Who's Minding the Mint (Columbia Pictures) (1967)

Mat IC; Still No. 69 Jim Hutton and Dorothy Provine celebrate their successful $7,500,000 raid on the U. S. Treasury department in "Who's Minding the Mint?" new Co lumbia Pictures release in Eastman color. Also starring in the madcap comedy are Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver and Walter Brennan as Pop. Victor Buono and Jack Gilford are co-starred in the comedy. Howard Morris directed the Norman Maurer production. Bob Denver, known to millions of TV viewers as the fumbling Gilligan of “Gilligan’s Island,” is currently starring in “Who’s Minding the Mint?” the Columbia Pictures’ release in Eastman color at the .......... Theatre. Starred with Denver are Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine Milton Berle, Joey Bishop and Walter Brennan as Pop. Victor Buono and Jack Gilford co-star. In “Who’s Minding the Mint?” Denver becomes involved in an hilarious raid on the U. 8S. Mint. As the girl-shy driver of an ice cream truck, he is assigned to the task of keeping busy an over-amorous young woman — for which he is to receive one million tax-free dollars newlyprinted in the Mint by his amateur associates in crime. Denver came to show business by way of college theatricals. Born in New Rochelle, N. Y., he completed his high school edueation in Los Angeles. While a pre-law student at Loyola University, he joined a drama group, the Del Ray Players, where he gained valuable experience in progressively more important parts. In Hollywood, in only his third professional role, Denver became one of television’s best known personalities as the beatnik in “Dobie Gillis,” after appearing briefly in one film, “A Private Affair.” Then he scored in “Gilligan’s Island.” “Who’s Minding the Mint?” was written for the screen by CIE Jack Gifrd Jack Gilford probably is one of the most famous “anonymous” stars in Hollywood today. His face is instantly recognizable on the screen, but his audiences usually can’t, for the life of them, think of his name. Yet, on Broadway and in Hollywood, Gilford is known by every producer and director as one of the most talented performers in show business. And, thanks to TV, Gilford’s wry face is recognized, even though nameless, by millions. Currently, the comedian is co-starred at the Deeg ees a Theatre in “Who’s Minding the Mint?” Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color. Also starred in the Norman Maurer production, directed by Howard Morris, are Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver and Walter Brennan as Pop, Victor Buono also is co-starred. Between scenes of ‘“Who’s Minding the Mint?” Gilford was frequently “on-stage,” entertaining co-stars and the crew with ad-libs and extemporaneous bits of business. Surrounded by top comedians, Gilford would do his “imitations,” of pea soup coming to a boil, or a telegraph key snapping out Morse code, Milton Berle enthusiastically would poke the nearest bystander in the ribs and exclaim “He’s funny! He’s funny!” Gilford is the only actor ever to play both the New York Palace and the Metropolitan Opera House, where he has an annual date to appear in “Die Fledermaus,” although he does not sing. Gilford makes people laugh, even opera-goers. In “Who’s Minding the Mint?” he plays an expert, but somewhat deaf, safe-cracker recruited by amateurs for a raid on the U.S. Mint. He wants the million dollars they will print for him after he gets them the proper engraving plates out of the vault. Unfortuately, they need to buy him a hearing aid so he can listen to the tumblers click. Gilford’s films include “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “Romanoff, and Juliet,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Enter Laughing.” “Who’s Minding the Mint?” was penned by R. S. Allen and Harvey Bullock. Advance Notice “Who’s Minding the Mint?’’, Columbia Pictures’ comedy release in Eastman color, opens niateeas at the Theatre. Starred in the Norman Maurer production are Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver and Walter Brennan as Pop. Victor Buono and Jack Gilford co-star. The comedy was directed by Howard Morris, and written by R. S. Allen and Harvey Bullock. Lalo R. 8. Allen and Harvey Bullock. Schifrin composed the music. Ll Mat 2B; Still No. 7 Joey Bishop may be a Boy Scout leader in "Who's Minding the Mint?" Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color, but here he's just a bungling amateur whose kerchief has been caught in a printing press while he is running off some $7,500,000 in tax-free money The girl is Dorothy Provine and other of Bishop's colleagues include Jim Hutton, Milton Berle, Bob Denver, Walter Brennan, Victor Buono and Jack Gilford. Mat 2C; Still No. 109 Milton Berle rides the sewers of Washington, D. C., in a home-made boat, in this scene from "Who's Minding the Mint?" Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color. With him are, from left to right, Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine, Jack Gilford, Walter Brennan, Joey Bishop and Victor Buono. The zany band are on their way to the U. S. Mint, with a scheme for printing $7,500,000, under Berle's larcenous "management." COLUMN ITEMS Vital statistics note: There are more pregnant beagles in Hollwood than anyone dreamed possible! Norman Maurer, producer of "Who's Minding the Mint?" new Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color, was swamped with hundreds of offers for the use of their pregnant beagles by owners in response to his pre-production search for a mother beagle and her new born puppies for scenes in the comedy. The producer finally settled on "Peanuts," owned by trainer Frank Inn. * * * Who's Minding the Mint?", the Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color, was more than just another motion picture for Walter Brennan. Filming began on his 72nd birthday, and on the start of his 43rd year in films. Nobody, not even Walter, knows how many movie's he's been in since 1923, when he made his acting debut after months of stunt and extra work. * * * For a high angle shot in "Who's Minding the Mint?", the Columbia Pictures comedy release in Eastman color, director Howard Morris checked with one of the electricians high on the uppermost catwalk of the studio sound stage. "How does that look?" called Morris. The electrician, apparently misunderstanding, replied, "Yes." Called back Morris, "Yes, what?" Promptly came back the answer, "Yes, sir!" * * * In a comedy scene for "Who's Minding the Mint?" Joey Bishop had only one word of dialogue, while the other stars of the Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color were rattling off their lines. At the scene's end, Bishop jokingly complained to producer Norman Maurer and director Howard Morris about his "small" part. Said director Morris, "There are no small pats, Joey, only small. . ." Before Morris could add the final word, ‘'Actors,'' co-star Jack Gilford chimed in with, "Salaries!" * * * In these days of exotic overseas locations, producer Norman Maurer claims a ''first'' in domestic locations. He and director Howard Morris filmed exteriors for the new comedy, "Who's Minding the Mint?" the Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color, near Los Angeles San Pedro Harbor, where the official name for the location site was "River Dump No. |." * * * Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock and Alexander Hamilton appear with Milton Berle in "Who's Minding the Mint?", Columbia Pictures comedy release in Eastman color. Berle wears Revolutionary War costume in this modern comedy of a raid on the U. S. Mint by a band of bunglers, and the founding fathers are life-size figures, borrowed from a museum, in a grouping that he uses as sanctuary wherever a Treasury guard patrols the area. * * * Actress Abby Dalton ordered "good luck" flowers delivered to her former TV partner, Joey Bishop, on the first day of filming "Who's Minding the Mint?'', the Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color. They were not delivered until days later because Bishop and his comedy co-stars were working with more than $300,000 in real U. S. currency. And the guards hired to check everyone and everything entering the stage, refused to admit the delivery man and the flowers. * * * Columbia Pictures’ "Who's Minding the Mint?" lost a producer but gained a director one day during filming of the new comedy, when producer Norman Maurer and director Howard directed different sequences simultaneously. Maurer filmed car scenes with half the starring cast—Dorothy Provine, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop and Bob Denver, while Morris directed at a nearby location the balance of the cast—Jim Hutton, Victor Buono, Jack Gilford and Walter Brennan. When the group teamed up, Morris took over. * * * Despite strict regulations against taking still pictures of actual U. S. currency, Norman Maurer, producer of the new Columbia Pictures comedy in Eastman color, “Who's Minding the Mint?" received unprecedented permission to take color photos of high denomination bills for use in the film's main titles. Maurer got the O.K. from the U. S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (the U. S. Mint) to photograph bills of $5,000, $10,000 and $100,000 denominations. ovie Min For obvious security reasons, the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing takes a dim view of a Hollywood film company roaming up and down its halls and/or printing rooms. Not that the Mint questioned the integrity of such players as Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver, Walter Brennan, Victor Buono or Jack Gilford. And nobody doubted the honesty of producer Norman Maurer and director Howard Morris, or any member of their production staff. It was just that making a comedy like “Who’s Minding the Mint?”, the Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color at the Theatre, would certainly disrupt the orderly routines employed by the government in printing its money. And, after all, ““Who’s Minding the Mint?” is about an inept band of burglers who invade the Mint and use its equipment to print their own dough, $7,500,000 worth! Full-scale reproductions of key sections of the Mint were designed by art director John Beckman, along with an elaborate, block-long reproduction of one of the main sewers running under our national capital. Completely filling one huge sound stage, the Mint settings included the Press Room (where those lovely pictures of Washington, Lincoln, Grant, Jackson and Hamilton are printed), sections of the Visitors’ Gallery, checking rooms, the guards’ lounge, and the vault where the engraving plates are stored. Mat IB; Still No. 65 That's Milton Berle in disguise, under Jim Hutton's smothering hand. It's a scene from “Who's Minding the Mint?" Columbia Pictures release in Eastman color also starring Dorothy Provine, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver, Walter Brennan as Pop, Victor Buono and Jack Gilford. ‘Who's Minding the Mint?" is the comedy of a zany band who stage a $7,500,000 raid on the Treasury Dept. Victor Buono Although it is popularly supposed that everybody loves a fat man, 3800-pound Victor Buono has found it just isn’t so. Ever since his first film role in “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,’ down through “Hush, Hush... Sweet Charlotte,” “The Young Dillinger,” and even “The Silencers,” Buono has been cast as the “heavy,” if he’ll pardon the expression. Now, Buono gets some relief, comic relief that is, as he costars in ‘“Who’s Minding the Mint?” the Columbia Pictures’ release at the Theatre in Eastman color. Story of an hilarious attempt to raid the U.S. Mint, the film stars Jim Hutton, Dorothy Provine, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver, Walter Brennan as Pop and Jack Gilford. “For some _ reason,’ says Buono, ‘audiences have been conditioned into accepting fat men as ‘heavies.’ Girth, to me, has never been synonymous with being sinister.” Page 11