On 23 Oct 1961, DV reported that the newly formed production-distribution company, Albion Film Distributors Ltd., had committed to develop seven to twelve feature films, including an adaptation of S. H. Barnett’s short story, “A Place of Dragons.” Three years later, the 18 Feb 1964 DV indicated that the property, referred to by the abbreviated title, Place of Dragons, had since been acquired by Universal Pictures, with David Miller attached to direct for producer Robert Arthur. According to a 17 May 1964 NYT article, Universal executive Mel Tucker asked Cary Grant to read Barnett’s work during the filming of Charade (1963, see entry). Grant passed the story on to Charade screenwriter Peter Stone, who expressed enthusiasm for the material. In the wake of Charade’s commercial success, Stone was signed on to develop the script. Grant served as a producer through his production outlet, the Granox Company.
       Although the 25 Mar 1964 Var also listed Hal Chester as an associated producer, Chester’s name does not appear in any additional contemporary sources. In their 2004 book, Hide in Plain Sight: The Hollywood Blacklistees in Film and Television, 1950-2002, Paul Buhle and Dave Wagner credit Chester for purchasing the story, which was revised by blacklisted screenwriter Frank Tarloff.
       The 18 Mar 1964 DV indicated that directing duties had been assumed by Ralph Nelson, who was currently scouting locations in Jamaica. According to a 10 Apr 1964 DV item, Nelson considered casting his seven-year-old daughter, Meredith Nelson, to play one of the seven schoolchildren, but ultimately selected a group of unknown foreign girls whose accents better suited the roles.
       According to the 8 Apr 1964 DV, principal photography began that day on the Universal Studios lot in Universal City, CA, under the new title, Father Goose. A 14 Apr 1964 item from the same publication stated that Universal faced brief “legal complications” from the estate of writer Gene Fowler, which requested the studio either change the title or purchase the title rights to his 1934 biography, Father Goose: The Story of Mack Sennett.
       Two days into production, DV stated that the schedule had been shifted to accommodate Grant and co-star Leslie Caron’s attendance at the Academy Awards ceremony in Santa Monica, CA, where Caron was nominated for Best Actress for The L-Shaped Room (1963, see entry). In May, filming moved to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, before returning to Los Angeles through early Jul, when the 14 Jul 1964 DV announced the completion of first unit photography. An item published the following day reported the death of crewmember Gail Davis, who had remained in Jamaica with the second unit.
       According to a 20 May 1964 DV news item, Cy Coleman was hired to write music for the film after Grant heard his “Piano Witchcraft” album, given to him by Capitol Records promotions manager, Merrilyn Hammond.
       The 12 Oct 1964 DV indicated that two sneak preview screenings were held the previous weekend in Santa Barbara, CA. On 27 Nov 1964, the same publication reported that the University of Southern California (USC) Trojan Marching Band had selected the film’s title song, “Pass Me By,” to perform during the halftime show in their upcoming game against the University of Notre Dame.
       Father Goose premiered 10 Dec 1964 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Although the 21 Aug 1964 DV noted this was the twenty-seventh Cary Grant picture to debut at the 6,200-seat venue, the star still had tremendous box-office power, as the 11 Dec 1964 DV reported opening day earnings of $28,000. The 22 Nov 1964 NYT stated that two benefit performances were scheduled for 18 Dec 1964, with proceeds donated to the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry.
       According to the 9 Dec 1964 Var, release would expand to eighty-five “key” cities on Christmas Day, with 300 theaters booked by the end of the holiday season. The following spring, the 5 Mar 1965 LAT announced that the citywide engagement in Los Angeles, CA, was set to begin the following Wednesday as a double feature with Bedtime Story (1964, see entry).
       In addition to becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of 1964, Father Goose won the Academy Award for Writing (Story and Screenplay—written directly for the screen), and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy.
       The 13 Apr 1964 DV brief identified Father Goose as the first feature film of costume designer Ray Aghayan.