CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : SEVEN THIEVES .. 20TH CENTURY FOX .. USA 1960 ..

 

20TH CENTURY FOX
Presents

SEVEN THIEVES

     Starring

EDWARD G.ROBINSON as Theo Wilkins

ROD STEIGER as Paul Mason

JOAN COLLINS as Melanie

ELI WALLACH as Pancho                                                                 

 ALEXANDER SCOURBY as Raymond Lemay                                                                         MICHAEL DANTE as Louis                                                                                                           BERRY KROEGER as Hugo Baumer                                                                                     SEBASTIAN CABOT as Casino Director                                                                                   MARCEL HILLAIRE as Duc Di Salins                                                                                             JOHN BERARDINO as Chief of Detectives                                                                             ALPHONSE MARTELL as Governor                                                                                     JONATHAN KIDD as Seymour

 Assistant Director - Ad Schaumer
 Art Director - Lyle R Wheeler & John De Cuir
 Director of Photography - Sam Leavitt A.S.C
 Music by Dominic Frontiere
 Screenplay by Sidney Boehm
 Based on a Novel by Max Catto
 Edited by Dorothy Spencer                                                                                                                           Costumes by Bill Thomas                                                                                                               Produced by Sydney Boehm                                                                                                           Directed by Henry Hathaway

It was known as the robbery that rocked Monte Carlo! When Paul Mason is summoned to the French Riviera by an old friend, he soon learns he is asked to lead in the robbery of the Monte Carlo casino! Reluctant at first, he soon meets his accomplices and with the help of a glamorous stripper, Melanie, the scene is set for a daring heist! Where every move is a gamble, where the stakes are high for the Seven Thieves!

(c) 1960 20TH CENTURY FOX  102 MINS

Although shot in 1959, "Seven Thieves" was released in B/W, probably to give it the look of a film noir. Joan plays the only female role in the film and she holds her own against a heavyweight Hollywood cast. Even though she was still getting over losing the role of "Cleopatra", she had found consolation in a new love by the name of Warren Beatty. For her role as Melanie, a stripper in a Parisian cellar cafe, she had to undergo many hours of classes in striptease from the legendary Burlesque star Candy Barr. But all her efforts were lost in the final cut of the film, as any of the 'Bump & Grind' she learned was left on the cutting room floor, along with her clothes presumably! Regarding clothes, Joan fared much better as the film was nominated for a Best Costume Design Award at the 1961 Oscars. The films costume designer Bill Thomas recalled.

Joan with costume designer Bill Thomas and that dress!

" Joan Collins has the best figure I've ever dressed. She has perfect proportions, with everything just where it should be, and the right size! The wardrobe for Joan in the film looks sensational on her. As a stripper Joan has to wear some highly interesting garments! When she attends the Governors Ball, on the night of the robbery, she has to look like a great lady. We ran the gamut of feminine attire and I enjoyed every minute of it. Her gown in the ball scene was named "Black Ice".It is jet black, bugle beads and sequins, designed to fit scales on a fish. We fitted the dress eleven times to get the really close tolerance I wanted."

The dress cost $2,500 to make and Joan loved it so much, she wanted to buy it after the film was completed. But she changed her mind whn it became apparent that it was impossible to sit down in!

The producer Sydney Boehm wanted realism in the film and actually employed real Beatnik's from Venice for the extras in the cellar cafe scenes.The stage that Joan preforms her sexy routines was previously used in the 1959 version of "The Blue Angel", which starred May Britt. After shooting the film, Joan commented to the New York Post...

" I have two more years with Fox. I am not unhappy at all about that! In fact you may say, I look forward to the day!"

Joan's only positive things to say about the film were that she was glad of the oppurtunity to work with Edward G Robinson and she was the only female in the film, unlike previous films like "The Bravados", she was essential to the plot. After "Seven Thieves", Fox offered her the role of Clara in a production of D.H. Lawrence's novel "Sons and Lovers". But Joan decided not to do the film, even though she had gone through with the makeup and wardrobe tests for the film. It was set to be shot in England and it would have allowed her time she could have spent with her family. But it seemed Joan had let her heart rule her head and take advice from her new love Warren Beatty, who persuaded her not to do it. They were so smitten with one another, they could barely be apart! But Joan would soon come to regret turning down the film, as not only was it a big hit, but it was nominated for a clutch of Oscars, including a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the role she turned down!

Sons & Lovers wardrobe test

 Joan was then offered another western called "Big River, Big Man", but Fox decided to cancel the film. Then it was another film she hated the script for called "Madison Avenue". She refused to do it and was glad as it was awful, that ended up starring Dana Andrews and Eleanor Parker. Viewed today "Seven Thieves" is good old fashioned movie making, wih a great cast and certainly one of the better crime capers of the era!

Joan learning the art of striptease with Candy Barr

'Seven Thieves' was first released on dvd as part of Joan's Fox Superstar Collection.. It was later released as a stand alone in 2007.. You can order this release at the following..

ORDER SEVEN THIEVES DVD HERE!

                                         

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS! .. 20TH CENTURY FOX ... USA 1958 ..

 

20TH CENTURY FOX
Preents

RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS!

Starring

PAUL NEWMAN as Harry Bannerman
JOANNE WOODWARD as Grace Bannerman
JOAN COLLINS as Angela Hoffa
JACK CARSON as CAPTAIN HOXIE
DWAYNE HICKMAN as GRADY METCALF
TUESDAY WELD as COMFORT GOODPASTURE
GALE GORDON as COLONEL THORWALD
TOM GILSON as OPIE
O.Z WHITEHEAD as ISAAC GOODPASTURE
DAVID HEDISON as Narrator

 Assistant Director - Jack Gertsman  Art Director - Lyle R Wheeler & Leland Fuller
              Director of Photography - Leon Shamroy A.S.C  Music by Cyril J Mockridge
          Screenplay by Claude Binyon & Leo McCarey   From the Novel by Max Shulman
                    Edited by Louis R Loeffler  Produced & Directed by Leo McCarey

(c)1958  20TH CENTURY FOX  106 MINS

Putnam's Landing, a quiet, suburban community, or is it? Harry Bannerman, a typical commuter, who faces new problems! What with his wife Grace, taking an eager interest in civic duties, the army announcing Putnam's Landing as the site of a "Top Secret" government project, not to mention the unwanted attention and amorous advances from the glamorous and man hungry Angela, who cuts a fine form in a pink peignoir! Can Harry put a halt to the governments plans? Will Angela get her claws into Harry, with the lure of "Pink Boudoir"? Maybe Grace will catch him with his pants down? When they all band together, they will Rally Round The Flag Boys!!

Joan was delighted to get the oppurtunity to finally sink her teeth into a comedy role, with the help of her good friends and the film's co-stars Paul & Joanne Newman. But Fox wanted Jayne Mansfield to play the role of the vampish Angela. Thanks to lobbying by the Newman's, who thought Jayne too obvious and would not have the sophisticated level of humour that Joan could bring to the role. Fox had planned to loan Joan out to United Artists for a film called "The Devil's Disciple", but she was thrilled to get "Rally Round"..Another British starlet Jeanette Scott filled the role in the United Artists film.
 Joan threw herself into the role, commenting..

" Angela is a witchy vamp and I play a character as nearly myself as possible, except this is a caricature!"

Joan delighted to see the back of Paul Newman!

When the film was released, although not a critical success, Joan did get some good reviews for her work...

The New York Times.

" The neighbour is played by Joan Collins, the other woman, with a dark and roving eye. Joan also has a shape that is enhanced by the sort of clothes that plainly are right for a predaceaous, suburban type!"

The role of Captain Hoxie was to be played by Paul Douglas, but he became ill before shooting began and was replaced by Jack Carson. Joan did appear at the 1958 Oscar Ceremony with the Newman's and she presented the Best Cinematography Award. The film itself was nominated for a 1959 Golden Laurel award, while Joanne Woodward came 4th for top comedy female performance. Director Leo McCarey recieved a nomination for a Directors Guild of America Award in 1960. After she completed the film, it was another year before Joan accepted another role. The studio wanted her for a role in the James Cagney IRA thriller "Shake Hands With The Devil", but the part went to Dana Wynter, who incidentally appeared in Joan's first film, "Lady Godiva Rides Again". 

Joan with Jack Carter and the Newmans

At this time Fox had plans to remake one of of it's big hit silent films, "Cleopatra", which had starred Theda Bara. Joan was more than eager to play the role as she was fascinated by the Egyptian queen. Although she was in the running for the role, producers were keen to cast either Elizabeth Taylor or Joanne Woodward. It was the producer Buddy Adler who had Joan at the top of his list, besides Elizabeth had gone to Columbia to film "Suddenly Last Summer" and they had decided perhaps Joanne was not the vampsh type! The film was set to shoot on a modest budget by Hollywood standards and finally Joan was cast as Cleopatra! Joan was sent to the studio dance instructor to learn to walk like an Egyptian, literally! She also spent weeks doing endless makeup and wardrobe tests, but was devastated when they changed their mind and upped the budget and wanted to go with Elizabeth, who was now free to appear in the film. Fox decided that Elizabeth was a bigger box office draw and as they had upped the budget, they wanted to have a box office hit! After this big upset, Joan told herself that something better would come along..at least she had gotten the chance to play a comedy role, that she had loved doing. "Rally Round The Flag Boys" is amomg Joan's favourite films and it is still worth viewing today.Joan is a great comedienne and she looks stunning in the film..Well worth Rallying Round for!

'Rally Round The Flag Boys!' was available as part of Joan's superstar collection box set in 2007 and as a stand alone disc.. You can look at the cover below.. However it is now deleted.. You can purchase the box set here..

ORDER THE JOAN COLLINS SUPERSTAR COLLECTION HERE!

 

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : THE BRAVADOS .. 20TH CENTURY FOX .. USA 1958 ..

 

20TH CENTURY FOX
Presents
A CINEMASCOPE PRODUCTION

THE BRAVADOS

     Starring

GREGORY PECK as Jim Douglass
JOAN COLLINS as Josefa Velarde
STEPHEN BOYD as Bill Zachary
ALBERT SALMI as Ed Taylor
HENRY SILVA as Lujan
LEE VAN CLEEF as Alfonso Parra

ANDREW dUGGAN as Padre

KATHLEEN GALLANT as Emma

BARRY COE as Tom
KEN SCOTT as Primo

GENE EVANS as Butler   

                  Director of Photography - Leon Shamroy   Art Director - Mark Lee Kirk & Lyle R Wheeler

       Music by Lionel Newman  Screenplay by Philip Yordan From a Novel by Frank O'Rourke
         Edited by William Mace   Costumes by Charles Le Maire   Produced by Herbert B Swope JR

                                                           Directed by Henry King

                       (c) 1958 20TH CENTURY FOX  98 MINS  

                When Jim Douglass arrives in Rio Arriba, he has revenge on his mind! Believing the four men who raped and murdered his wife are awaiting the hangman's noose in the town's jail, he is determined to settle the score. But his intentions are short lived as the four escape and take a local girl hostage. Jim sets out with some local men to track them down and bring them to a final justice... His justice! See the wraith of his vengeance.. as he hunts down The Bravados!!

             This popular western was a film that Joan was not too keen in doing, as she felt the role of Josefa was not suited to her, however she was keen to work with Gregory Peck, whom she greatly admired. But she had turned down a few film scripts and was on suspension, without pay and needed to work. Joan recalled,

" I was totally wrong for the role of a tough frontier woman, whose life was only complete when she was roping a horse or striding the dusty plains! Horses and I are like oil and water. But I still wanted to do the film because of Greg.. He was a great actor and a wonderful looking man, tall and rangy, with a classic profile."

At that time Joan was seeing George Englund, who was best friends with Marlon Brando. But the relationship was erratic as Englund was still married to Cloris Leachman. The film was shot over three months, with location shooting in the Mexican city of Morelia. Before filming began, Joan spent some time at the Fox ranch in Santa Monica. She had to her horror, try and learn to ride a horse for the film, something that terrified her. She claimed to have gotten only nine hours practise before setting off for Mexico. However her co-star Peck, was an expert horseman and thought her a lot and was very patient as a teacher. That was a godsend to her as she had to ride a fiesty large black stallion called Adonis...

" Greg taught me a lot about riding a horse.. Although on the last day of shooting he did tease me unmercifully by riding so fast that I was sore for a week!"
Greg commented on Joan's appearance a few years later...

" Joan was a sensational young girl at that time, a knockout!"

Joan on set with Gregory Peck & Maria Gracia

Gregory's new wife Veronique was not too impressed about her new husband spending time with the glamorous Joan and decided pregnant as she was, to endure six weeks in the hot dusty desert, to be at her husband's side! Off set was far from glamorous as the cast and crew had to stay in a crumbling motel, which was situated far away from any night-life or day-life for that matter! Joan spent her time listening to her records and eating the Mexican food, which did nothing for her waistline!  The role of Josefa was originally set for Susan Hayward, who maybe was more rugged looking than Joan!
 Chatting with Louella Parsons sometime later Joan announced.
"That I am alive is a miracle!"
Her brush with the saddle, not exactly something she planned to repeat.

Joan did say to columnist Sheilah Graham.

Wardrobe test shot ..

" The Bravados is a marvellous western. But I genuinely feel a girl is out of place in such a picture. She is only put in for the sake of the sexy ads! But it was wonderful to work with Gregory Peck. It's the only way to make stars in this business... For a girl to be put opposite a big star!"

Gregory Peck was so fond of the cowboy life that soon after shooting "The Bravados", he purchased a vast working ranch near Santa Barbara, which had 600 head of cattle. The film although not a box office smash, it did do well enough and garnered some awards for it's stars. Albert Salmi received a Best Supporting actor award from The National Board Of Review in 1958. While Gregory came 3rd place in the top action performance category at the 1959 Laurel Awards. The film was directed by Henry King, who eight years earlier had directed Peck in a well received western, "The Gunfighter". Although Joan has little to do in the film, she does bring a touch of style to the proceedings. The film is still widely shown and is certainly one of more enduring westerns...

'The Bravados' has been released numerous times on dvd, the most recent been in 2012.. There have been a few blu-ray editions.. A limited edition one from Twilight Time in 2018 is now deleted.. A recent French release housed in a digi book cover features a fabulous cover with Gregory Peck and Joan, most releases and original artwork usually only has Greg on it.. You can order this limited release here!

BUY THE BRAVADOS BLU-RAY DIGI BOOK EDITION HERE!

You can order the Reg 2 dvd here!

ORDER THE BRAVADOS REGION 2 DVD HERE!

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : STOPOVER TOKYO .. 20TH CENTURY FOX .. USA 1957 ..

 20TH CENTURY FOX

Presents
A CINEMASCOPE PRODUCTION

STOPOVER TOKYO

Starring

ROBERT WAGNER as Mark Fannon
JOAN COLLINS as Tina Hogart
EDMOND O'BRIEN as George Underwood
KEN SCOTT as Tony Barrett
REIKO OYAMA as Coco
LARRY KEATING as High Commander
SARAH SELBY as Wife of High Commander
SOLLY NAKAMURA as Nobka

  Assistant Director - Joseph E Rickards   Director of Photography - Charles G Clarke A.S.C
  Music by Paul Sawtell      Art Director - Lyle R Wheeler & Eddie Imazu   Edited by Marjorie Fielding
       Screenplay by Richard L Breen & Walter Reisch    Based on the Novel by John P Marquand
                                Produced by Walter Reisch    Directed by Richard L Breen

(c) 1957 20TH CENTURY FOX 100 MINS

Arriving in Japan to deliver important papers to a fellow intelligence agent, Mark Fannon gets more than he bargained for! After his contact is murdered, Mark teams up with another American agent, to find the killer. His spying eye falls upon Airline employee Tina, who also happens to be involved with Tony Barrett, his new sidekick! Will Mark find the killer and escape death himself? Will Tina make her choice of agent or will she double date? One dangerous Stopover Tokyo!!

"Stopover Tokyo" turned out to be Joan's least favourite Fox film and along with friend and co-star Robert Wagner, have always referred to it as 'Stop overacting!' .. But she loved working with R.J. and they got to spend five weeks on location in Japan. It was shot around Kyoto, Japan's finest tourist resort at that time. All the extra's were local people and 1500 of them, the entire population of Zeze were used. The producers also decided to use the locals in other roles, apart from the experienced Japanese featured players. During the Olympic torch scenes, the real Japanese Olympic team were featured. The film's young co-star Reiko Oyama, who was known as the Shirley Temple of Japan, so impressed production head Buddy Adler, that she was offered a long term contract. But little has been heard of her since the film's release! The screenplay was based on a novel in the popular Mr Moto series by John P Marquand, but the studio decided to erase the oriental detective from the plot and replace him with American spies! This was Robert Wagner's 17th film release and although he enjoyed the location he was missing his girlfriend Natalie Wood.. However Natalie was a little neurotic and got it into her head that both Robert and Joan were becoming too close.. Robert spend endless hours on the phone trying to convince her otherwise! He had even brought his parents to Japan with him and his mother acted as a chaperone for him. But Natalie was not convinced and started seeing Nicky Hilton, who also had dallied with Joan, who had since found her affair with Arthur Loew fizzle out! Joan was doing well for herself otherwise with an apartment on Shorehan Drive, a pink Thunderbird and she was earning a good salary..

Review:

 'New York Times' Review read....

" Fox sent a unit headed by Robert Wagner, Joan Collins and Edmond O'Brien to Japan to make this film..the trip was not entirely wasted! They have found a dark haired, eight year old girl named Reiko Oyama who portrays Koko - a joy to behold.. All she had to do is smile and you forget you're watching satire triumph over skullduggery!"

Joan arrives in Japan with co-stars Robert Wagner & Edmund O'Brien

'Stopover Tokyo' was released on dvd as part of Joan's Superstar boxset in 2007 and as a stand alone release, which is now know longer available.. However you can still order the boxset here!

ORDER JOAN COLLINS SUPERSTAR COLLECTION HERE!

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : ISLAND IN THE SUN .. 20TH CENTURY FOX .. USA 1957 ..

 20TH CENTURY FOX

Presents

A CINEMASCOPE PRODUCTION

ISLAND IN THE SUN

Starring 
 JAMES MASON as Maxwell Fleury 
JOAN FONTAINE as Mavis Norman 
DOROTHY DANDRIDGE as Margot Seaton 
JOAN COLLINS as Jocelyn Fleury 
MICHAEL RENNIE as Hilary Carson 
DIANA WYNYARD as MRS Fleury 
STEPHEN BOYD as Euan Templeton 
PATRICIA OWENS as Sylvia Fleury 
BASIL SYDNEY as Julian Fleury 
HARRY BELAFONTE as David Boyeur

RONALD SQUIRE as Govenor Lord Templeton

JOHN WILLIAMS as Col. Whittingham

Assistant Director - Gerry O'Hara           Director of Photography - F.A.Young F.R.P.S   
         Art Director - William C Andrews      Music by Malcolm Arnold   Screenplay by Alfred Hayes 
            From the novel by Alec Waugh   Edited by Reginald Beck   Costumes by David Ffolkes
                              Produced by Darryl F Zanuck       Directed by Robert Rossen

(c) 1957 .   20TH CENTURY FOX . 119 MINS .COLOR 

On the island of Santa Marta, the influential Fleury family are known to all.. But the peace of the island is soon to be shattered by murder, scandal and racial tension. Can the Fleury family name survive the storm that is brewing.. on an Island in the Sun?

Like "Sea Wife", this film is based on a novel which had it's share of controversial subject matter. This was Darryl Zanuck's first production as an independent producer. He had promised Alec Waugh, the author of the original novel of the story, that he would remain faithful to the book. But that promise was hard to keep, as America was not ready for an inter-racial romance. In the novel the characters of Mavis Norman and David Boyeur, played by Joan Fontaine and Harry Belafonte, had a romance. But even before the film was released, Fox and it's two stars received death threats from the Klu Klux Klan! Even South Carolina went as far as to introduce legislation that would fine theaters $5000 if they dare screen the film! Fox relented and cut all scenes depicting the romance between the characters and it is barely hinted in the released version. The film itself was shot on the islands of Grenada and Barbados and islanders welcomed the cast and crew with open arms. They even nicknamed them Foxies and when filming was finished they threw an elaborate farewell party. While shooting the film the cast stayed at the Santa Maria hotel and as days were short, it meant filming finished early and it allowed them time to enjoy the island night life...

Joan with Stephen Boyd & Dorothy Dandridge

The film's director Robert Rossen who had won an Academy Award for "All the kings Men" and had himself been blacklisted on the McCarthy blacklist. Joan loved her time on the islands and was particularly smitten with the dark and handsome Belafonte.. Joan had been originally offered the role of Sylvia, but she had set her heart on the much meatier role of Jocelyn, who discovers that her fiance Euan Templeton (Stephen Boyd), might indeed be related to her! Zanuck had originally wanted Patricia Owens to play the role, but Joan stood her ground and insisted she be offered the role. Zanuck did get involved with every aspect of the production, even down to insisting the actors got extra perspiration! He had viewed the rushes and thought to himself they looked far from sweaty! The interior shots were shot in London and while back there Joan spent time and money buying lots of sophisticated clothes. She had been voted one of Hollywood's worst dressed women and was determined to change that title. The film had a dual gala premiere in both New York and Los Angeles and went on to do good box office. It spawned the hit song, sung by Harry Belafonte, which has since been covered by over forty artistes to date.

The mansion used in the film was located in Farley Hill in Barbados and was burnt down after filming. All that remains to this day are the foundations and exterior walls. The grounds are used to host reggae concerts and call for the remainder of the building to be demolished are underway to this day! Joan at this time was beginning to become disillusioned at the roles Fox were giving her, just as she had with Rank.She had read a script she loved called "Oh! Men! Oh! Women!".. she begged Zanuck for the part, but to no avail, maybe he had other things in mind! The film was made and starred Ginger Rogers, Dan Dailey and David Niven, while the role she wanted  was filled by Barbara Rush.  Joan also lobbied for Fox to make a film of a play she had just done in England, which she loved called "The Skin Of Our Teeth". But again her lobbying fell on deaf ears and she was disappointed. But she was winning all kinds of trivial awards including..

           " The Most Promising Actress"       "Favourite Newcomer"   "The Face Of The Year"

Many of the cast had worked with Joan in her other films... Basil Sydney and Ronald Squire had appeared in "Sea Wife", Patricia Owens had an uncredited part in "The Good Die Young", Joan Fontaine had starred in "Decameron Nights" while Stephen Boyd was to star in "The Bravados"..Even the film's assistant director Gerry O'Hara would go on to direct Joan in her 70's hit "The Bitch"..

Item on the film from Daily Express 1957

'Island In The Sun' was released on dvd in 2006 by 20th Century Fox as part of their Cinema Classics Collection, but this release is no longer avaialble.. However you can look at the dvd sleeve below.. 

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS! : THE WAYWARD BUS .. 20TH CENTURY FOX .. USA 1957 ..

 

20TH CENTURY FOX 
Presents 
A CINEMASCOPE PRODUCTION 

THE WAYWARD BUS

Starring 

JOAN COLLINS as Alice Chicoy
JAYNE MANSFIELD as Camille Oakes 
DAN DAILEY as Ernest Horton 
RICK JASON as Johnny Chicoy 
BETTY LOU KEIM as Norma 
DOLORES MICHAELS as Mildred Pritchard 
LARRY KEATING as Elliott Pritchard 
ROBERT BRAY as Morse 
KATHRYN GIVNEY as Bernice Pritchard                                                                                                  DEE POLLOCK as Ed Carson                                                                                                            WILL WRIGHT as Van Brunt

                         Assistant Director - William Eckhardt           Director Of Photography - Charles G Clarke A.S.C

Art Director - Lyle R Wheeler & Walter M Simonds     Music by Leigh Hartine  Edited by Louis Loeffier
      Screenplay by Ivan Moffatt  Based on the Novel by John Steinbeck    Costumes by Mary Wills

                             Produced by Charles Brackett       Directed by Victor Vicas

             (C)   1957  20TH CENTURY FOX   ... B/W ...   89 MINS ...

                   A group of people are stranded when a bus heading for San Juan is grounded in a storm, Passion and Conflict come to the surface...With each one of the assembled harboring trouble and strife.. Will all their troubles be resolved before departure for the final destination of The Wayward Bus? .....

                 Like "Sea Wife" and "Island In The Sun", "The Wayward Bus" is another of Joan's films that was based on a novel that could never be fully realised for the screen.. It too, like the previously mentioned films had to be sanitised before it could be filmed.. It did provide Joan with a much less glamorous role than she had been used to, but it also gave her the opportunity to really act, as the blowsy drunken wife of a bus driver, played by Rick Jason. But the film's director Victor Vicas, Russian by birth and residing in France, was not an experienced feature film maker.. He had only previously been known for documentaries. He had the good fortune to meet Daryl Zanuck at a party on the Riviera and somehow convinced him he was an experienced director. Zanuck offered him a three picture contract and "The Wayward Bus" was the first of the three..The film was shot on location in the remote hamlet of Las Virgenes, beyond Agoura in the San Fernando Valley. Fox employed some old time actors as extras in the bus depot scenes. Ann Luther who was a contract star of the early twenties, along with twenties western star Mina Cunard and Minta Durfee, actress and widow of Fatty Arbuckle. These old timers who probably due to the advent of the talkies were given unaccredited roles to keep them in the business. It wasn't just the extras who were old timers! The barn used in a key love scene was originally built for the 1932 Will Rodgers / Janet Gaynor film "State Fair". But some love scene's proved deadly as Jayne Mansfield found out when she came into contact with poison oak and she broke out in a rash and had to stay away from filming for three days. This was Fox's press release on the incident...The truth was that Jayne needed time off to do a photo shoot for "Look" magazine and they could not wait for her to finish the film. She did do her bit for public services by taking a bus from the Hollywood Bowl to Downtown Los Angeles, to publicise perimeter parking. This scheme aimed to get the bulk of traffic away from the city, by having drivers park on the outskirts and take a bus to the centre of the city.. A concept that still exists today but now we call it park and ride.. Something I am sure Jayne would have no trouble in promoting!!

Joan & Jayne 

        Even though director Victor Vicas was nominated for the Golden Bear Award at the 1957 Berlin International Film Festival, it was not all plain sailing on the picture for him. When principal photography had been completed and the editing process had begun, the film's editor Louis Loeffier almost quit. He discovered that Vicas was going back into the editing room, after hours and reediting the film again, undoing all Loeffier's work. Eventually producer's Charles Brackett and Buddy Adler took a look at the cut and decided to pay off Vicas and send him back to France. The film did not turn out the masterpiece that had been hoped. Susan Hayward was set to play Alice, Joan's character, but as she had played an alcholic in her previous film 'I'll Cry Tomorrow', she decided not to do it.. Gene Tierney was next set to take on the role but didn't feel up to it, Shelley Winters agreed to do it if they also let her do the film version of 'A Hatful Of Rain' in which she had starred on Broadway.. In the end Joan was offered the role and was pleased to have a more meatier part than her previous roles..

         Review :

  THE NEW YORK TIMES ... Bosley Crowther ..

" In "The Wayward Bus", actor's Rick Jason as the driver of the bus, Joan Collins as his moody helpmate, Jayne Mansfield as the stag party girl, Dan Dailey as the traveling salesman and maybe a half dozen more. It looks as if it is being delivered by a stock company that might be traveling on the bus!"

Joan with Rick Jason

Joan was delighted with the good reviews she received for her work on the film as the alcoholic Alice, downtrodden and stuck in her dead end cafe, a side of her the public had not seen before. She had been set to do a western with Richard Widmark called "The Last Wagon", but she hated the script and refused to it, as she felt it was just another worthless, love interest role. Her refusal cost her a suspension for a few weeks and the role was filled by Felicia Farr.Joan although friendly to all the cast, had not made an impression on her co-star Rick Jason, who wrote in his auto-biography that Joan was friendly but seldom spoke to him, well only long enough to proposition him! This according to Joan, was pure fabrication, the book was quickly withdrawn after his death in 2000, the same year it was published! Joan did get the opportunity to fly in a helicopter for the first time, she spurned the use of a stunt double, so she could experience it for herself!
For all it's faults, it is an interesting film, with good performances. 

Joan & Jayne makeup!

After many years of obscurity due to been held up by the Steinbeck estate, Twilight Time finally released the film on a limited edition blu-ray in 2012.. However this edition is now out of print.. Here is a look at the sleeve of the release..