Taras Bulba (United Artists) (1962)

‘Taras Bulba’ With Curtis, Brynner To Open Here (General Advance ) “Taras Bulba,” the much heralded multi-million dollar screen adaptation of the classic tale of the Cossacks’ fight for freedom from the Poles in the 16th century, starring Tony Curiis and Yul Brynner, opens BEAUNGS was cccasakte st Theatre, through United Artists release. The Harold Hecht Production was filmed in Panavision and Eastmancolor. Directed by J. Lee Thompson, the cast of over 7,000 co-stars Christine Kaufmann, Sam Wanamaker, Brad Dexter, Guy Rolfe and Perry Lopez. To duplicate the terrain of the Ukranian steppes, the setting of the story, Academy Award winner Harold Hecht spent several months on location with cast and crew in a remote area of Argentina closely resembling the singular topography of the rugged Ukraine. The screenplay by Waldo Salt and Karl Tunberg unfolds the tale of Taras Bulba, a great warrior who raises his two sons in the tradition of the fighting Cossacks, where ability to ride, fight and die well is ingrained from birth. A tender, moving and tragic love story is woven through the colorful tapestry of barbaric battles, and iron-bound determination to be free of the Polish yoke. The exciting musical score was composed by Franz Waxman. Alexander Whitelaw is the Associate Producer. Norma Koch headed the mammoth operation of costuming the thousands of players in authentic 16th century Cossack and Polish costumes. Horseman Brynner Yul Brynner, who enjoys shrouding his past and his origins with a variety of tales, admits that prior to becoming an actor he was a circus performer, lifeguard, jai-alai player, radio announcer and cavalryman. This last occupation—for an unnamed was confirmed by Brynner’s accomplishments as a horseman in Harold Hecht’s multi-million dollar production of “Taras Bulba,” in which he stars with Tony Curtis. The Panavision Eastmancolor picture, story of the Cossack revolt against the Poles in the sixteenth century, casts Brynner in the title role, and OPENS = os /5 axe Ube E? tener Theatre, through United Artists release. Sull TBM-Art 2 Bulba,”’ filmvopens:. ... «,at. the... release. Tony Curtis, Yul Brynner Head Cast of Thousands In Mammoth, Colorful, Action-Packed ‘Taras Bulba’ Still TBM-Art 1 Noted artist Frank McCarthy captuures all the dynamic action and sweeping spectacle of Harold Hecht’s starring Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner, in this illustration, The Panavision Eastmancolor film opens production of ‘“‘Taras Buiba,”’ ....atthe.... Theatre, through United Artists release. Charging to the screen with a cast of 7,000 headed by Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner, (Advance Production Feature) Mat 4A multi-million dollar “Taras Bulba,”’ the classic tale of the Cossacks’ fight for freedom from the Poles 400 years ago opens ......... atthe .......... Theatre through United Artists release. In Panavision and Eastmancolor, the Harold Hecht Production represents a cost running into millions and production plans running into years. Academy Award-winner Hecht and director, J. Lee Thompson, fresh from his success with “The Guns of Navarone,” searched the globe for an area that would most closely duplicate the terrain of the Ukranian Steppes, the setting of the story. Their search was complicated by the additional eat of thousands of men to portray Cossacks, the greatest horsemen of all time. Yul Brynner portrays the heroic title role of Taras Bulba, a great warrior who raises his two sons in the tradition of the fighting Cossacks, where ability to ride, fight and die well is ingrained from birth. A tender, moving and tragic love story involving Tony Curtis and his beautiful co-star Christine Kaufmann, is woven through the colorful tapestry of some of the most barbaric battles and realistic of 16th life ever scenes century filmed. A remote location deep in the Argentine answered both needs, and the Hollywood cast and crew spent several months on _ location in Salta, 700 northwest of Buenos Aires. Aside from duplicating the rugged Ukraine, this Argen miles Mat 2C Tony Curtis and Christine Kaufmann portray star-crossed lovers in Harold Hechit’s multi-million dollar production of “Taras co-starring Yul Brynner. The Panavision Eastmancolor . Theatre, through United Artists tine locale boasts an abundant number of the greatest horsemen of the 20th century—Gauchos—the native Argentinian cowboy-farmers who work the Pampas. Oddly enough the Gauchos had to be taught to unlearn many of the riding habits they have spent their lives learning so that they could give absolutely authentic portrayals of the Cossacks in action. For this job Hecht had a team of veteran Hollywood stuntmen spend more than six months training both horses and riders in Argentina. This particular job required as much diplomacy in dealing with the proud Gauchos as it did know-how and research. To prepare for some of the spectacular stunts involving both horses and riders Hecht had several tons of cork imported from Spain. The ground where the battle scenes were filmed was dug up and cork substituted, with a thin layer of earth covering the cork to minimize the effect of falls on the players. The mammoth operation of costuming the thousands of players in J. Lee Thompson Megs ‘Taras Bulba’ J. Lee Thompson fresh from his triumph with “The Guns Of Navarone,’ undertook one of the most formidable directorial tasks in years wi-h “Taras Bulba,” Harold Hecht’s monumental multi-million dollar Panavision Eastmancolor production starring Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner and opening ......... at the Theatre, through United Artists release. Aside from guiding a huge stellar cast, Thompson also had to direct hundreds of soldiers and horses through some of the most spectacular scenes ever put on film. But with such directorial credits “Tiger Bay,” “I Aim At The Stars,” “Cape Fear,” and “Ice Cold In Alex” he was more than equal to the job. Thompson’s success as a director crowns his earlier efforts as an actor on the legitimate stage in England, and as a_ playwright whose first work, “Murder Without Crime,” ran two years in London. exact replicas of the eee worn by the 16th century Cossacks and Poles kept tailors and seamstresses busy from Paris, to Rome, from Madrid to London. Brynner’s and Curtis’ costumes alone cost $22,000. The huge scope of the picture, can be appreciated in part when one is made aware of the fact that there are 250 speaking parts in the film. The huge international cast includes Sam Wanamaker, Brad Dexter, Guy Rolfe and Perry Lopez. The celebrated musician Franz Waxman was enlisted for the monumental job of scoring the elaborate Still TMB-42 Perry Lopez Mat 14 The Real Star Harold Hecht produced “Taras Bulba,” the multi-million dollar Panavision Eas:mancolor epic openHOFER AS bdoee ee atetne! fence re Theatre, through United Artists release. While on location in Argentina, he watched his stars, Tony Curtis and Yul sign thousands of autographs, but he will never forget the ONE signature request HE received. When one of the 10,000 Gauchos who portray Cossacks in the film asked Hecht for his autograph, Harold patiently explained that he was “only the producer.” and not a star. “Senor Hecht, the Gaucho replied, “you sign my check every week. YOU the real star!” Brynner, film and a musical background of great beauty and excitement in moods ranging from comic to tragic, from serene to emotional is the melodious and stirring result. On The Other Foot! Christine Kaufmann, the lovely 17-year-old German actress who co-stars with Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner in Harold Hecht’s multimillion dollar Panavision Eastmancolor production, “Taras Bulba,” opening atthe: A aeee Theatre, through United Artists release, had the entire cast and crew giggling the first few moments she appeared on the set. Getting ready for her first scene, producer Hecht, trying to “calm” the actress, asked if she were nervous. “Not at all, Mr. plied evenly. Hecht,” she re“I’ve got a signed contract, and you're paying me a lot of money for a very important part in the film. If anyone should be nervous it’s you.” Brynner Ideal For Robust Role ‘In ‘Taras Bulba’ When producer Harold Hecht was ready to cast the multi-million dollar production of “Taras Bulba,” the Panavision Eastmancolor film co-starring Tony Curtis and openies eho Coc at Chee seas Theatre, through United Artists release, his inspired choice for the title role was Yul Brynner. Of Russian descent and familiar with the story’s historical background, Brynner was ideal to play the lusty, legendary Cossack leader who fought to free his people from Polish oppression four centuries ago. The aura of mystery, fascination, fierce virility and exotic appeal that surrounds Brynner as a_performer is not all theatrical illusion. He was born under Russian rule on Sakhalin Island in the Japanese Sea. His father, a Russian business man, had emigrated during the early twenties from the newly created Soviet Union to Siberia. When the family left Siberia for Peiping, China, Yul was sent to Paris for his education. After two years in school there, 13-year old Yul joined a group of young musicians and began earning his living by singing and playing the balalaika, but a gypsy urge to pursue the horizon was strong in him even then and he became an acrobat, aerialist and pantomime artist with a circus. A serious fall from a trapeze ended that chapter of his career, and returning to Paris, Yul toiled as an apprentice with a repertory company. He supplemented his meagre income by singing and strumming the balalaika in Paris bistros, and resumed his formal education until he earned a Degree at the Sorbonne. By now Brynner knew the theatre was to be his life. He came to the United States in 1941 with a Moscow Art Theatre Group and stayed on in New York as a French language announcer for the Voice of America. During the next four years Brynner directed and acted in experimental television, toured the country as a Shakespearean actor and appeared on his own half-hour TV show in which he played a guitar, sang, and chatted with guests. In 1945 Brynner hit Broadway in “Lute Song” with Mary Martin. The musical led him to another stage production, “Dark Eyes.” Then, after appearing as a headline entertainer at the Carrere in Paris, he returned to New York where he built a reputation as one of the important directors and creators in television. But it was his acting role as the Siamese potentate of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I’ which rocketed him to international fame. It was also the first time he had been seen on the stage with the shaved head that is now his trademark. Still TBM-43 Yul Brynner plays the title role of the lusty, legendary Cossack leader, “Taras Bulba,” in Harold Hecht’s Mat 2B multi-million dollar production co-starring Tony Curtis. The Panavision Eastmancolor film opens ..,. at the... . Theatre, through United Artists release.