The 26 Jun 1966 LAT reported the return of story editor and screenwriter Louis M. “Deke” Heyward to Los Angeles, CA, from location filming in Rome, Italy. He described the Italian-American co-production as “schizoid cinema,” because two versions of the same picture were shooting concurrently, each emphasizing different aspects of the story. The U.S. version starred American actors Vincent Price and Fabian, with a subplot featuring the Italian comedy team of Franco and Ciccio. The Italian version starred Franco and Ciccio, with a subplot featuring Price and Fabian. Heyward claimed that Franco composed several of the picture’s musical motifs using a blade of grass as one would use a woodwind reed.
       The titular “girl bombs” were predominantly played by “immaculately groomed blondes” for American audiences, while their swarthy Italian counterparts were reportedly less self-conscious regarding body hair. Heyward arrived in Rome to discover that the screenplay he approved had been noticeably augmented while being translated into Italian. Nine rewrites ensued before a “compromise script” was completed. In addition to his writing and editing duties, Heyward appeared on screen as a military general, when it was discovered that he was a perfect fit for the costume, and was recruited to drive a Jeep for a sequence on the Appian Way, because no other member of the company knew how to operate the transmission.
       Heyward was impressed by the ingenuity of the Italian special effects man, who hired a pasta chef to construct a scale model of the Coliseum out of 400 pounds of linguini. In addition to bearing a “reasonable” resemblance to the original, the structure crumbled to everyone’s satisfaction. According to Heyward, the overall costs were considerably lower than they would have been in the U.S., often because the crewmembers enjoyed their work, such as the team of carpenters sharing a soundstage with dozens of bikini-clad women.
       Complications surrounded a bathing sequence featuring Laura Antonelli, who feared her mother’s disapproval. The elder Antonelli consented following assurances that her daughter would be covered in suds and a flesh-colored body stocking. As shooting was about to commence, the actress’s parish priest made an unexpected visit to the set. Filming was postponed until the next day, but Antonelli was unable to work due to an upset stomach. Although the scene was rescheduled for the final day of production, it was never completed, as someone had stolen the bathtub.
       Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs opened 30 Nov 1966 in Los Angeles, double-billed with Bang! Bang! You’re Dead (1966, see entry). Despite scathing reviews, the 16 Nov 1966 Var predicted good commercial prospects, citing the picture’s “slick color and fast action.” Box office receipts were promising in Kansas City, MO, San Francisco, CA, and Toronto, Canada, according to the 16 Nov 1966 Var, 23 Nov 1966 DV, and 30 Nov 1966 Var. However, the 6 Dec 1966 DV reported that the picture earned only $58,000 from twenty-four theaters in Los Angeles.
Copyright length: 82 min.