Saturday, October 13, 2012

60' FOCUS : IF IT'S TUESDAY THIS MUST BE BELGIUM ... 1969 ..

UNITED ARTISTS
Presents
From Transamerica Corporation

IF IT'S TUESDAY THIS MUST BE BELGIUM!
Starring
SUZANNE PLESHETTE as Samantha Perkins
IAN MCSHANE as Charlie Cartwright
MILDRED NATWICK as Jenny Grant
MURRAY HAMILTON as Fred Ferguson
SANDY BARON as John Marino
MICHAEL CONSTANTINE as Jack Harmon
NORMAN FELL as Harve Blakely
PEGGY CASS as Edna Ferguson
MARTY INGELS as Bert Greenfield
PAMELA BRITTON as Freda
LUKE HALPIN as Bo
REVA ROSE as Irma Blakely
AUBREY MORRIS as Harry Dix
PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE as Mrs Featherstone
with guest stars
SENTA BERGER as London Saleswoman
JOHN CASSAVETES as Steve
JOAN COLLINS as Girl On Sidewalk
VITTORIO DE SICA as Shoemaker
DONOVAN as Singer In Youth Hostel
ANITA EKBERG as Performer
BEN GAZZARA as Card Player
VIRNI LISI as John's Beautiful Cousin In Rome
ELSA MARTINELLI as Maria Woman On Venetian Bridge
CATHERINE SPAAK as Woman Posing For Photo
ROBERT VAUGHN as Antonio- Photographer

Director of Photography - Villis Lapenieks  Art Director - Marc Frederix  Screenplay by David Shaw
       Title Song by Donovan   Music by Walter Scharf  Executive Producer - David L .Wolper
                 Edited by David Saxon  Produced by Stan Marguiles  Directed by Mel Stuart

London tour guide Charlie has his hands full with the latest arrival of American's on an eighteen day economy tour of Europe. But when Charlie falls for Samantha, who is leading the motley assortment of tourists, his duties take a back seat! Over the eighteen days, everything that can go wrong, does! Join them on a journey you will never forget... Where every snapshot tells a story, you might rather forget! Check your itinerary..because If It's Tuesday.. This Must Be Belgium!!

      (c) 1969 .. United Artists ... 98 Mins ... Color ... Region 1 DVD from MGM Home Entertainment ..



JOAN WALKS ON BY!

This popular comedy was inspired by both a 1960's TV documentary and a New Yorker cartoon. Producer David L Wolper arranged with one of the largest tourist agencies at the time, to send his cast and crew exactly on the same itinerary as countless American's have taken every summer.. They took in many of the most famous sights of Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Rhine Valley Germany, Rome and Venice. It was star Ian McShane's first major American film, after his Emmy award winning role in Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker". Before appearing in this, Joan made a guest appearance in an episode of the now classic series "Mission Impossible". The film did get nominated for some awards including Best Screenplay at the 1970 Golden Globe's, Best Female Comedy Performance for Suzanne Pleshette at the Golden Laurel Awards. Another nomination for David Shaw, for Best Comedy Written Directly For The Screen at the 1970 Writers Guild of America Awards. The film features an array of familar faces and many guest stars in a variety of locations. Joan literally has a walk on part, as her one scene finds her walking along the King's Road. She is been watched from a cafe window by one of the tourists. Nevertheless it is an enjoyable comedy which did get mixed reviews..

ROGER EBER....
" While not a great movie by any means, it manages to be awfully pleasant. I enjoyed it more or less on the level I was intended to. As a low key comedy presenting a busload of interesting actors who travel through England, Belgium, Germany and Italy on one of those whirlwind tours."



JOAN ON SET WITH SANDY BARON

VARIETY...
" David Shaw's screenplay manages to cover many of the European tour cliche's. There are some script anomalies that briefly puzzle, but not to a degree that they detract from the fun."

"If It's Tuesday This Must Be Belgium" was remade as a TV movie in 1987 starring Claude Atkins, Courteney Cox and Faith Ford. But as with most remakes it had none of the charm of the original..



(c)  2010 ..  Mark McMorrow..

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