I'd Rather Be Rich (Universal Pictures) (1964)

Jean Louis Creates 17 Costumes For Sandra Dee In Id Rather Be Rich” (Advance) A complete wardrobe of 17 gorgeous costumes — ranging from longing wear to gala evening gowns — was created for Sandra Dee by Jean Louis for her latest Ross Hunter production in color for Universal, “I’d Rather Be Rich.” The romantic comedy which also stars Robert Goulet and Andy Williams GOMES stan sy siscestenc to ROsthe 2s Den aoe Theatre. Playing the role of a very wealthy young lady, Sandra can afford to wear the finest in the film — and does. To complete the costumes, Jean Louis selected more than $1,600,000 of the finest jewelry from the international atelier of Cartier’s in New York. The ultimate in sophistication, Sandra wears two jewelled evening gowns, embroidered with crystal beads. One gown features a beaded top teamed with a cummerbund and a long skirt, slightly belled. The material is white satin. The other evening gown is a figure-moulding jersey dress covered with a pattern of sparkling crystals with a heavy band of diamond beads encrusting the skirt from knee to hem. The evening coat designed to wear over the formal evening gowns is in white with elegance and chic created by the simplicity of the lines. Figure-moulding, it is buttoned all the way down to the floor and trimmed with round-collar and cuffs of white ermine. In the negligee and nightgown, Sandra has a coat that could be worn either for the boudoir or the ballroom. It is emerald-green organza covered with hundreds of ruffily-petalled flowers from neck to floor-length skirt. The nightgown is emeral chiffon, layered over nude crepe and tied at the bust with green ribbon. Among the dresses she wears in the picture is one in pink stripped cotton, cut with a rounded neckline and simple short sleeves. Six covered buttons give a “coachman” effect, and a modified A-line of the skirt features slit side pockets. An afternoon dress is in blue silk with an accordion-pleated skirt and flattering cowl neckline. The only accent is a dramatic jeweled pin. To complete the costume, she wears cut-out shoes dyed to match the blue of her dress. Also co-starring in “I’d Rather Be Rich’”’ are Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Charlie Ruggles and Gene Raymond. Stretch Slacks Take New Form On Sandra (Advance) Stretch pants take a new form on Sandra Dee, already possessor of one of the shapeliest feminine figures in the movies. Sandra wears a three-piece suit of fitted capeskin-tight slacks, curvy over-blouse and fox furlined coat — for a stroll in the woods with Andy Williams in Ross Hunter’s Universal production, “I’d Rather Be Rich,” com Capeskin is leather, of course, and that seemed to eliminate a desired stretch factor in Sandra’s slacks. Or it did for a while. Then someone thought of trying the aerosol spray that softens tight shoes. It worked just as well on Sandra’s leather slacks. They adapted themselves snugly to Sandra’s curves in a sort of allway stretch that do credit to a panther and evoke wolf-whistles from the male cast members. Other stars in the romantic comedy in color are Robert Goulet, Maur‘ce Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Charlie Ruggles and Gene Raymond. Portray Bartenders In ‘Td Rather Be Rich” (Current) When men are men, and they have been jilted by Sandra Dee, it seems best to have them consoled by tougher guys than themselves, even. Accordingly, actors Allen Jenkins and Milton Frome portray bartenders Fred and Max respectively, in Universal’s Ross Hunter porduction, “I’d Rather Be Rich,” directed by Jack Smight, now at The jilted pair, Robert Goulet and Andy Williams, pour out their troubles to Jenkins and Frome — who pour out their bubbles to Goulet and Williams, in the film photographed in color. Universal Presents SANDRA DEE ROBERT GOULET ANDY WILLIAMS in A ROSS HUNTER Production “’D RATHER BE RICH” EASTMAN COLOR co-starring HERMIONE GINGOLD CHARLIE RUGGLES GENE RAYMOND and MAURICE CHEVALIER as Philip Dulaine Written by OSCAR BRODNEY, NORMAN KRASNA and LEO TOWNSEND Directed by JACK SMIGHT Produced by ROSS HUNTER A Universal Picture Cynthia Dulaine..... SANDRA DEE Paul Benson....ROBERT GOULET Warren Parker ANDY WILLIAMS Philip Dulaine MAURICE CHEVALIER Martin Wood....GENE RAYMOND Dr. Charles Crandall CHARLIE RUGGLES Nurse Grimshaw HERMIONE GINGOLD Harrison................ LAURIE MAIN Alberta = 22 aro DORT CLARK Mac Dougall...... HAYDEN RORKE Airline Clerk............ RIP TAYLOR “PD RATHER BE RICH” Composed by Richard Maltby, Jr., and David Shire. Published by Northern Corp. “ALMOST THERE” Composed by Jerry Keller and Gloria Shayne. Northern Music Corp. “WHERE ARE YOU?” Lyrics: Harold Adamson; Music: Jimmy McHugh. Published by Leo Feist, Ine. “TIT HAD TO BE YOU” Lyrics: Gus Kahn; Music: Isham Jones. Published by Remick Music Corp. Music famous Jean Louis for Sandra Dee in her new romantic comedy in color for Universal, “I’d Rather Be Rich,” four have been selected at random. Left to right, they are: Hostess outfit of Rajah-style coat and_ tapered trousers, with gold threads gleaming in an intricate oriental design. (Still No. 1938-74) Glittering black snakeskin shapes this easy fitting coat, and a chinchilla hood and lining go with the ensemble. Long black boots add their complement. (Still No. 1938-81) This dress is of white satin heavily encrusted with pink crystals. Slightly belled skirt is topped with 1938-94) cummerbund effect at the waist. (Still No. 1938-84) Three piece outfit of fitted capeskin-tight slacks, curvy over-blouse and fox-furlined coat. (Still No. Page 6 Andy Williams plans to make the most of his one opportunity to be alone with his fiancee, Sandra Dee, in the new Universal romantic comedy in color, “I’d Rather Be Rich.” His plans go completely awry due to the careful planning of a number of hilarious incidents by Robert Goulet, the other man after Sandra’s hand. Director of Photography, Russell Metty, A.S.C.; Art Directors, Alexander Golitzen and George Webb: Set Decorations, Howard Bristol; Sound, Waldon O. Watson and Corson Jowett; Unit Production Manager, John Morrison; Film Editor, Milton Carruth; Make-up, Bud Westmore, Hair Stylist, Larry Germain; Assistant Director, Phil Bowles; Gowns Designed by Jean Louis; Jewels by Cartier; Music, Percy Faith; Music Supervision by Joseph Gershenson. the story (Not for Publication) Philip Dulaine (MAURICE CHEVALIER), aged, wealthy tycoon who has suffered a heart attack, wants to see his granddaughter and charge, Cynthia (SANDRA DEE), once more before he dies. Cynthia finally is located in a Boston hotel dining room where her fiance, Warren Palmer (ANDY WILLIAMS), is the vocalist. She jets out immediately for Los Angeles and is rushed to her grandfather’s mansion, where she finds him weak and very anxious to see Warren to make sure he’s the right man for her. Due to bad weather, Warren is unable to leave Boston. Desperate, Cynthia persuades Paul Benton (ROBERT GOULET), a young chemical engineer who at that moment arrives to seek Dulaine’s help in getting a chance to explain his new chemical to aerospace officials in Washington, to masquerade as Warren in order to bring a final moment of happiness to her grandfather. Dulaine suddenly begins to recover, but makes his physician (CHARLIE RUGGLES), and nurse (HERMIONE GINGOLD), promise not to reveal this to anyone, especially Cynthia. He asks to see Warren again and Cynthia just manages to catch Paul at the airport as he is leaving for the return to his home in Cleveland, and convinces him to carry on the masquerade a little longer. The next day after Paul is supposed to have left, Cynthia is explaining to her grandfather that she and “Warren” have quarreled and broken off the engagement, when Paul walks in and begs her forgiveness. She is furious and tries to expose Paul but Dulaine insists that she kiss and make up. He is delighted when he observes that during the kiss Cynthia has slipped out of her shoes, a sure sign inherited from her grandmother that she is in love. After Cynthia and Paul leave the room, Dulaine decides to reveal that he is recovering and follows them downstairs. Just outside the library he overhears their conversation and learns that Paul is not Cynthia’s fiance. He immediately orders his secretary (GENE RAYMOND) to get a complete rundown on both Paul and Warren. The real Warren arrives finally. And by the detective’s report, both are fine young men. But Dulaine is dismayed to see that when Cynthia kisses Warren, her shoes stay on. He roguishly asks the pair to bring the departed “Warren” to his bedside, so Cyn (Still No. 1938-41) Director Has Jitters At Start Of New Film (Current) As a top director of television, both live and filmed, Jack Smight admitted he had jitters before commencing his first theatrical feature picture in color, Universal’s Ross Hunter production, “I’d Rather Be Rich,” starring Sandra Dee, Robert Goulet, Andy Williams and Maurice Chevalier. A romantic comedy, the picture currently is showing at the................ By Stor act rene ee Theatre. thia and Warren fetch him back from the airport. Later, when Warren is approaching her room to enjoy a nightcap of champagne with his fiancee, Paul mischievously pulls the bellcord to summon Harrison (LAURIE MAIN), the butler. Blocked from Cynthia’s doorway, Warren climbs the vines outside the house to what he presumes is Cynthia’s bedroom, but finds he’s in the nurse’s room instead. She screams and her dog grabs him by the seat of his bathrobe as he makes his escape, and as lights pop on in every window. Paul needles Warren at breakfast. Grandfather tells Cynthia and “Warren” to attend the stockholder’s banquet that night in his stead. On the dance floor, Cynthia’s feet hurt, and when she slips her shoes off, so does everyone. Cynthia and Paul are having a ball on their first—and presumably last—date. When they arrive home, they are met outside by Warren who is angry and jealous. Paul and Warren start throwing blows at each other, and Cynthia cannot stop them. Dulaine pantomimes the battle at an upstairs window, and when his nurse comes to see what is happening, a blow catches and knocks her down. Butler Harrison finally stops the fight by turning on the sprinklers and drenching the battlers. In the morning, Cynthia makes a date to meet Paul in the library, and Warren a few minutes afterward on the terrace. When Paul kisses her, her shoes come off; when Warren does, nothing happens. Then, after saying a respectful farewell to the ailing grandfather, Paul leaves again for the airport — this time to keep an appointment arranged for him by Cynthia with the officials in Washington. Grandfather confesses to Cynthia that he is out of danger — and that he knows Paul is the man she really wants. A girl of decision, Cynthia places a call to Washington. Paul, meanwhile, is pouring out his troubles to an airport bartender. Out of sight, at the other side of the bar, Warren is pouring out HIS troubles to the other bartender. All the fight is gone out of both young men as Paul is paged to the airport counter to receive a telegram from Washington, cancelling his appointment. Back at the Dulaine household as a result of Cynthia’s phone call to Washington and the resultant telegram, Paul agrees with Dulaine that Cynthia is a “real witch.” But Paul loves her. and she him. When they kiss this time, both their shoes come off.