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Gunn (film)

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Gunn
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBlake Edwards
Screenplay byWilliam Peter Blatty
Blake Edwards
Story byBlake Edwards
Produced byOwen Crump
Blake Edwards
StarringCraig Stevens
Laura Devon
Edward Asner
Albert Paulsen
Sherry Jackson
Helen Traubel
CinematographyPhilip Lathrop
Music byThe Gordian Knot
Henry Mancini
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • 28 June 1967 (1967-06-28)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Gunn is a 1967 American neo noir mystery film directed by Blake Edwards, and starring Craig Stevens, based on the 1958-1961 television series Peter Gunn. Stevens was the only regular cast member from the original series to appear in the film; the characters of Gunn's singing girlfriend Edie Hart, club owner "Mother", and police lieutenant Jacoby were all recast for the film. The movie was intended to be the first in a projected series of Peter Gunn feature films, but no sequels followed.

Plot

A gangster named Scarlotti once saved private detective Peter Gunn's life, but now Scarlotti's been killed, and Fusco intends to take over the town's crime syndicate. Gunn and Lt. Jacoby are convinced that Fusco himself must be behind it.

Gunn makes a visit to Mother's, the nightclub, and talks to Mother. Afterward, he has a romantic interlude with Edie but is interrupted to pay a visit to Daisy Jane, owner of The Ark floating brothel. She hires Gunn to find out who the killer is. When Gunn returns to his apartment, much to his consternation he finds Samantha "Sam" who tries to seduce him. Even worse, Edie and a hitman appear at the same time.

Gunn contacts his informants, and after more killings, he and Jacoby descend upon Fusco who seems obviously guilty. Fusco denies it in front of the two, and in a later beating of Gunn, he denies it again, giving a deadline to Gunn—to solve the murder or end up dead himself.

Cast

Production

William Friedkin recalled that he met Blake Edwards in September 1966. Edwards told him he was considering a return of the Peter Gunn television show but would begin by making a Peter Gunn feature film. Edwards told Friedkin that Charles Bludhorn, the new head of Paramount thought Lola Albright "too old" to resume her former role and instead wanted an Austrian actress who Edwards rejected. Edwards wanted Friedkin to direct the film but Friedkin thought William Peter Blatty's script was awful, explaining the script was like some of the old television episodes cobbled together rather than something new and exciting.[1][2] Edwards directed the film himself. Blatty was impressed by Friedkin's honesty and asked him to direct The Exorcist (1973). Edwards' film was originally titled[3]—but then only advertised as—Gunn...Number One!; no sequels followed.

As for Friedkin's comment that the script was like some of the old television episodes cobbled together, the film borrows heavily from the series pilot - season 1 episode 1, "The Kill" (mobster's death by fake Coast Guard vs fake police, burial, romantic interlude, meeting at racquetball court, bombing at Mother's) - and lifts sequences from three other episodes: season 2 episode 12, "The Briefcase" (girl in Gunn's apartment); season 2 episode 22, "Hollywood Calling" (chase through the boatyard); and season 3 episode 34, "Death Is a Four Letter Word" (talking to an informant).

In a 2016 interview, Sherry Jackson told how she was hired for the movie. "A friend took me to lunch in the noisy Paramount commissary while I was wearing the costume from the Star Trek episode, "What Are Little Girls Made Of?". I'm terribly near-sighted and when we walked in, it got quieter and quieter, so I asked what was happening. Turns out, they were all looking at me. All the seats were full, so we got a table in the director's room where Blake Edwards happened to be sitting. My friend told me he began pointing to me and giving hand signals to Craig Stevens in another part of the room and yelling to him 'Sam! Sam!' That turned out to be a character in Edwards' next film, 'Gunn,' and I was offered the part."[4] Herbert F. Solow, Paramount executive, recalled that the friend who led Jackson into the commissary was Star Trek actor William Shatner.[5]

Jackson continued: "But Paramount knew it was not going to be a big hit, so they wanted to use me to promote it. They got Playboy involved and offered me $25,000 to appear in the magazine." When Jackson declined, she says Paramount threatened to release some of the risqué still photos from the movie. According to Jackson, the studio said if she did the Playboy shoot, tame by today’s standards, she would have control over which images were published. "I was incensed, but accepted on the condition I wouldn’t take any money for it," she explained.[4] Jackson was filmed in a nude scene[6] that appeared only in the international version, not the U.S. release.[7] Stills of the nude scene appeared in the August 1967 issue of Playboy magazine, in a pictorial entitled "Make Room For Sherry".[4]

Although the complete Peter Gunn television series is available on VHS and DVD, the film version of Gunn has never been issued on home video in any format.[citation needed]

Trivia

In the TV series, Peter Gunn drives Chrysler Corp. convertibles. In this movie, he drives a 1967 Ford Thunderbird hardtop.

Playing the part of Daisy Jane in this movie, Marion Marshall was a veteran of the Peter Gunn t.v. show, having been in the season 1 episode, "The Chinese Hangman," playing the part of Joanna Lund.

Reprising his role as a well-spoken though tipsy informant, J. Pat O'Malley guest-stars as Tinker; he played the essentially same character in the Peter Gunn series' season 2 episode, "The Price is Murder", as Pithias, and in the season 3 episode, "Death Is a Four Letter Word", as Luther.

The only movie songs that originated in the t.v. series are "Peter Gunn" and "Dreamsville".

Julie Andrews mentions in her book, Home Work, that her husband, Blake Edwards, had collaborated with William Peter Blatty in writing several films, including Gunn.[8]

Music

Director Blake Edwards said, "As I entered the first scoring session of our new "Gunn" film, I was delighted to see that the band contained most of the familiar faces that had done the original TV show."

"Hank (Henry Mancini) and I had discussed the music for the "Gunn" film thoroughly, and he confessed to me that this was to be one of his most difficult assignments. The six years that had passed since the TV 'Peter Gunn' went off the air had seen sweeping changes, not only in jazz, but in all phases of the pop music spectrum."

"As the score unfolded, everyone on that scoring stage agreed that Hank had done what was needed -- he had brought 'Peter Gunn' up to date without sacrificing the feel and excitement of the original. I think you will agree."[9]

In 1967, RCA Victor released, “Gunn ...Number One!", Music from the Motion Picture Score Composed and Conducted by Henry Mancini. It was recorded at RCA Victor's "Music Center of the World" studios in Hollywood, California.

The soundtrack CD, "Gunn ...Number One!", was released by RCA/BMG Music Spain, S.A. in 1999.

Listed on the credits, the featured soloists are: Pete Carroll, trumpet; Dick Nash, trombone; Plas Johnson, Selmer varitone electric sax; Vincent De Rosa, French horn; Ted Nash, alto and baritone sax, flute; Bud Shank, baritone sax; Bob Bain, guitar; Jimmy Rowles, piano; Ray Brown, bass; Shelly Manne, drums; and Larry Bunker, vibes.[10]

Below are the movie song title, durations, and the credited soloists:[11]

Song titles

  1. "Peter Gunn" – 2:05—Plas Johnson
  2. "A Quiet Happening" – 3:05—Ted Nash, Bud Shank, Ray Brown
  3. "Dreamsville" – 3:46—Larry Bunker, Vincent De Rosa
  4. "Sky Watch" – 3:22—Larry Bunker, Jimmy Rowles, Pete Candoli, Ted Nash
  5. "A Bluish Bag" – 2:53
  6. "Theme for Sam" – 3:10—Jimmy Rowles
  7. "The Monkey Farm" – 2:23—Bob Bain, Ted Nash, Plas Johnson
  8. "A Lovely Sound" – 3:32—Dick Nash
  9. "I Like the Look" – 2:39—Ray Brown, Shelly Manne
  10. "Silver Tears" – 3:31—Larry Bunker, Bob Bain
  11. "Sweet!" – 3:06—Larry Bunker, Pete Candoli, Dick Nash
  12. "Night Owl" - 3:47—Ted Nash
  13. "Bye Bye" - 2:08—Shelly Manne

Notes

  1. ^ Friedkin, William (April 16, 2013). The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir (First ed.). HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062097262.
  2. ^ Segaloff, Nat (1990). Hurricane Billy: The Stormy Life and Films of William Friedkin. Morrow. p. 68. ISBN 9780688078522.
  3. ^ "Photo caption". Billboard. Vol. 79, no. 35. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 2, 1967. p. 26. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Thomas, Nick (March 31, 2016). "Make room for Sherry Jackson". The Spectrum. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Solow, Herbert F.; Justman, Robert H. (1996). Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (first ed.). Pocket Books. p. 151. ISBN 0671896288.
  6. ^ Heffernan, Harold (May 9, 1967). Written at Hollywood, CA. "Danny's Sherry Big, Big Girl Now". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. NANA. p. 22. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  7. ^ J. Kingston Pierce (February 13, 2013). "Make a Wish". Rap Sheet. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Andrews, Julie (2019). Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years. New York: Hachette Book Group. p. 131. ISBN 9780316349239.
  9. ^ Pujol, Jordi, “Gunn ...Number One!" CD liner notes, p.2, Fresh Sound Records, 1999.
  10. ^ "Gunn... Number One!" CD liner notes, p.1, RCA/BMG Music Spain, S.A., 1999.
  11. ^ "Gunn... Number One!" CD liner notes, p.2, RCA/BMG Music Spain, S.A., 1999.
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