A Breath of Scandal
A Breath of Scandal | |
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Directed by | Michael Curtiz Vittorio De Sica (uncredited) |
Screenplay by | Walter Bernstein |
Based on | Olympia by Ferenc Molnár |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Mario Montuori |
Edited by | Howard A. Smith |
Music by | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English |
A Breath of Scandal (released as Olympia in Italy) is a 1960 American/Italian
The film is based on the 1928 play Olympia rather than being a remake of the 1929
Plot
In 1907, a widowed Princess Olympia of the
Waking in Charlie's pyjama top, but not the bottom, Olympia fears the worst has happened and flees back home where news as arrived that she is able to return to the Imperial Court in Vienna. Olympia is greeted by the news by her mother that she is to be married to Prince Ruprecht of Prussia. She is also reunited with Charlie who has come to see her father Prince Philip about mining and refining bauxite in the Empire. Her rival Countess Lina is determined to ruin Princess Olympia's life by informing the Imperial Chamberlain Count Sandor of Olympia's scandalous conduct with the American.
Cast
- Sophia Loren as Princess Olympia
- Maurice Chevalier as Prince Philip
- John Gavin as Charlie Foster
- Angela Lansbury as Countess Lina
- Isabel Jeans as Princess Eugénie
- Tullio Carminati as Albert
- Milly Vitale as can-can girl
- Carlo Hintermanas Prince Ruprecht
- Roberto Risso as aide de camp
- Friedrich von Ledebur as Count Sandor
- Adrienne Gessner as Amelia
Production
The film was part of a three-picture deal, which Loren had, under contract with Paramount. It was also a co-production between Paramount and producers Ponti and Girosi. Filming started on June 1, 1959, in Vienna.[2]
John Gavin, who had been borrowed from
I said to Sophia [during the shoot], "We're in a terrible picture. He may have been a great director once but he doesn't know what he's doing."
According to Gavin, Loren had looked worried and asked, "Do you really think so?"
Gavin said, "The next thing I know Vittorio De Sica is turning up on set, at 2:00am every morning to give Sophia a few hours coaching before shooting started. Imagine! Drama classes at that hour! Still, I wouldn't have minded a little help myself. So I asked him and he said 'Don't change a thing. Everything you do is so American.' That sort of left me up in the air without a compass."[3]
Reception
Gavin later called the film a "turkey" saying Loren playing a princess was "not what she does best."[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Olympia as produced on Broadway" October 16, 1928 to November 1928, 39 performances, Empire Theatre; IBDb.com
- ^ "ROLE IN 'OLYMPIA' FOR SOPHIA LOREN: She Will Star With Gavin in Movie of Molnar Play -Maureen O'Hara Signs". New York Times. April 7, 1959. p. 39.
- ^ a b Tom Donnelly (July 28, 1974). "John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw': John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw'". The Washington Post. p. L1.