Presley and the early rockers, Martin continued to sell millions of records throughout The Beatles' era. His career was in better shape than anyone thought, especially after this film. In "Ten Thousand Bedrooms", Martin seems awkward. It doesn't make sense, because he had a affable screen presence - maybe it was just the pressure of having to carry a film on his own. No matter, Martin honed his style - act like you just drank a martini and are looking forward to sex and a big plate of spaghetti.
**** Ten Thousand Bedrooms (4/3/57) Richard Thorpe ~ Dean Martin, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Dewey Martin, Eva Bartok
This film opens with a sexy blonde, in bed, inviting us to see, "Dean Martin in Ten Thousand Bedrooms." Later, we later learn the elicited promiscuous thoughts are wrong - the title actually refers to Martin's character being in the hotel business. This was Martin's first film without former partner Jerry Lewis. Everyone expected the funny half of the comic team to do well, and Martin to fail. Of course, Martin had something Jerry did not have - a successful recording career. That, too, seemed in jeopardy with the advent of rock 'n' roll. Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" is heard herein, although not sung by Martin...
Surprisingly, Martin did very well in the movies and exceptionally well on television. Not only did he survive Elvis Presley and the early rockers, Martin continued to sell millions of records throughout The Beatles' era. His career was in better shape than anyone thought, especially after this film. In "Ten Thousand Bedrooms", Martin seems awkward. It doesn't make sense, because he had a affable screen presence - maybe it was just the pressure of having to carry a film on his own. No matter, Martin honed his style - act like you just drank a martini and are looking forward to sex and a big plate of spaghetti.
**** Ten Thousand Bedrooms (4/3/57) Richard Thorpe ~ Dean Martin, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Dewey Martin, Eva Bartok
Poor Dino
Bob-451 August 2006
Poor Dino. First time out solo, he slipped a preposterous script, tuneless songs and a supporting cast with far more talent that notariety. Who's going to believe a worldly 30-something millionaire would fall for an immature little nobody their first night together? Had they mad Dean Martin the pilot and Dewey Martin the copilot, and made the story a case of mistaken identity (with a walk-on Cary Grant or Gregory Peck as the "real" Ray Hunter), the producers of "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" might have made something out of this bit of froth. Dino got the blame, but the real fault lies with the script, complete lack of fresh, memorable music (Dean sings the SAME love song to two different women) and listless direction from hack director Richard ("Closeup? What's a closeup?") Thorpe. Dean and Walter Slezak are really about the only entertaining elements of the movie, besides beautiful Italian scenery.
I give "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" a "5".
I give "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" a "5".
Excellent movie
danfling16 June 2004
This was, of course, the first Dean Martin film in which he
appeared without his entertainment partner Jerry Lewis.
Thirty years ago, someone had told me that this was an
excellent movie, and that Dean Martin's films had declined from
this start.
I finally got a chance to see the film, and I do think that it was an
excellent qualified debut! I rate it 10 out of a possible 10.
The songs and the singing were exquisite. The plot was a
little confusing with set of the Italian sisters, but typical M-G-M
original screenplay quality.
I cannot understand, though, why none of this was put into any
of the M-G-M compilation That's Entertainment films! I think that
Dean Martin's presence would have been an enhancement to the
other great stars. Even the hilarious interpretation (not by Mr.
Martin) of Bill Haley's Rock around the Clock would have been a
good source of material.
See this film whenever you get the chance!
appeared without his entertainment partner Jerry Lewis.
Thirty years ago, someone had told me that this was an
excellent movie, and that Dean Martin's films had declined from
this start.
I finally got a chance to see the film, and I do think that it was an
excellent qualified debut! I rate it 10 out of a possible 10.
The songs and the singing were exquisite. The plot was a
little confusing with set of the Italian sisters, but typical M-G-M
original screenplay quality.
I cannot understand, though, why none of this was put into any
of the M-G-M compilation That's Entertainment films! I think that
Dean Martin's presence would have been an enhancement to the
other great stars. Even the hilarious interpretation (not by Mr.
Martin) of Bill Haley's Rock around the Clock would have been a
good source of material.
See this film whenever you get the chance!
Dean Martin goes to Italy... its So So...
ksf-211 June 2018
Starts out pretty good, with a good storyline, but what a sudden, cut-off, abrupt crap ending. Star Dean Martin is mister rich american, who flies to It-lee to buy a hotel. He meets a young lady, then meets her sisters, and now he can't decide who he really loves more. The sisters are all played by AnnaMaria Alberghetti, Eva Bartok, Lisa Montell, and Lisa Gaye. There is something strange about Eva Bartok when she smiles, or attempts to smile... it looks like her tongue is trying to hold in false teeth or something; the smile always comes out crooked, or she starts to smile and immediately stops. Very distracting. Walter Slezak is the Dad, and he doesn't approve of anyone marrying the youngest daughter before the older ones are married.. (they are all beautiful.. .why AREN'T they married??) Paul Henreid is completely wasted in a little nothing role. He was so great in Casablanca and Now Voyager just a couple years back. Martin keeps singing.. was that HIS idea, or the director's? should have cut out a few of his numbers and spent more time on the script; the end of the story feels like they left a scene on the cutting room floor or something. It's already 114 minutes, but i think they cut the wrong scenes. Skip it.
Dean is so sexy
sadie_m_lady6 November 2019
What was MGM thinking?
lzf07 July 2002
This is Dean Martin's first film following his split with partner Jerry Lewis. MGM signed him for this romantic comedy. However, there is nothing funny here. Dean Martin was one of the funniest comedians of the 20th Century. His persona was that of a drunk, sex crazed ne'er-do-well who could not get through a song without either slipping up or telling a joke. Even when he was the low-keyed partner of manic Jerry Lewis, there was something silly about him. He can tell the oldest and cheapest jokes and charm the audience into laughing with him. None of this is seen in this film. This is just another example of how MGM had no idea what to do with comedians. Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and Donald O'Connor were also poorly handled by MGM. Martin is in good company there! Dino plays the straight role of an airline pilot who romances Anna Maria Alberghetti and sings some very poor songs by Nicholas Brodzsky. If Dean's role would have been played by someone like Howard Keel or Vic Damone, maybe I would not be complaining so much about the lack of comedy. But even reliable character actors like Walter Slezak and Jules Munshin are wasted in this bore. Thank goodness Martin was given the chance to play a showy role in "The Young Lions". Another film like this and Dino's movie career would have been over.
Lousy plot, still fun to watch
alazose15 December 2003
As a Dean Martin fan, I can forgive his lack of characteristic charm and charisma in this movie. The plot is really the movie's worst failure because the locale and other production values are good. All the movie really needed was a completely different script. In spite of all that, it's still fun to watch.
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