Houseboat (1958)

Directed by Melville Shavelson. Starring Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Harry Guardino, Martha Hyer, Paul Petersen, Mimi Gibson, Murray Hamilton, Charles Herbert, Eduardo Ciannelli, Madge Kennedy, John Litel, Werner Klemperer, Susan Cabot.

After a train plows through their house (no, seriously), divorced dad Grant and his three bratty kids move into a houseboat with “amateur” Italian housekeeper Loren; familial reconciliation and romance are in the air, although the usual batch of flimsy misunderstandings stand in their way. Airy rom-com lacks sparkle and polished direction. Highly rated by some, but there aren’t any big laughs here (plus too few small ones), and the chemistry between the stars is only lukewarm, even though it’s acknowledged that Grant was smitten with Loren in real life. Guardino has his moments in a supporting role as the brash mechanic who sells Grant the rickety tub-domicile, and Hamilton is always good for a little arrogance and smarm, but the child actors range from insufficient (Gibson) to intolerable (Petersen). The project was developed in significant part by Grant’s then-wife Betsy Drake, intending for the film to be a vehicle for her and her hubbie, but then Grant had the part rewritten to suit Loren (ouch). Sam Cooke sings the love theme, “Almost in Your Arms.”

56/100