A Breath of Scandal (Paramount Pictures) (1960)

SYNOPSIS (Not for Publication) T is 1905 and the headstrong, tempestuous young widow, Princess Olympia (Sophia Loren) has been banished by the Emperor Franz Joseph from his Viennese court because of her scandalous behavior. To enliven the dull life of her exile in the country, she flirts with an American, Charlie Foster (John Gavin) who is enroute to Vienna on business, and spends the night with him in her hunting lodge. Charlie falls for her, unaware of her royal standing, but in the morning Olympia vanishes, knowing that she must not involve herself with any man however attracted she is, unless he has been approved by the Court and the Emperor. Good news awaits Olympia at her castle. Her father, Prince Philip (Maurice Chevalier) and her mother, Princess Eugenie (Isabel Jeans) have won the Emperor's forgiveness of her and she may return to Vienna. However, upon her arrival there she learns she must marry Prince Ruprecht (Carlo Hintermann), a good catch though not too bright. He’s so good a catch that Lina (Angela Lansbury), a rival countess, has designs on him herself and is aided in her campaign by her mentor, Prince Albert (Tulio Carminati). Charlie arrives to look up Prince Philip, the man with whom he would like to make a deal for Austrian bauxite for the production of American aluminum. He learns Olympia’s identity but when they meet she feigns non-recognition. He learns that there is to be an Imperial Reception and Ball at which Olympia’s engagement to the Prince is to be announced, and undaunted, Charlie smuggles himself into the Ball as a musician, forces Olympia to dance with him and declares his love for her. Olympia has him tossed out as an impostor. Charlie's unceremonious departure is observed by Lina. She and Albert arrange to meet Charlie and pry out of him the fact that he had previously met Olympia under “unusual” circumstances, a fact which the pair uses to discredit Olympia with the Emperor so that he will forbid her marriage to Prince Ruprecht. Olympia’s mother now forces her to send Charlie packing, although Prince Philip, a very romantic old bird, likes the brash American. But Charlie proves difficult and threatens to make trouble unless Olympia will spend a weekend with him, hoping that he will be able to respark her feeling for him. Olympia, assuming the role of a martyr, accepts his condition, but the weekend turns out differently from what they both had anticipated. However, they realize they love each other, though Olympia must fulfill her commitment to Ruprecht. By the time Olympia returns to Vienna, Lina has laid the groundwork for her affair with Charlie to become known to the Emperor, who decrees that unless Olympia marries the American she will be banished—a decree which is highly agreeable to all concerned. COUPIIG o E RS co Plo SOPHIA LOREN | Se NR ee oe ae eee JOHN GAVIN ES eo eee bog ee Fis be Lieder MAURICE CHEVALIER INANE Sasi: cdl epee eet hess s bse eae ISABEL JEANS i Ge AR er: Grammer)” Tone, Wen aren ANGELA LANSBURY PUNE iiss i EE ee TULLIO CARMINATI Pe ila a TNE ET ON ROBERTO RISSO I ayo et bee Ae Pea ages he oo he CARLO HINTERMANN AE Cai NE 8 are cies Sita el ee SA ee edie MILLY VITALE PROT bac cco ae weber wee ADRIENNE GESSNER Count SOnee? e:iciiscwre HE HORE FREDERICK von LEDEBUR CREDITS Produced by Carlo Ponti and Marcello Girosi; Directed by Michael Curtiz; Based on a Play written by Ferenc Molnar and adapted by Sidney Howard; Director of Photography—Mario Montuori; Technicolor; Art Direction—Hal Pereira and Eugene Allen; Costumes Designed by, and Color Coordinator—Hoyningen-Huene; Costumes Executed by Ella Bei and Knize of Vienna; Edited by Howard Smith, A.C.E.; Dialogue Coach—Helen Goss; Makeup Supervision—Giuseppe Annunziata; Hair Style Supervision—Maria Angelini; Assistant Director—Mario Russo; Associate Producer— Eugene Allen; Music Score by Alessandro Cicognini; Songs: “A Breath of Scandal’’ by Robert Stolz and Al Stillman, “A Smile in Vienna” by Sepp Fellner, Karl Schneider and Patrick Michael; Filmed at Wien Films, Rosenhugel Studios, Vienna and Titanus Studios, Rome. RUNNING TIME: 98 MINUTES GAY ROMANCE SPARKS ‘A BREATH OF SCANDAL’, LAVISHLY MOUNTED COMEDY IN TECHNICOLOR (First Story) All the charm, the romance, the gaiety and the spice of pre-World War I Vienna background the story of Paramount’s Technicolor comedy “A Breath of Scandal,” starring Sophia Loren, John Gavin and Maurice Chevalier, which bows into town beginning........ at the Bae te Theatre. Angela Lansbury heads a fine supporting cast. Based on the celebrated play by Ferenc Molnar called “Olympia,” this frothy tale of a merry widowViennese princess and a_ brash, young American who fall in love should be as welcome as a breath of spring in these difficult days of world tension. In a vein as lighthearted as the Viennese waltzes that highlight it, “A Breath of Scandal” is set in the Court of the Emperor Franz Joseph in Vienna from which the headstrong Princess Olympia has been banished for her scandalous behavior. Clympia, a beautiful, young widow, is bored with her exile in the country and amuses herself by flirting with a good-looking American who is enroute to Vienna on business. The flirtation develops into love, which is complicated by Olympia’s involvement with a prince of the Emperor’s choosing. However, as any movie fan worth his salt must know, love and the American triumph in the end. The all-in-fun story is sparked by some charming Chevalier singing, magnificent costuming and settings designed to delight the ear and the eye. Mat 1A MAURICE CHEVALIER is in fine fettle in Paramount’s Technicolor romantic comedy, “A Breath of Seandal,” with Sophia Loren and John Gavin, due ........ at the Ahoy gone oS Theatre. ‘Gigi’ Stars in New Film Two of the stars of the Awardswinning “Gigi’”—Maurice Chevalier and Isabel Jeans—play somewhat similar characters in Paramount’s Technicolor romantic comedy, “A Breath of Scandal,” in which Sophia Loren and John Gavin also star, and which arrives Brean Ss at the’ ........ Theatre Chevalier will be seen as Prince Philip, Sophia’s romantic-minded father, whose daughter’s scandalous escapades secretly delight him. Miss Jeans portrays Sophia’s mother, as worldly-wise a woman as her Aunt Alicia in “Gigi.” “A Breath of Scandal,” based on the Molnar play, “Olympia,” is set in the gay and intrigue-peppered court of the Emperor Franz Joseph. It was filmed in Vienna’s charming palaces, gardens and castles. Still No. 11535-23 Mat 2H THE AMERICAN AND THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (John Gavin and Sophia Loren) are responsible for “A Breath of Scandal,” in that Paramount romantic comedy which arrives .......... at ithe vases Theatre. Maurice Chevalier is co-starred in the Technicolor production. Intrigues of Viennese Court Spice A Breath of Scandal’ (Day Before Opening) Romance, light and gay and spicy, set against the intrigues of Emperor Franz Joseph’s Viennese court, is the theme of the new Paramount Technicolor production, “A Breath of Scandal,” starring Sophia Loren, Maurice Chevalier and John Gavin, and co-starring Angela Lansbury, Milly Vitale, Roberto Risso and Isabel Jeans. Produced by Carlo Ponti and Marcello Girosi, “A Breath of Scandal,” which opens tomorrow at the bwAae ae arn at Theatre, is based on the famous play, “Olympia,” by Ferenc Molnar. Miss Loren portrays the Princess Olympia, headstrong merry widow whose scandalous _behavior has earned her the displeasure of the Emperor. Chevalier will be seen as her father, the Emperor’s court representative, and quite a dashing, romantic old figure himself. Isabel Jeans, who played the courtesan aunt in the Academy Awards-sweeping “Gigi,” is Miss Loren’s worldly-wise mother, who brings all her experience to bear on keeping her daughter’s escapades under cover. Good-looking John Gavin, who scored with audiences with his roles in ‘“Psycho” and “Spartacus,” plays the brash American with whom Sonhia becomes more emotionally involved than she had bargained for. “A Breath of Scandal’ has been lavishly mounted with the rich backgrounds of authentic Vienna of the period, and lushly costumed. It also boasts some fine music. ‘A Breath of Scandal’ At Local Theatre Love and laughter set to the gay waltzes of old Vienna and the lush and lovely background of Emperor Franz Joseph’s opulent court will be offered movie fans beginTTS sees ger when the....%.. The atre presents Paramount’s Technicolor romantic comedy, “A Breath of Scandal.” Starring Sophia Loren, Maurice Chevalier and John Gavin, the Carlo Ponti-Marcello Girosi production also boasts a brilliant supporting cast headed by Angela Lansbury, Milly Vitale, Roberto Risso and Isabel Jeans. “A Breath of Scandal” tells of the romance of Princess Sophia, a headstrong merry widow, and the brash American who will not take “no” for an answer, portrayed by Sophia and Gavin respectively. The spicy story, spiked with delightful music in three-quarter time, was filmed in Vienna in some of the world’s most celebrated palaces, castles and gardens to ensure absolute authenticity, and old-world charm. Michael Curtiz directed. Still No. 11535-9 Mat 2D SOPHIA LOREN and JOHN GAVIN spark “A Breath of Seandal,”? Paramount’s Technicolor romance, which is due to open .......... at the in ooetodeee & Theatre. Maurice Chevalier is co-starred in the comedy-with-music based on a Molnar play about old Vienna.