houseboat

the year: 1958

the genre: romance



the cast: Cary Grant (Tom Winters); Sophia Loren (Cinzia Zaccardi); Martha Hyer (Carolyn Gibson); Harry Guardino (Angelo Donatello)


the plot: Tom Winston, a widower, is trying to understand and raise three precocious children alone. He gets a little unexpected help from Cinzia, when the children decide she is to be the new maid. They don't know she is actually an Italian socialite who is trying to get away from her overprotective father.


don't miss: Tom and Cinzia's dance to "Almost in Your Arms".


check out: the cherry blossoms in the background as Tom and the children walk along the Potomac.


listen for: "Who sir, me sir? Yes sir, you sir. No sir, not I sir. Then sir, who sir?"


count: how many songs Robert knows on the harmonica.


did you know: Cary Grant initially accepted his role in Houseboat because he was dating Sophia Loren, whom he was madly in love with. After she married someone else, Grant, heartbroken, wanted to back out. He couldn't, but the director made sure the production was a smooth one.


extra bonus points: if you can name the TV show on which Paul Peterson (who played little David Winters) later starred.