Does anyone know why Mr. DaCosta only directed three films? AUNTIE MAME and THE MUSIC MAN were huge hits and ISLAND OF LOVE much less so. Was it his choice not to continue in films? I can find virtually no biographical material on the man.
"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"
Morton Da Costa was a leading theater director for four decades. Two of his biggest theatrical successes as a director were the Broadway hits AUNTIE MAME (1956, with Rosalind Russell) and THE MUSIC MAN (1957, with Robert Preston). In each of these cases, he contracted to produce and direct the film versions of his hit productions. (I have no explanation for ISLAND OF LOVE, which was not an adaptation of a stage work.) Although he clearly was an extremely talented film director - both AUNTIE MAME (1958) and THE MUSIC MAN (1962) were Best Picture Oscar nominees - Da Costa's love was theater.
shareI think "Island of Love" was part of a 2 picture deal with Warner's for Da Costa. Preston had a 3 picture deal I think, not absolutely sure.
shareDa Costa's run of 1950s Broadway luck barely outlasted the decade (in addition to AUNTIE MAME and THE MUSIC MAN, it included the hit musical PLAIN AND FANCY and the hit comedy NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS) - it had ended before the 1962 film of THE MUSIC MAN. He never directed another major Broadway hit - SARATOGA in 1959, SHERRY! in 1967 and MAGGIE FLYNN in 1968 were all flops.
"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified."
Thanks for the replies. "Maggie" may have been a flop, but it served to introduce three later-to-be stars: Stephanie Mills, Irene Cara & Gian-Carlo Esposito all played members of an orphanage run by Maggie (Shirley Jones).
"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"