Ten Thousand Bedrooms

Millionaire hotel mogul Ray Hunter flies to Rome aiming to purchase another property, the Regent. The trip signals his pattern of rapid hotel acquisitions that will be tested by personal relationships in the story. The arrival sets the stage for encounters with the local staff and the Countess.

Ray is picked up at the airport by Maria Martelli, who works for the Regent's owner, Countess Alzani. Maria's straightforward manner foreshadows the clash and chemistry to come. The meeting starts the personal tension behind the business deal.

During the drive back into central Rome, the Countess Alzani rebukes Ray for his impersonal method of buying hotels. She insists he consider the staff and the people affected by such moves. Ray sincerely promises not to repeat this approach with the Regent's staff.

Maria, initially playful in her mockery, apologizes for her sarcasm and volunteers to be Ray's translator during staff introductions that afternoon. Her offer signals a developing personal connection beyond the business deal. The scene shifts from business to interpersonal dynamics.

When Maria stops at her home to change, Ray is introduced to the Martelli family. Nina, Maria's youngest sister, immediately takes a liking to Ray. Maria's siblings and the family's dynamics begin complicating the romantic possibilities.

Nina quickly takes to Ray while Anton, Maria's current romance, is presented as a poor Polish count with ambitions. Mike, Ray's private pilot, also tries to catch Nina's eye, foreshadowing competing affections within the family circle. The love triangle expands the plot beyond business.

Nina asks Papa Vittorio for permission to marry Ray. Papa forbids it, explaining that in this family all the eldest daughters must be married before the youngest can. The rule creates a clear obstacle Ray must navigate if he wants Nina.

To accelerate the process, Ray sends for two eligible American bachelors and introduces them to two other sisters. He hopes to stage favorable matches and win over the family quickly. The scheme shows Ray's willingness to maneuver circumstances to secure a marriage.

Ray purchases Anton's artwork in an attempt to boost the Polish count's worth for a proposal to Maria. The gesture backfires, angering Maria who sees it as another manipulation. Ray apologizes to Maria with a kiss, recognizing his mistake.

At a party, Papa Martelli publicly proclaims Ray's engagement to Nina, shocking Mike and prompting him to consider leaving. The revelation raises the stakes and tests the men’s loyalty. Ray's maneuvering loses some of its hoped-for momentum.

Seeing Mike's distress, Ray urges him to stay and continue pursuing Nina rather than giving up. The moment shows Ray's growing concern for the people involved, not just the match. It marks a turning point toward a more genuine resolution.

After some effort, Ray arranges a long-term job for Anton that takes him to Bombay, removing the obstacle of the Polish count's proposal. This gesture helps demonstrate Ray's sincerity about the future with Maria. The arrangement clears the path toward a stable relationship.

Ray persuades Maria that his feelings are genuine and not merely a business ploy. In response, Papa Martelli begins planning four weddings, signaling a shift from conflict to celebration of the families coming together. The couple finally gains the family’s blessing.

With trust established, the Regent deal proceeds alongside the four weddings. The film closes on a note of reconciliation and family unity as love, business, and tradition align. Ray’s lessons about staff and relationships culminate in a new balance for all involved.