I remember watching this movie as a child and falling in love with Sophia Loren. She was beautiful, proud and more importantly, independent! When I grew up, I wanted to be her! It's taken me until 40, but now I can say I have hopefully finally gained the "Sophia Loren" attitude! No, this isn't an Academy Award winner, it's just fun! (And if you have young daughters, they'll love this fairy tale!) I also must say that although I saw Omar Sharif in many wonderful movies, I will always remember him in this one. It was a little lighter fare than his normal "leading man" role and he seemed to enjoy the banter with Loren. (Of course, what man wouldn't?) I am buying a copy of this movie for my collection and am having a girl night with my 8-year old niece and her friends very soon. You don't have to worry about nudity, language, etc. (even though Loren has been known for her racy roles.) Check it out!

The first several minutes of this film consist of a syrupy song performed by Roger Miller's orchestra and Singers while blurry 60's visual effects light the screen. Remaining viewers then spy Sharif, a Spanish prince, taming a wild white stallion as his mother screams at him that it's time to get married. When he thinks he's broken the horse, he takes off riding, but soon discovers that his job wasn't fully completed. He stumbles upon a flying monk (perhaps an ancestor of Sally Field?) who gives him a sack of flour, telling him that whichever woman bakes seven dumplings out of it that Sharif is unable to fully eat, will be the correct wife for him. When Sharif finds his horse, it has been commandeered by curvy peasant Loren, who is persuaded to bake him the dumplings. What follows is a lengthy game of give-and-take, hit-and-miss and misunderstanding as this couple attempts to discover if they are in fact meant to be together. Some of it, including a notably vivid dish-washing scene, is rather captivating. Some of it, like the endless segues into various locales and with various townsfolk, is pretty dull, sometimes even annoying, as with the ancient witch (and her coven) who aligns herself with Loren. One highly remarkable scene, however, is one in which thousands of eggs are simultaneously hatched, revealing an army of little yellow chicks. This impressive scene alone makes the film worth a glance. Others may check in to see Sharif at his peak and Loren close to hers. Unfortunately, the couple's love seems to come from a mandate in the script versus any organic chemistry between the two. It remains to be seen why Loren would have such a yen for a man who would soundly strike a woman hard across the face, but maybe times were different then. Del Rio makes one of her very last appearances as Sharif's mother and adds the touch of authoritative glamour needed for the part. Many other parts are ably acted, but intrusively dubbed into English. Witch Liotti's voice is actually painful to listen to. One of the chief assets is the roaming countryside and the use of rich and authentic looking locations. There are also some eye-popping costumes displayed by a bevy of eligible princesses who long to be chosen by Sharif. It's a fractured fairy tale that may appeal to fans of the stars, but otherwise comes off as disjointed and even a little humiliating.

This fantasy is complete with a gorgeous prince, a beautiful woman, witches with cauldrons and paper moons hanging in the sky. The story is simple but very effectively showcases Omar Sharif and Sophia Loren. A lovely way to pass a couple of hours. Some scenes are so memorable I still recalled them several years after first seeing the film in 1967.A must for my collection. Definitely not heavy going; light, fun, and great for the whole family.

I only saw the last half hour of this movie on the Turner Classic Movie (TCM) channel on cable one early morning last month and incidentally, was the climax of the movie. I was immediately pulled by the beauty of Sophia Loren as she competes with the other princesses in the dishwashing contest. That scene alone is a classic! I've never seen quite like it before. Too bad the movie is not available on VHS or DVD because I sure would love to own this one. Considering that I am not familiar of Sophia Loren and her movies (she peaked before my time), it is amazing to see how ravishing she looked! She joins the ranks of Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, for me, as the most beautiful women on the silver screen.