A movie producer who made a huge flop tries to salvage his career by revamping his film as an erotic production, where its family-friendly star takes her top off.
Director: Blake Edwards
Stars: Julie Andrews, William Holden, Richard Mulligan, Robert Preston.
Paddy Stone ... choreographer (onscreen as the barker)
Jerry Trent ... assistant choreographer
2 songs in the Soundtracks. The production number is to Polly Wolly Doodle, a "traditional" song. The other song is Happy Birthday, used in the background.
I remembered that JA did a musical number, and she does as the opening scene. Then in the remake, that redone scene is where she reveals her breasts.
Final film appearance for Gene Nelson (b. '20); he does a Fantasy Island ('82) and a Murder She Wrote ('87), and lives to '96. I ran the film a second time to find him as Clive Lytell. He's in chapter 15, at the 1hr mark, in a scene with JA, Shelley Winters and Robert Loggia. He's wearing gradient sunglasses in the backyard, sits with his back to the camera in the house, and says nothing until they all come out of the house, when he says "I'll get the car" and walks quickly off-camera. I didn't hear them mention either Clive or Lytell.
Final film for WH, who dies this year. I liked his performance a lot.
I find RM's performance too manic once he realizes the "fix" to his poorly received film (and if the opening scene is representative, it does look a bit dull) and through the rest of the film. (Before that he's silent and morose, but the contrast is not the problem.)
JA is good, but not onscreen enough.
RP plays the studio doctor who gets some nice quips.
Recommended for biting the hand that feeds it.
distr. Paramount, dir. Edwards; 7
