The scenery challenges the star power in Monte Carlo Story, which is actually a good thing: viewers need as much to capture their attention as they can get, else they'll be forced to pay attention to the story of Monte Carlo, and that would simply never do. If you get the impression that Dino Risi's screenplay is not exactly a classic, you're definitely on to something there -- which is more than could be said of Risi. Monte Carlo concerns itself with two con artists, each thinking the other has money and eventually realizing that they'd rather have each other than oodles of cash. It's a well worn set up, and anyone utilizing it needs to be prepared to offer plenty in the way of witty banter, unique twists and turns of the plot, and interesting insights into the characters involved. Risi does none of this, letting the cast and the on location shooting carry the film for him. Fortunately, the Monte Carlo settings are lovely indeed and beautifully captured by Giuseppe Rotunno's camera. And the cast does include genuine stars in Marlene Dietrich and Vittorio De Sica, who display a fine chemistry with each other. Neither actor is turning in a "highpoint" performance, but they anchor the film (and Dietrich looks stunning in her Jean Louis outfits.). The best performance comes from Arthur O'Connell as the patsy that Dietrich picks out after discovering DeSica is not all he seems. O'Connell brings a life and vibrancy to his scenes and manages to be a bit gauche while still very likable.