The Pleasure Seekers ** (1964, Ann-Margret, Anthony Franciosa, Carol Lynley) – Classic Movie Review 6836

Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley and Pamela Tiffin star as attractive young American holidaymakers who find husbands (Tony Franciosa, Gardner McKay and André Lawrence) and pretty views in Madrid in director Jean Negulesco’s tepid 1964 remake of Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), with four moderate Sammy Cahn/ Jimmy Van Heusen songs (not one of them a patch on the original title track).

Director Negulesco rejigs his own 1954 movie to the mildest effect, swapping the venue from Rome to Madrid for a supposedly fresh take, though the young actresses are pleasant company. Based on the novel by John H Secondant, it is the flimsiest escapism.

Also in the cast are Gene Tierney, Brian Keith, Isobel Elsom and Vito Scotti, all of them particularly welcome.

The Pleasure Seekers is directed by Jean Negulesco, runs 106 minutes, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Edith Sommer, is shot by Daniel L Fapp, is produced by David Weisbart, is scored by Lionel Newman and Alexander Courage, with Art Direction by Edward Carrere and Jack Martin Smith.

Lionel Newman and Alexander Courage were Oscar nominated for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment.

Remake: Coins in the Fountain.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6836

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