Houseboat

Back to the main review

What’s the Story?

In HOUSEBOAT, diplomat Tom Winston (Cary Grant) returns to Washington, D.C. following the death of his estranged wife. His three children, David, Robert, and Elizabeth, have been staying with his wife's sister, Caroline (Martha Hyer). They are hurt and resentful. He takes them to an outdoor orchestra concert, and Robert wanders off and meets Cinzia (Sophia Loren), the daughter of a visiting conductor. She has also wandered off, in search of adventure and companionship. When she brings Robert back, Tom sees that Robert likes her, and hired her as their housekeeper. When David causes an accident that destroys their home, the family and Cinzia settle in on an old houseboat. It turns out Cinzia can't cook or do laundry, but the children adore her, and Tom warms to her too. But Caroline's marriage is falling apart, and she is in love with Tom. And the children have ideas of their own when it comes to whether they even want a new mother or not.

Is It Any Good?

Houseboat is a warm romantic comedy that is exceptionally perceptive and sensitive about the feelings of the children. It does a nice job of showing that David's truculence and petty theft are due to his feelings of vulnerability and loss.

It's also a rare movie that deals honestly with the issue of children's reaction to remarriage. Even though they love Cinzia, the children do not like sharing her with Tom, or sharing Tom with her. Children who have been in this situation will be grateful for the opportunity to see that they are not alone.