Drop Dead Darling
Drop Dead Darling | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ken Hughes |
Screenplay by | Ronald Harwood |
Based on | Novel The Careful Man by Richard Deeming |
Produced by | Ken Hughes Richard McWhorter Greg Morrison executive Ray Stark |
Starring | Tony Curtis Rosanna Schiaffino |
Cinematography | Denys N. Coop |
Edited by | John Shirley |
Music by | Dennis Farnon |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
Countries | United Kingdom United States |
Language | English |
Drop Dead Darling (US title: Arrivederci, Baby!) is a 1966 British-American black comedy film directed by Ken Hughes and starring Tony Curtis, Rosanna Schiaffino, Lionel Jeffries and Zsa Zsa Gabor.[1]
Plot
A man goes around marrying wealthy women, and then murdering them. However, his third wife has married him with similar intentions.
Cast
- Tony Curtis ... Nick Johnson
- Rosanna Schiaffino ... Francesca
- Lionel Jeffries ... Parker
- Zsa Zsa Gabor ... Gigi
- Nancy Kwan ... Baby
- Fenella Fielding ... Fenella
- Anna Quayle ... Aunt Miriam
- Warren Mitchell ... Conte de Rienz / Maximillian
- Mischa Auer ... Romeo
- Noel Purcell ... Capt. O'Flannery
- Alan Gifford ... American Brasshat
- Joseph Furst ... German Brasshat
- Monti DeLyle ... Butler
- Bernard Spear ... French Inspector
- Eileen Way ... Italian Dressmaker
- Bruno Barnabe ... Head Waiter
- Gábor Baraker ... Gypsy Baron
- Tony Baron ... Baby's Boyfriend
- Eunice Black ... Matron
- John Brandon ... Radio Engineer
- Windsor Davies ... Radio Engineer
- Franco De Rosa ... Romano
- John Fordyce ... Boy in Orphanage
- Yole Marinelli ... First Maid
- Miki Iveria ... Second Maid
- Henri Vidon ... Priest
- Raymond Young ... Photographer
- Jacqueline Bisset ... Dancer
Production
The film was also known as You Just Kill Me, You're Dead Right, My Last Duchess, and The Careful Man.[2]
In May 1962 Joshua Logan announced he would make a film about a wife killer called The Careful Man based on a Edmund Morris from an original story by Max Franklin. The film would be done with Seven Arts Pictures and Logan would produce and direct.[3] It was described as a suspense melodrama.[4]
In July 1962 Seven Arts announced The Careful Man would be one of 20 films it would make with MGM.[5]
Filming started in August 1965 under the title You Just Kill Me with Ken Hughes as a director and Tony Curtis as star.[6] Curtis said he took the job "because of the excellent script by Ken Hughes."[7] Zsa Zsa Gabor's casting was announced in October.[8] Filming took place in London at Shepperton Studios and in Cannes. Curtis said he was romantically interested in all his leading ladies but did not have affairs with any.[9]
Curtis later said "the problem with the picture was that it was disjointed. The individual scenes were funny but the production company couldn't figure out a way to link them all together."[10]
Reception
The Los Angeles Times called it "cleverly sketched".[11]
Filmink called it "a frantic farce".[12]
References
- ^ BFI.org
- ^ Movie Title's Right Where You Come In The Washington Post, Times Herald 3 Dec 1965: B11.
- ^ LOGAN'S 'CAREFUL MAN'--'L'ENCLOS'--AMBLER By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 20 May 1962: X7.
- ^ Is French Riviera a Location Threat?: Mare Nostrum for Pacific; Seattle Claims Best Films Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 23 May 1962: C13.
- ^ M-G-M AND 7 ARTS TO JOIN ON FILMS: 20 Projects and Broadway Ventures Are Planned New York Times 16 July 1962: 18.
- ^ Looking at Hollywood: Stark Gets Big Cast for 'Paris Burning' Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 30 July 1965: b11.
- ^ Curtis p 400
- ^ Martin Ransohoff Acquires Novel Before Publication Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 26 Oct 1965: c9.
- ^ Curtis p 400
- ^ Curtis p 403
- ^ Tony Curtis in Role of Lady Killer Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 30 Dec 1966: C6.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 November 2020). "Ken Hughes Forgotten Auteur". Filmink.
Notes
- Curtis, Tony (2008). American prince : a memoir. Thorndike Press.
External links