Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies (Paramount Pictures) (1969)

The Hunt For An Old Star A 1928 Volvo sedan, one of the first automobiles built in Sweden, and one of the rarest and most valuable, makes its film debut in Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” in Technicolor, which opens .......... SEG e....... .... Lheatre. The film is a lavish tale of the thrills, spills and comic misadventures of the early days of the famed European auto endurance test, the Monte Carlo Rally. In the screenplay by Jack Davies and Ken Annakin, one of the five starting points of the annual winter Rally is the Swedish capitol of Stockholm so it seemed essential a Swedish car be included. But it had to be one manufactured not earlier than 1926, not later than 1929. Early exploration with the Volvo company, disclosed that two such cars existed in Sweden. Volvo had an early model so irreplaceable that visitors weren’t even allowed to open its doors. The film company considered renting the other car but it was too expensive: once “cast” in the film, the car would be required to travel thousands of miles over Europe until the completion of major filming. But were these the only two existing late 1920’s cars? Annakin launched a full-scale hunt and even enlisted the aid of the police. To his astonishment, he learned a third vintage Volvo did exist. It was a 1928 sedan, exactly what was Be: Still #MCR30A needed. It had undergone several years of restoration to its original condition and was in perfect shape. Elated, Annakin ordered purchase of the car, sight unseen. David Watson, the film’s technical adviser, was delighted with the acquisition. The only alteration necessary was the installation of four-wheel disc-brakes to replace the original two-wheel rear brakes, Two days after its arrival in Are, the vintage Volvo appeared before the cameras for the first time, “made-up” (a gleaming coat of new paint) and well “rehearsed” (roadtested). The sturdy little car did very well during the rest of the film, not only surviving the ordeals of “‘playing comedy,” but actually coming out in good enough shape to be purchased by the Volvo Company for its museum, “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” which boasts a cast of internationally famed performers headed by Tony Curtis, was produced and directed by Ken Annakin in Panavision and Technicolor from a screenplay he wrote with Jack Davies. Mat 2D IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ROARING 20’s, Chester Schofield and Sir Cuthbert wager their share of an automobile factory on the outcome of the Monte Carlo Rally. Tony Curtis, Terry-Thomas and Eric Sykes head an international cast in Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,”’ in Tech nicolor, opening ........ at the Make Doubly SP NR hase Theatre. Sure The Camera Is Loaded Paramount Pictures’ ‘‘Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” a comic tribute to the daring car enthusiasts of the roaring 20’s, compresses many of the most unlikely and hilarious incidents of actual Monte Carlo Rallies over the years into one laugh-filled extravaganza. The film in TechniCOLOT, OPENS csicecseoess at thessace. Theatre. Unfortunately, filming some of these “impossible-but-true” incidents was not as easy as having them occur spontaneously. Everything had to be carefully planned to insure safety of life and limb to the stuntmen behind the wheels of the cars. For example, in a _ notorious occurrence, recreated for the film, a Mercedes strayed onto a ski slope and started sliding down. While en route, a skier, springing off a ski jump, landed on its top, tore through the convertible and ended up on the shoulders of the surprised driver. Producer-director-co-author Ken Annakin, chose to film this particular bit of madness at the winter ski resort at Valadalen, Sweden. Hundreds of skiers rubbed their eyes in disbelief as they watched a long, powerful Mercedes “SSK” sports car, vintage late 1920’s, being hauled to the top of the ski slope. Slowly, foot by foot, the one-ton Mercedes roadster was guided backwards up the steep slope with pulleys. Finally, cautiously, the auto was eased over the lip of the slope and trip-locked into place facing down the hill directly under the jump. Two passengers climbed in carefully, while on the top of the ski jump was a slender youth, poised in a crouch, awaiting a signal, his skis waxed to travel rapidly over the snow. The signal was a red flag held by Annakin, who was standing on the ski tower. After checking with crackling walkie-talkies that skier, car and drivers, and his three cameras on tower and hillside were coordinated, the red flag was raised. “Cameras! Action!” he cried. At the signal, the lone skier took off over the jump. Simultaneously, the trip-lock holding back the Mercedes was released, and it roared down the snowy slope. Miraculously, the skier landed on its convertible roof, crashed through its canvas and came to rest on the shoulders of the “startled” driver. Who said it couldn’t be done? Column Items BLUE BLOOD—Nicoletta Machiavelli is one of the stars of Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” which opens ..............at the Sessevercesmece Theatre. Machievelli is not a misprint, nor is it a stage-name. Miss Machiavelli is a lineal descendent of the famed Italian Renaissance author-statesman, Niccolo Machiavelli. “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies” is a salute to the courageous drivers of the famed Monte Carlo Auto Rally in the good old days before the event went “professional” and ruled out the more colorful participants. The film was produced and directed by Ken Annakin in Technicolor and Panavision from a screenplay he wrote with Jack Davies. BACK TO EARTH—Terry-Thomas and Eric Sykes who flew airplanes with such hilarious lack of success in “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines,” are cast as driver and chauffeur in Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” which opens .............. AU RGM Orrctrsssseesee Theatre. Terry-Thomas plays the riotously unscrupulous owner of a car factory who decides to enter one of his vehicles—driven by an unwilling Eric Sykes—and win the Monte Carlo Rally. The madcap comedy film, which deals with the early days of the famed auto competition, boasts an international cast headed by Tony Curtis, The film was produced and directed by Ken Annakin in Technicolor and Panavision from a screenplay he wrote with Jack Davies. Still #MCR104 Mat 1C THE VILLAINOUS SIR CUTHBERT convinces Betty to “spike” Chester’s drink to insure the American’s losing— “for the good of England.” Terry-Thomas and Susan Hampshire star in Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” in Technicolor, opening ..... at the... '.:.. Theatre. THE WHOLE TRUTH? ? ?—Unlikely as it may seem, many of the most hair-raising and hilarious incidents depicted in Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” actually have occurred in one year or other of the famed Monte Carlo Auto Rally, which is the subject of the film. The script, by Jack Davies and Ken Annakin, compresses many of the wildest Rally incidents into one thrill-packed running of the rugged European endurance test of men and cars. “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,’ which ODCNS 25 ccs cescets DEL TNCs ee seeeesicccse Theatre, boasts an all-star international cast headed by Tony Curtis. The Technicolor-Panavision attraction was produced and directed by Ken Annakin. Still #MCR117 SCHICKEL, THE BURLY GERMAN, takes time out from the grueling race to heap scorn on the newfangled gadgetry used by two British Army Officers. Gert Frobe, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore are among the international cast in Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” in Tech nicolor, opening ........ at the AY" 5, oatiots Theatre. Creating Brand New Antiques David Watson is a former Hollywood stuntman and professional racing car driver. Since he stopped racing 10 years ago, Watson developed a passion for vintage automobiles, and is now engaged in building such vehicles for use in motion pictures. His most important assignment to date was from producer-director Ken Annakin for Paramount Pictures’ “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” a film which deals with the famed Monte Carlo Rally and calls for 20 automobiles from the “golden” period 1926-29. Watson’s job was a complex one: he had to pry loose priceless machines from reluctant owners, assuring them that no harm would be done. He had to overhaul these beauties so they could perform; he had to see to their safety and he had to duplicate parts or even entire cars for crash sequences and other incidents too risky for the real cars to undergo. The vintage cars were adapted to 1968 driving conditions at the Rome factory-garage of Ruggero Giannini, an expert at designing and tuning engines. Modern engines of the Fiat 2,300 type were installed Still #MCR47 along with contemporary brakes and instrument panels. A team of 50 garage mechanics under the supervision of Giannini and Watson worked double shift hours to accomplish in two weeks what would normally have taken six months. Some of the vintage cars featured in “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies” are: Mercedes—1926, Volvo—1927, Peugot—1929, English Alvis—1929, English Wolseley—1928, Mercedes 500—19388, Fiat—1925, Bentley— 1925, Ford—1930, Volvo—1928 and Lancia—1922, “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies” stars (in alphabetical order) Bourvil, Lando Buzzanea, Walter Chiari, Peter Cook, Tony Curtis, Mireille Dare, Marie Dubois, Gert Frobe, Susan Hampshire, Jack Hawkins, Nicoletta Machiavelli, Dudley Moore, Peer Schmidt, Eric Sykes and Terry-Thomas. The original screenplay is by Jack Davies and Ken Annakin. The film was produced and directed in Technicolor and Panavision by Ken Annakin. “Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies” opens ........ BE Sey: ALSthO™,..adastecte, Loeatre, Mat 2C CHESTER LOSES VALUABLE POINTS IN THE RALLY when he is forced to make repairs on his “Triple S” after it leaps over a stone wall to bypass a landslide on the Yorkshire Moors. Tony Curtis heads an international cast in the Ken Annakin production for Paramount Pictures, ““Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies,” in Technicolor, opening ........ PA i 1 (eee aren ea Theatre.