The Statue (1971 film)
| The Statue | |
|---|---|
 Original movie poster | |
| Directed by | Rodney Amateau |
| Written by | Denis Norden Alec Coppel |
| Produced by | Anis Nohra executive Josef Shaftel |
| Starring | David Niven Virna Lisi Robert Vaughn Ann Bell |
| Cinematography | Piero Portalupi |
| Edited by | Ernest Hosler |
| Music by | Riz Ortolani |
Production company | Josef Shaftel Productions |
| Distributed by | Cinerama Releasing |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom Italy |
| Language | English |
| Box office | 40,890 admissions (France) 205,231 admissions (Spain)[1] |
The Statue is a 1971 British comedy film starring David Niven, Robert Vaughn, and Virna Lisi and directed by Rodney Amateau.[2][3] Monty Python's John Cleese and Graham Chapman appear in early roles as the Niven character's psychiatrist and a newsreader, respectively.[4] Niven plays a Nobel Prize-winning professor who suspects his wife, played by Lisi, of infidelity when she makes and unveils an 18-foot statue of him with private parts recognisably not his own.[5] The film is based on the play called Chip, Chip, Chip by Alec Coppel.[6]
Plot
Professor Alex Bolt has developed a new universal language, Unispeak, which has made him internationally famous. His wife Rhonda has made a sculpture of her husband at the behest of the US State Department, commissioned by his friend, US Ambassador to England, Ray, for $50,000, in order to promote Unispeak. It is intended that the sculpture be unveiled in London's Grosvener Square.
The sculpture is an 18-foot nude one of Alex. He is upset and tries to get it suppressed, especially when he notes every aspect of the statue resembles him except for the size of its penis. Rhonda points out that she has only seen Alex eighteen days in the past three years. Alex becomes convinced Rhonda has had an affair and based the size of the genitalia on the model, whom he dubs Charlie.
Alex seeks advice from his friend Harry, an advertising man trained as a psychiatrist. He tries to track down the model of the statue in order to get it to suppressed. He interrogates a household employee, Joachim, who thinks Alex is hitting on him and beats him up. Alex then goes to a Turkish bathhouse to interview possible Charlies, but is thrown out.
Harry suggests that Alex forget about it, which he tries to do and he apologies to Rhonda. However the thought of Charlie causes him to be impotent. This leads to a fight with Rhonda, and Alex resumes his search for Charlie.
Ray then sees the statue and becomes concerned about it having a bad effect on his reputation. He arranges for the statue to be stolen, which Rhonda blames on Alex.
Alex eventually discovers the model was the statue of David by Michelangelo. Rhonda ends up making a new statue based on Ray.
Cast
- David Niven as Alex Bolt
- Virna Lisi as Rhonda Bolt
- Robert Vaughn as Ray Whiteley
- Ann Bell as Pat
- John Cleese as Harry
- Tim Brooke-Taylor as Hillcrest
- Hugh Burden as Sir Geoffrey
- Erik Chitty as Mouser
- Derek Francis as Sanders
- Susan Travers as Mrs. Southwick
Production
Songs
- "Charlie" by the Statuettes - lyrics by Norman Newwell, music by Riz Ortolani
- "Skin" Sequence - choreography by Gia Landi, lyrics by Audrey Nohra, music by Luis Enriquez Bacalov
Casting
Dyan Cannon and Robert Culp were originally announced as supporting David Niven.[7] "It's a fun role, in a fun picture," said Virna Lisi.[8]
Filming
Filming began in Rome on 1 May 1970 at Cinecitta Studios.[9][10]
Reception
Critical response
Critical and audience reception of the film was poor, though Niven was praised for his efforts to sustain the film as the main character.[11][12] The Los Angeles Times called it a "silly, strained farce."[13]
Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote in his review: "The Statue may have the distinction of being the first adolescent comedy about penis envy. Paradoxically, it is rated R, which will keep out most of the 12-year-olds who might be expected to find it good for a smirk".[14]
Roger Ebert in his review wrote: "I suppose a funny movie might have been made of this material. No, on second thought, I suppose not. Certainly not with David Niven looking so uncomfortable you wish, for his sake, he were in another movie, or even unemployed. Anywhere except under those pigeons.[15]
Release
The Statue was released in theatres in Ireland on 1 October 1971. The film was released on DVD by Code Red Studios on 18 May 2010.[16]
References
- ^ European box office figures for Virna Lisa at Box Office Story
- ^ "The Statue". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "The Statue". British Film Institute. United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ McCall, Douglas (2013). Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969-2012 (2nd ed.). New York City: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0786478118.
- ^ Craddock 2005, p. 814.
- ^ Gifford 2001, p. 804.
- ^ Browning, Norma Lee (20 March 1970). "Henry Fonda's new series". Chicago Tribune. Chicago: tronc, Inc. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Virna Lisi: Italian Actress, Housewife and Evolutionized Sexpot ABA, MARIKA. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 19 July 1970: r18.
- ^ Niven Statue Is Unveiled Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 26 May 1970: f14.
- ^ Martin 1970, p. 83.
- ^ R.R. Bowker 1983, p. 7.
- ^ Fowler 1996, p. 38.
- ^ MOVIE REVIEW: 'Statue' Features Virna Lisi, Niven Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 Jan 1971: g10.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (28 January 1971). "David Niven and 'The Statue':Amateau Directs Gags About Nobel Laureate 'Curse of the Vampires' Also Begins Run". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (24 March 1971). "The Statue". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved 20 November 2016 – via rogerebert.com.
- ^ "The Statue". Code Red Studios. Gretna, Louisiana: Code Red Studios LLC. 18 May 2010. ASIN B00383XYRC. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
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Sources
- Jim Craddock, ed. (2005). Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever 2006. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 814. ISBN 978-0787689797.
- Denis Gifford, ed. (2001). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film (3rd ed.). Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge. p. 804. ISBN 978-1579581718.
- Martin, Betty (30 January 1970). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: Amateau Will Direct 'Statue'". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles: tronc inc. p. 83. Retrieved 20 November 2016. (subscription required)
- R.R. Bowker (1983). Variety Film Reviews 1971-1974, Volume 13. Bethesda, Maryland: Elsevier. p. 7. ISBN 978-0835227933.
- Fowler, Karin J. (1996). David Niven: A Bio-Bibliography (Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts) (Annotated ed.). Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 38. ISBN 978-0313280443.
External links
- The Statue at IMDb
