Bachelor in Paradise (film)

Bachelor in Paradise
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack Arnold
Written byVera Caspary
Jack Arnold (uncredited)
Screenplay byValentine Davies
Hal Kanter
Produced byTed Richmond (executive producer, uncredited)
StarringBob Hope
Lana Turner
Janis Paige
Paula Prentiss
CinematographyJoseph Ruttenberg
Edited byRichard W. Farrell
Music byHenry Mancini
Color processMetrocolor
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • November 2, 1961 (1961-11-02)
(World Premiere, London)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,989,000[1]
Box office$3.5 million[1]

Bachelor in Paradise is a 1961 American Metrocolor, CinemaScope romantic comedy film starring Bob Hope and Lana Turner. Directed by Jack Arnold, it was written by Valentine Davies and Hal Kanter, based on a story by Vera Caspary.[2]

It co-stars Janis Paige, Jim Hutton and Paula Prentiss.[2]

The film won three Laurel awards for Best Comedy, Best Comedy Actor (Hope) and song ("Bachelor in Paradise", music: Henry Mancini and lyrics: Mack David), which was also nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Song. Bob Hope was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

Unusually for an American film, Bachelor in Paradise had its World Premiere at the Coliseum Theatre in London's West End on November 2, 1961, with a personal appearance from Bob Hope (although Hope himself was born in Britain).

Plot

A.J. Niles is a provocative best-selling author who discovers he was ripped off by his accountant, Herman Wapinger, and owes a large tax debt. Under the alias, Jack Adams, Niles goes undercover in a California suburban community called Paradise Village to research a new book about the wives and lives there. Niles is pursued by a flirtatious married woman named Dolores and falls in love with a woman, Rosemary, who rents her house to him. Wapinger is found, Niles' cash is returned to him, and he reveals his true identity on national television. Three husbands in Paradise Village file for divorce, believing their wives are having affairs with Niles. In divorce court, Niles reveals that he is in love with Rosemary and asks her to marry him. The divorce suits get dropped, and Rosemary accepts.

Cast

Production

Paige (left), Hope, and Turner at the time of production of Bachelor in Paradise

The script was based on an original story for the movies by Vera Caspary – a 70-page document.[3]

The film was Bob Hope's first with MGM. He was persuaded to star in it by head of production Sol Siegel.[4] The film marked Lana Turner's first romantic comedy in a number of years.[5]

George Marshall was originally signed to direct.[6]

Paula Prentiss and Jim Hutton were signed off the back of their success together in Where the Boys Are. MGM put them in three films: this, The Horizontal Lieutenant and The Honeymoon Machine and pushed them as a new William Powell and Myrna Loy.[7]

Filming took place in May 1961.

Reception

MGM was impressed by the film and signed Jack Arnold to direct for them for five years.[8] Before the film was released they requested Hal Kanter to start writing a sequel, An Armful of Girls, with Hope as a married man chased over Europe by titled ladies.[9] It was never made.

Critical

The Los Angeles Times called the film "frequently diverting".[10]

The New York Times said the movie "has enough sharp gags to make [Hope's] recent TV spectaculars unspectacular even though the romantic antics on which it is all pegged are somewhat less than inspired. This pleasantly varicolored 'Paradise' may not be heavenly but its mild fun and frolics should keep a viewer reasonably happy."[11]

Box office

According to MGM records, the film earned $2.5 million in the US and Canada and $1 million elsewhere but ultimately lost $344,000.[1]

Awards

The title song for the film was nominated for an Oscar. It was performed by Ann-Margret at the Oscar's ceremony, and reception to this greatly boosted her career.[12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ^ a b "Bachelor in Paradise". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  3. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (April 14, 1961). "Fear of Originals Scored by Writer: Art Lost, Says Vera Caspary; 'Under the Skin' Sold to 20th". Los Angeles Times. p. 27.
  4. ^ Hopper, Hedda (December 9, 1959). "Looking at Hollywood: M-G-M Signs Bob Hope to Play Bachelor Author". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b6.
  5. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (April 6, 1961). "Turner, Hayworth New Lead-Getters: Lana to Hope, Rita to Ford; Sinatra in Bid to Moss Hart". Los Angeles Times. p. A13.
  6. ^ Hopper, Hedda (February 17, 1960). "Looking at Hollywood: Aldrich Will Produce 'Now We Know'". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. a1.
  7. ^ "Jim and Paula: Shades of Powell, Loy? Alpert, Don". Los Angeles Times. July 16, 1961. p. N4.
  8. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (September 4, 1961). "South Seas Braced for Film Invasion: One-at-a-Time Decree Made Law as Tahiti Goes Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. C7.
  9. ^ Hopper, Hedda (October 5, 1961). "Judy Garland and Lancaster Costar: Joan Crawford Being Paged; Hope to Do 'Bachelor' Sequel". Los Angeles Times. p. B12.
  10. ^ Scott, John L. (December 26, 1961). "Film Comedy Puts Hope in 'Paradise'". Los Angeles Times. p. C8.
  11. ^ Weiler, A.H. (November 17, 1961). "'Bachelor in Paradise'". New York Times.
  12. ^ Hopper, Hedda (April 12, 1962). "Looking at Hollywood: Bob Hope Tells Views on Oscar Awards Show". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. c6.
  13. ^ MacMinn, Aleene. (November 29, 1968). "Sunday Night: First TV Special for Ann-Margret". Los Angeles Times. p. g36.
  14. ^ Frank Miller, "Bachelor in Paradise", Turner Classic Movies accessed 15 December 2014