Cast:
Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton [ More ]Director:
Richard ThorpeWriter:
George WellsProducer:
Lawrence WeingartenCinematographer:
Joseph La ShelleEditor:
Ben LewisProduction Designers:
George W. Davis, Preston AmesProduction Company:
Avon Productions, Inc.Filming began on 20 Mar 1961, as announced in that day’s DV. One month later, an item in the 20 Apr 1961 DV indicated that filming had just been completed or was nearing completion. Director Richard Thorpe reportedly sped up production by bringing the picture in five days ahead of schedule.
A sneak preview screening was set to take place on 16 Jun 1961 in Pasadena, CA, the 12 Jun 1961 DV noted. The following month, a 19 Jul 1961 Var advertisement claimed that preview screenings, where moviegoers received “audience reaction computer cards” to be evaluated by “electronic data processing equipment,” had taken place in ninety-three U.S. cities. A box-office chart in the 2 Aug 1961 Var indicated that the picture went into general release in Cleveland, OH, two weeks prior, and an item in the 19 Jul 1961 [San Antonio, TX] San Antonio Light listed a 20 Jul 1961 opening at the Aztec Theatre. A citywide release in Los Angeles, CA, on a double bill with Ring of Fire (1961, see entry), was set to take place on 2 Aug 1961, bolstered by a $25,000 advertising campaign from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM). The 5 Jul 1961 Var had previously reported that Steve McQueen would do an 80-city promotional tour for the picture. Early the next year, a 10 Jan 1962 Var chart listed an estimated $1.5 million gross (in film rentals), and an anticipated total of $2 million.
Caricaturist Gordon Currie created caricature art for the picture, according to a 24 May 1961 DV brief. ...
Filming began on 20 Mar 1961, as announced in that day’s DV. One month later, an item in the 20 Apr 1961 DV indicated that filming had just been completed or was nearing completion. Director Richard Thorpe reportedly sped up production by bringing the picture in five days ahead of schedule.
A sneak preview screening was set to take place on 16 Jun 1961 in Pasadena, CA, the 12 Jun 1961 DV noted. The following month, a 19 Jul 1961 Var advertisement claimed that preview screenings, where moviegoers received “audience reaction computer cards” to be evaluated by “electronic data processing equipment,” had taken place in ninety-three U.S. cities. A box-office chart in the 2 Aug 1961 Var indicated that the picture went into general release in Cleveland, OH, two weeks prior, and an item in the 19 Jul 1961 [San Antonio, TX] San Antonio Light listed a 20 Jul 1961 opening at the Aztec Theatre. A citywide release in Los Angeles, CA, on a double bill with Ring of Fire (1961, see entry), was set to take place on 2 Aug 1961, bolstered by a $25,000 advertising campaign from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM). The 5 Jul 1961 Var had previously reported that Steve McQueen would do an 80-city promotional tour for the picture. Early the next year, a 10 Jan 1962 Var chart listed an estimated $1.5 million gross (in film rentals), and an anticipated total of $2 million.
Caricaturist Gordon Currie created caricature art for the picture, according to a 24 May 1961 DV brief.
After tracking missiles with an electronic brain (Operation Honeymoon), a U.S. battleship lays anchor off Venice. Almost immediately, young and brash Lieutenant Fergie Howard hits upon the scheme of using the electronic computer to break the roulette table at the Lido casino. Aided by the reluctant Ensign Gilliam and civilian missile expert Jason Eldridge, Fergie blinker-signals all the data on the pattern of the casino game table to the ship, has the data fed into the machine, and receives back the likely winning numbers. Complications arise when Fergie falls for young Julie Fitch, who just happens to be an admiral's daughter; and Jason becomes involved with a former girl friend, a nearsighted millionairess named Pam Dunstan. The girls decide to cooperate, however, and once the plan is put into operation the boys amass a fortune. But further problems develop when the blinker communications are intercepted by Admiral Fitch and some Russians, both of whom mistakenly assume that they relate to aggressive military measures. An alcoholic signalman, Burford Taylor, stumbles upon the foursome, learns of their activities, and reveals all to the admiral. But, after a riot at the casino, Fergie talks his way out of a court-martial and even gets the admiral to accept him, albeit reluctantly, as a son-in-law. And young Jason decides that being married to a millionairess might not be so painful as he previously ...
After tracking missiles with an electronic brain (Operation Honeymoon), a U.S. battleship lays anchor off Venice. Almost immediately, young and brash Lieutenant Fergie Howard hits upon the scheme of using the electronic computer to break the roulette table at the Lido casino. Aided by the reluctant Ensign Gilliam and civilian missile expert Jason Eldridge, Fergie blinker-signals all the data on the pattern of the casino game table to the ship, has the data fed into the machine, and receives back the likely winning numbers. Complications arise when Fergie falls for young Julie Fitch, who just happens to be an admiral's daughter; and Jason becomes involved with a former girl friend, a nearsighted millionairess named Pam Dunstan. The girls decide to cooperate, however, and once the plan is put into operation the boys amass a fortune. But further problems develop when the blinker communications are intercepted by Admiral Fitch and some Russians, both of whom mistakenly assume that they relate to aggressive military measures. An alcoholic signalman, Burford Taylor, stumbles upon the foursome, learns of their activities, and reveals all to the admiral. But, after a riot at the casino, Fergie talks his way out of a court-martial and even gets the admiral to accept him, albeit reluctantly, as a son-in-law. And young Jason decides that being married to a millionairess might not be so painful as he previously imagined.
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