Mirage (Universal Pictures) (1965)

Diane Baker Initiates New Contract Co-Starred With Gregory Peck In 'Mirage™ (Advance) Down the dark stairway, lit only by the dim rays of a distant flashlight, Diane Baker, a quiet beauty, descended from a height that was both literal and figurative. On Stage 33 at Universal City studios she had just finished her opening scene for ‘‘Mirage,” a modern-day suspense thrill ef; COMING. es. LOLtN ei 28 eee: Theatre, by descending a moviemanufactured stairway representing the egress of a New York skyscraper stricken by a power failure. It was an unusual film debut in several ways. Diane was celebrating a new seven-year Universal contract by grabbing off the most sought-after role on the lot, Gregory Peck’s leading lady in a pulsating new Peter Stone mystery—and she made her first entrance at the head of the stairs, 45 feet above the ground. Her lighting was being handled by an electrician who is reputed to earn more than a million dollars during a busy year — Mr. Peck, himself, holding a flashlight. The jeweled accessories for her Jean Louis gown were the real stuff, valuable enough to require an armed security guard to attend her while she worked. They came from the world famous Tiffany and Company stock. “But my feet were ’way off the ground for an even better reason,” Diane admitted. “By winning the role of Gregory Peck’s co-star, I had proven to myself that living dangerously in Hollywood isn’t so risky, after all.” It was only a short time ago that the attractive hazel-orbed brunette was at 20th CenturyFox, under long-term contract, savoring a delightful weekly salary stipend but not much more than that. Ever since George Stevens had ended a six-month search for an actress to portray Anne Frank’s sister in “The Diary of Anne Frank” by choosing Diane, she had relished the comforts of a major studio contract. “Tt was like that for four years,” Miss Baker explained. “I was treated splendidly — but I wasn’t getting any place as an actress. When my career moved toward a standstill, I decided to live dangerously. I secured my release, gave up these nice weekly paychecks, and struck out on my own to improve my position as an actress.” Her bravery paid off, all right. She grabbed one of the top roles with Paul Newman in “The Prize,” then followed with another good role with Joan Crawford in “Straitjacket.” She came to Universal at the request of Alfred Hitchcock in order to vie with Tippi Hedren for the affections of Sean Connery in ‘Marnie,” and remained to sign a seven-year contract with the studio. “But not an exclusive deal,” she hastened to add. “I can still do films elsewhere whenever a good part comes along.” Other headliners in the “Mirage’ cast are Walter Matthau, Kevin McCarthy, Jack Weston, Leif Erickson, Walter Abel and George Kennedy. Peck Travels Big City By Bus But In Style (Advance) Film star Gregory Peck may be the only celebrity around Manhattan who travels via bus — but he does it with a real touch of class. He has his own personal municipal bus. For location scenes in the Universal suspense drama, “Mirage,”’ COMIN Ga St LOS UNC eee, Soe Theatre, director Edward Dmytryk needed considerable film footage of Greg as a passenger in a 5th Avenue bus. New York transportation authorities agreed to lease a city bus to the moviemakers and for four hours, Mr. Peck rode up and down 5th Avenue, between 79th and 34th Streets, while his fellow passengers, the camera crew, photographed his trek. The only difficulty, according to Peck, was maintaining a serious mood for the camera while watching all of the frustrated Manhattan commuters who pounded on the bus door at intersections and wondered why they couldn’t climb aboard. “Mirage,” a modern-day thriller by Peter Stone, also stars Diane Baker and Walter Matthau, and co-stars Kevin McCarthy, Jack Weston, Leif Erickson, Walter Abel and George Kennedy. It was produced by Harry Keller. Has Forgettable Role; Plays Amnesia Victim (Current) Between scenes of the suspense thriller, “‘Mirage,’’ at Universal studios, Gregory Peck and co-star Walter Matthau were discussing the problems of portraying an amnesia victim. Peck’s role in “Mirage” involves him in a severe attack of amnesia that keeps him dodging murderous assaults while struggling to regain his memory and find out why he’s the target. The melodrama is now showing at the Se ees Theatre. “It’s a constant worry that the movie audience won't believe completely that I have amnesia,” Peck confessed. “It’s not an easy characterization to assume.” “Well,’’ Matthau answered, with a grin, ‘if you fail to convince the audience you have amnesia, movie critics can say you give an unforgettable performance.” Diane Baker is the other costar as Peck’s romantic interest. Gregory Peck employs Walter Matthau, detective, to help solve the riddle of Peck’s lost memory in the action-packed, suspense thriller, “Mirage.” Diane Baker is the romantic interest. The cast also includes Kevin McCarthy, Jack Weston, Leif Erickson, Walter Abel and George Kennedy. (Still No. 1958-22 ) a) Gregory Peck and Diane Baker are romanically teamed in Universal’s new suspense thriller, ‘“‘Mirage,’ which also co-stars Walter Matthau. Directed by Edward Dmytryk, it was produced by Harry Keller. (Still No. 1958-152) Father Time Becomes Practical Joker For Abel's ‘Mirage™ Role (Advance) In the actor’s life being led by Walter Abel these days, Father Time has become a _ practical joker. For his role — his first movie in seven years — co-starred with Gregory Peck, Diane Baker and Walter Matthau in Universal’s “Mirage,”’ Walter treats the years like a shuttlecock in a badminton match. ‘‘Mirage,” a suspense thriller scomes= 3 = to the Sp erent ae abheatre: In order, here’s how Mr. Abel has played his cinema life. (1) His “Mirage” debut shows him hurtling through space in a fatal fall out of a 27th floor office; (2) He’s next seen as a man 20 years younger, an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II; (3) He follows this by aging 15 years to pose as a_ wealthy yachtsman; (4) He moves to within two months of the present to accept an honorary college degree; and (5) He finally relives the final ten minutes of his motion picture existence to help clear a deep mystery. “I play my entire role in Gregory Peck’s mind,” Abel explains. “He’s an amnesia victim and I keep popping up in his memory to help him toward a cure.” “Mirage,” which Edward Dmytryk directed for producer Harry Keller, is a suspense drama scripted by Peter Stone, who also wrote the highly successful Cary Grant starrers, ‘‘Charade”’ and “Father Goose.” In his latest effort, Stone has created for Gregory Peck a spine-tingling existence as he struggles to elude assassins while he strives to cure his amnesia and find out why he’s a target. “That’s where I’m somewhat helpful,’’ Abel points out. “I keep showing up in his recollections. It’s the first time in my 30-odd years as an actor that I’ve portrayed somebody else’s thoughts.” Big Gawking Crowds Forces Locale Change (Current) Plans by director Edward Dmytryk to play a scene for Universal’s ‘Mirage’ that involved Gregory Peck and Walter Matthau in front of a large bank vault had to go out the window. The suspense thriller is now at UG aie en Theatre. Reason: complete lack of privacy. As part of the “Mirage” location work in Manhattan, Universal selected the ultra modern glass-and-aluminum Manufacturers Trust Company headquarters at 48rd and 5th Avenue, which features its 2,000,000-pound Mosler vault as the main attraction of its largest window facing 5th Avenue. Instead of having Peck and Matthau ‘doing an act’ in the store window, Dmytryk switched the brief scene to a more secluded bank teller’s window. Diane Baker is also starred in the suspense drama written by Peter Stone. Harry Keller produced. Page 4 Private Eye De-Glamorized By Walter Matthau In New Suspense Thriller 'Mirage™ (Advance) A thespic punch from Walter Matthau is adding some discoloration to what is popularly recognized as the Private Eye. Private investigators throughout the country will probably set up a collective yowl when they see how Matthau represents their profession in Universal’s suspense drama, ‘‘Mi rage,’ which also stars Gregory Peck and Diane Baker, coming bee Mer torthe=-.-= = “Theatre: “Let ’em yell,’ says Matthau. “They’ve been glamorized long enough. It’s time somebody balanced the scales a little bit.” What the Mike Hammers, the Richard Diamonds, the Peter Gunns and the other fictional private eyes have established as trademarks, Mr. Matthau _ shatters, piece by piece. In “Mirage,” he: (1) Has no sexy secretary; in fact, not even a secretary; (2) Asks a fee of $500, then gives half the money back because he confesses he’s not worth it: (3) Never runs into a single hour-glassed lass, either in his apartment, office or on a street corner; (4) Prefers a bottled soft drink to a shot of whiskey, and, in the field of gastronomical delights, prefers a peanut butter sandwich; (5) Doesn’t carry a gun because he’s afraid he may have to use it sometime; (6) Runs and hides from a fight with the villain, and lets his client (Peck) take the physical beating; and (7) Admits he gets scared quite easily. “T don’t even flash my credentials,’ Matthau admits, not without a certain amount of glee, ‘and the police find out everything before I do. Fact is, Im really a do-it-yourself private eye who, when the going gets tough, always has an out — his old job as a refrigerator repair man.” “Mirage,” directed by Edward Dmytryk with Harry Keller as the producer, was written for the screen by Peter Stone, who has already chalked up two Cary Grant hits, “Charade” and “Father Goose.” “Stone’s the guy to blame if you're a private eye,’ Matthau points out. “He invented this weird character — I merely play him.” Walter Matthau de-glamorizes the Private Eye in his co-starring role with Gregory Peck and Diane Baker in the exciting Universal suspense thriller, “Mirage.” (Still No. 1958-111) Film Elevator Ride Spans 3,500 Miles (Current) The long-distance champions among elevators are not in New York’s 102-story Empire State Building. They’re on a movie set in Hollywood. For a sequence in Universal’s “Mirage,” starring Gregory Peck, Diane Baker and Walter Matthau, now atathes ase Theatre, director Edward Dmytryk filmed a New York location scene in which Peck stepped into an elevator on the 27th floor of the towering No. 2 Broadway Building, in the heart of Lower Manhattan’s financial district. Five days later, Peck stepped out of the elevator on Stage 33 at Universal studios, 3500 miles away, and continued the movie scene. “I pressed the ‘Down’ button,” Peck quipped, “but the elevator decided to take me West.” Peck Uses Famous Bench In “Mirage” (Current) Film star Gregory Peck turned into a Central Park poacher by accident. Peck, in the midst of some physically exhausting movie location scenes for Universal’s ‘“‘Mirage,” now at the Theatre, finished a long, hard run before the cameras and plopped himself down on a park bench near 67th Street and 5th Avenue. As quickly as he sat down, Peck was on his feet again, grin ning sheepishly. ‘“What’s wrong?” director Edward Dmytryk asked him. “T believe I’m trespassing, Greg answered, pointing to a bronze plaque imbedded in the stone walk that surrounded the bench. The plaque read: “Ror Elder Statesmen. This bench reserved for Mr. Bernard Baruch.” “MIRAGE! (20) Villain George Kennedy threatens Gregory Peck in an effort to make him reveal information Peck’s amnesia hides in Universal’s exciting suspense thriller, “Mirage.” Matthau also co-star. Diane Baker and Walter (Still No. 1958-88)