it is not a blockbuster or an art film. it is not the best film of lead actors filmography. but it is romantic, amusing, funny , nice, ironic. a fairy tale from fairy tale old fashion books. and that is all. the eroticism of Sophia Loren - model for feminist tendency -, the charm of Omar Shariff ,a new meeting with legendary Dolores del Rio or presence of an original Catholic saint are perfect pillars for nostalgic memories and pure delight discovering an easy film about prediction, spell, love and adventures, choices, adventures and victory of truth. confuse in few parts, it is far to be serious. because it has all seduction of childhood and youth seduction. and because it is work of a smart, inspired team who gives to a little joke all force of a great movie.

As an admirer of the Italian neo-realist film director Francesco Rosi, I was delighted when a friend mentioned that he'd obtained a copy of Rosi's long forgotten film, "More Than A Miracle." Released in 1967, it only lasted for a couple of weeks (which explains why I missed seeing it back then), before quickly disappearing from sight. Now, forty-five years later, I finally sat down to watch it. I knew that "More Than A Miracle" was a fairy tale set in 17th. Century Spain. And that it starred Omar Sharif as Prince Ramon and Sophia Loren as the peasant girl, Isabella who the Prince falls in love with. I'm not a huge fan of fairy tales. However, as this was a Francesco Rosi film, I figured it would be a cut above films tackling similar subject matter. Prince Ramon has refused to choose a bride from the seven marriageable princesses whom his mother has selected as most deserving of becoming his wife. Out on his horse he comes across a monastery, and meets friar Brother Joseph who amuses the local children by leaping into the air and flying about the countryside. The friar presents the Prince with a donkey and a bag of flour and instructs him to search for a woman who will make him seven dumplings. Despite trying to remain 'engaged' with the film, I soon found myself checking how long still had to run. Seeing a peasant girl picking vegetables, he orders her to make seven dumplings from the bag of flour he gives her. Which she dutifully does, but overcome by hunger, she eats the seventh dumpling. To punish her for her disobedience, the Prince feigns death and then disappears. While I understood that it was after all just a fairy tale, my attention was beginning to wander. I must have dozed off, as I was woken up by a sharp poke in the ribs from my wife. On the TV, Isabella was being rescued from a wooden barrel by a group of street urchins. By then, Francesco Rosi or no Francesco Rosi, I'd had enough and went to bed. Next morning, my wife insisted on telling me how it all ended. Apparently, Isabella ended up marrying the Prince and they both lived happily ever after. Born in 1922, Francesco Rosi directed some of the finest neo-realist films to come out of Italy. Such classics as "Hands Over The City", Salvatore Guiliano", "Moment of Truth" and "The Mattei Affair" Those alone elevate him to the Pantheon of Italian film directors. To me, "More Than A Miracle" was just a "glitch" and in no way detracts from his reputation as a great film director.

This movie is so highly underrated, it features two larger than life stars, Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif, at their best in a charming fairy tale story. Sophia never looked more beautiful on screen, this movie reveals the zenith of her beauty; and it goes more deeper than just beautiful people, the leads bring life to their characters with unparalleled charm. The magnetism of the two stars and the charming "Cinderella" story are further enhanced by a truly magical score by Piero Piccioni and a lovely title song by Roger Williams. This movie should get a major DVD restoration, it is one of the most charming and magical movies ever made.

This splendid movie showed on TCM today. Altho' the Prince and the Dishwasher only kissed once or twice, the story was SO much sexier than today's movies that go all the way and show many buffed-out body parts.And, ladies, when Omar Sharif stares at La Loren across a field with him in princely garb and those high leather boots ... that's better than six nude Ewan McGregor's! Hurry up and watch it!My only problem with the movie was that many of the actors playing peasants (and at times, Loren) spoke with heavy Italian accents and so quickly that I could not understand all the phrases. (Movie had no captions on TCM.) It was dubbed in English but not by native English speakers, which was probably the cause of the problem.