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I don't understand ?. . . gossip column item

posted 15 years ago by hisgrandmogulhighness
6 replies | jump to latest

Chicago Sun-Times, Tuesday, July 19, 1966, p. 40, c. 1:

KUP'S COLUMN

". . . . Barbara Fay White Boddie, seeking her third straight Woman's Western Amateur golf championship at Barrington Hills, is a look-alike for Julie Andrews.. . . And Julie's first daring movie, "Torn Curtain" (criticized by the Roman Catholic Motion Picture Office), opens at the Chicago Theater Aug. 12. . . . . "
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I don't understand . . . criticized . . . for what?

[–] rexshard93 15 years ago

I think Roman Catholic Motion Picture Office criticized Torn Curtain for the love scene in the beginning. But I am not sure.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 14 years ago

Sony---

I think Miss Andrews was the worst leading lady Hitchcock ever used . . . she was a complete flop in this film (and too old) . . . a total waste, a dud . . . Tippi Hedren might've given this part a better "lift" . . .

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 14 years ago

. . . yes, you could be right . . . well, maybe Eva Marie Saint . . . anybody but Miss Andrews . . .

[–] ecarle 14 years ago

Hitchcock later told an interviewer that Eva Marie Saint was who he wanted.

But in a letter written to a friend as he began work on Torn Curtain, Hitchcock wrote:

"I am using Paul Newman and Julie Andrews in this picture. The studio wants major stars, unlike the casts of my PREVIOUS THREE PICTURES."

I put the emphasis on the last words. Evidently, in Hitchcock's mind neither Psycho nor The Birds nor Marnie had "major stars." Sean Connery hadn't really shot to the top yet; Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh weren't major? Tippi Hedren was virtually unknown. Rod Taylor, "second tier."

Still, Hitchocck's letter indicates: he cast Julie Andrews in Torn Curtain because the studio(aka The Big Boss, Lew Wasserman) wanted her in the movie after the blockbusters Mary Poppins and Sound of Music. Whether she was right for the role didn't matter.

[–] rexshard93 14 years ago

I wish Anthony Perkins (Hitchcock's choice) played Professor Armstrong. Julie Andrews wasn't familiar with Hitchcock's style of directing. I think Perkins would have given her big help in acting if he was casted.

To me, Paul Newman is a good actor. But here, I thought his performance was very cold.