1961 Come September

Posted: March 17, 2011 | Author: isavigy | Filed under: Filmography, Rock Remembered | Tags: bobby darin, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Mulligan, Rock Hudson, Sandra Dee |Leave a comment

Movie posters :

Trailer :

Cast and director :

Rock Hudson Robert L. Talbot

Gina Lollobrigida Lisa Helena Fellini

Sandra Dee Sandy Stevens

Bobby Darin Tony

Walter Slezak Maurice Clavell

Director : Robert Mulligan

Screenplay : Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin

Story :

Wealthy industrialist Robert Talbot arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa to find three problems lying in wait for him.

Firstly, his long-time girlfriend Lisa Fellini has given up waiting for him to pop the question and has decided to marry another man.

Secondly, the major domo of his villa, Maurice Clavell, has turned the estate into a posh hotel to make some easy money while the boss isn’t around.

And, finally, the current guests of the “hotel” are a group of young American girls trying to fend off a gang of oversexed boys, led by Tony, who are ‘laying siege’ at the outer walls of the villa. Talbot, to his own surprise, finds himself becoming an overprotective chaperone. Source: IMDb

Pictures :

Pictures below are mainly from Leo Fuchs. http://www.leofuchs.com

1961, Italy — Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida Riding Vespa — Image by © Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

Soundtrack and interview:

Listen to an interview of Bobby Darin on “Come September” at the link below

bobby-darin-on-come-september

Italian soundtrack record for “Come September”

Spanish movie soundtrack for “Come September”

Behind the scenes :

November 1960, Rome, Italy — Gina Lollobrigida had a hard time taking Rock Hudson seriously either in the story or behind the cameras. Here they rehearse a scene under the whimsically watchful eye of director Robert Mulligan, (C), and cameraman William Daniels, (R). — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Walter Slezak, Gina Lollobrigida and Rock Hudson on set

Gina Lollobrigida with Rock Hudson circa 1960s Photo by Joe Shere

Rock Hudson and Bobby Darin having a break on the set of “Come September”

Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida dancing behind the scenes of “Come September”

The picture below courtesy Leo Fuchs through The Rock Hudson Blog. Guess the following ones are from Leo Fuchs too ; )

Oh, my…. What a smile…

Miscealleanous :

Thanks to ImDb and to Stephanie Post from The Rock Hudson Blog

The first movie to be shown on transcontinental and intercontinental flights. Walter Slezak hand-delivered the film to the plane for the inaugural in-flight-movie flight.

65675034173_Walter-Slezak_inaugural-flight_movie-reel_put-on-earphones

Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee met and fell in love while filming this movie and shortly afterward got married.

The movie was filmed mostly on location and due to weather conditions it took almost 12 months to shoot. It was filmed entirely in Italy. IMDB lists the filming locations as: Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Liguria, Italy… Ostia, Rome, Lazio, Italy…. and Portofino, Genoa, Liguria, Italy.

This was the first movie Rock Hudson produced with his 7 Pictures Productions company. “Lover Come Back” was released later in 1961.

Raoul Walsh Enterprises has a production credit even though he had nothing to do with the film. Rock explained in a 1961 interview, “At the start of my career Walsh put me in a picture called ‘ Fighter Squadron’. Warners wanted no part of me, so Walsh put me under contact. As insurance, he put in a clause that I would do my first independent film with his company.”

Howard Hughes signed Gina Lollobrigida to a contract in 1949 but refused to cast her in any movies. Frustrated she returned to Italy and became successful in Europe on her own. Her contract prevented her from appearing in any films shot in America. She was able to make Come September since it was filmed in Italy and would become her most successful film.

Marilyn Monroe was rumored to be considered for Gina Lollobrigida’s role.

In a 2003 interview with Larry King, Gina Lollobrigida admitted to having some sort of a relationship with Rock. When asked how she liked working with Rock she said, “It was fantastic. He was a good actor. He was funny. He had a rhythm for comedy. But besides that, we liked each other. And even after the film, after the scenes, we were together. And he courted me and… he insisted — I mean, he gave — he had the initiative. Normally, you know, I take the initiative, but that time… And of course, you know, how I liked him. Is easy to like him at that time. He was marvelous.” Larry King asks her if she was in love with him. “He was in love with me, and I was in love with him. You know, you can’t — you can’t stop when you like one person.

Brazilian folder on “Come September”