Rome Adventure
Rome Adventure, also known as Lovers Must Learn, is a 1962 romantic drama film, based on the 1932 novel "Lovers Must Learn" by Irving Fineman. It was directed by Delmer Daves and stars Troy Donahue, Angie Dickinson, and Suzanne Pleshette. Plot. After quitting her job as school librarian, Prudence Bell (Suzanne Pleshette) leaves New England for a vacation in Rome. On the boat over, she befriends Roberto Orlandi (Rossano Brazzi), a philandering middle-aged Italian who upon their arrival in Rome introduces her to a countess who rents out rooms in her villa to tourists. Once Prudence settles  in there, she finds employment at an American bookstore and later encounters handsome architectural student Don Porter (Troy Donahue), one of several Americans also rooming at the villa. Don, who is recovering from a failed relationship with a blonde temptress named Lyda (Angie Dickinson), keeps his distance at first. But he slowly looks on Prudence as a refreshing curiosity with her adventurous outlook on life. Eventually, the two spend time together, sightseeing Rome in horse-drawn carriages and his Vespa scooter. While the two enjoy lunch one day, Don buys a candelabra, a symbol of Don's integrity because of  its golden appearance. Weeks later, when the bookstore closes for summer holidays, Don and Prudence tour the garden spots of northern Italy. But upon their return to Rome, Prudence encounters Don's old flame Lyda, who has recently become embroiled in an abusive relationship with a cruel, possessive Italian industrialist. It is obvious Lyda wants to rekindle her affair with Don when she continually trades insults with Prudence at dinner one evening. Not hearing from Don for three days after, Prudence assumes Lyda has won Don back, and she decides to move on. She consents to sex with Roberto, the  aggressive Italian she first met on the boat over. But Roberto reveals to her that Don had stayed with him (and not Lyda) the previous three days in order to think things through. Don had told Roberto of his love for Prudence, but he then received an urgent telegram from Lyda, summoning him to a hotel. After hearing this, Prudence makes plans for her return to America. Meanwhile at the hotel, Lyda tells Don she married the industrialist for money and position only. She begs Don to help free her from her palatial prison. Realizing she plans to use him  for selfish ends, that she has no real affection for him, Don bolts for Rome. But on his arrival, he discovers Prudence has taken a train to the coast to board a ship back to the States. Days later, arriving in New York City's port, Prudence notices a candelabra and a bunch of roses weaving their way through the crowd greeting the ship. As she suspects, they are carried by Don. They embrace as he tells her of his love and asks her to marry him. Background. "Lovers Must Learn" was published in 1932. "The New York Times" called  it a "workmanlike production". Unlike the film, the novel was set in Paris. Delmer Daves purchased the rights to the novel in 1957 and announced plans to make a film version in France, Copenhagen and Switzerland. Natalie Wood was at one stage announced for the lead. Troy Donahue was announced for the male lead relatively early. Eventually Natalie Wood dropped out and Suzanne Pleshette was signed in September 1961. The film was known during production as "Lovers Must Learn". Donahue and Pleshette fell in love while filming, and eventually wed, though the marriage lasted less than a year. The  song "Al di là" featured in the film and performed by Emilio Pericoli was originally recorded by Betty Curtis and Luciano Tajoli and winner of the 1961 edition of the Sanremo Festival, subsequently becoming Italy's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1961. The song became an international hit with a cover version by Connie Francis. Most of the interior scenes were shot at Warner Bros, Burbank. The Library and Port of Entry sets were originally constructed for the film "The Music Man" (1962).