Contemporary sources alternately referred to the picture as Boeing Boeing; Boeing, Boeing; and Boeing-Boeing. The latter reflected the title of the source material, a stage play by French playwright Marc Camoletti. The show premiered in Paris, France, on 14 Dec 1960, and enjoyed a lengthy run at the Apollo Theatre in London, England, before opening at Broadway’s Cort Theater on 2 Feb 1965.
       Nearly a year after its Parisian debut, a 16 Oct 1961 DV article included a film adaptation of Boeing-Boeing among the many upcoming projects in development at Paramount Pictures. According to a 14 Aug 1963 Var brief, Artur Brauner was also interested in pursuing the rights, but stated that Camoletti asked for “too much money.” With the property on Paramount’s slate, the 17 Oct 1962 Var reported that producer Hal B. Wallis planned to cast Shirley MacLaine and Dean Martin in the leading roles. The following spring, an 8 May 1963 DV item mentioned that the vehicle was being prepared for Wallis’s Becket (1964, see entry) star Peter O’Toole, but a 29 Jul 1963 brief later that summer indicated Martin was still in the cast.
       Subsequent casting announcements made no further mention of MacLaine’s involvement, and on 21 Dec 1963, LAT announced that Janet Leigh had agreed to star as one of the three airline hostesses. The 5 Jan 1964 NYT noted that the film would reunite Leigh with Wallis and director John Rich, who previously worked together on Wives and Lovers (1963, see entry). According to the 23 Jun 1964 DV, Rich exited his role as co-producer of Gilligan’s Island (CBS, 26 Sep 1964—17 Apr 1967) to fulfill his theatrical film pact with Wallis. Items in the 17 Apr 1964 DV and 10 May 1964 LAT stated that Catherine Spaak and Senta Berger were also in consideration to portray two of the stewardesses.
       Just a few weeks later, however, the 1 Jun 1964 DV claimed that principal roles were offered to Italian actors Marcello Mastroianni and Anna Magnani, although the 23 Jun 1964 edition suggested that Mastroianni would play co-lead to Tony Curtis. By the end of the year, the 9 Nov 1964 DV named Vittorio Gassman as a new possible co-star, but the role of “Robert Reed” eventually went to comedian Jerry Lewis. According to the 20 Jan 1965 DV, Curtis and Lewis were contracted to share top billing in all prints and advertising materials, and although both stars agreed to the arrangement, the 10 Sep 1965 DV pointed out that no matter how the credits were laid out, one name would still take precedence over the other. Wallace solved the problem by suggesting the names be designed to resemble a “decelerating jet rotor…in a circular form which never stops rotating, thus never favoring either.”
       With Curtis and Lewis secured as the leads, casting continued for the three supporting actresses as production got underway. Earlier reports suggested that several European locales were considered for filming, including England and Rome, Italy. However, a 3 Mar 1965 DV brief revealed that production had been abruptly moved from Rome to Paris due to an increase in Italy’s overcharge tax. Principal photography began 9 Apr 1965, according to a DV production chart published on 23 Apr 1965. Three cameramen were reportedly injured when a vehicle carrying equipment capsized at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The 28 Apr 1965 Var stated that the crewmembers were replaced, and filming proceeded as scheduled. A 27 Apr 1965 DV item indicated that the unit spent ten days on location in Paris before resuming work that day at the Paramount studios in Hollywood, CA.
       Another item in the same publication alleged that Curtis provided many of his own belongings and paintings from his personal collection to decorate his character’s apartment set. The 17 Apr 1965 LAT revealed that men’s designer Sy Devore dressed the male actors in the picture.
       The 24 May 1965 and 15 Jun 1965 DV also included Ted Roter and Julie Parrish among the cast.
       The 14 Jul 1965 Var indicated that production had been completed, and a 7 Jul 1965 Var article listed the total negative cost as $2.2 million.
       Boeing Boeing opened 22 Dec 1965 in several Los Angeles, CA-area theaters, and the following day at the Forum and Guild Theatres in New York City.