This film starring über-bear and magnificent character actor Paul Douglas, was likely inspired by Douglas's performance in "Angels in the Outfield" the preceding year and, likely as not, inspired Fellini's much more cynical take on the same theme, "Il Bidone" three years later, Douglas having been replaced by (Oscar winner) Broderick Crawford. Stalwart director Clarence Brown's direction was likely inspired by the neo-realist Italian movies that were seeping through America as well as the big studios' propensity to explore co-production and distribution deals with European companies (for economic reasons). Van Johnson also shines in this picture but it remains the ultimate movie thrill for Paul Douglas fans, of which there are many like me, I'm sure.
Review of When in Rome
