Strange Bedfellows (Universal Pictures) (1965)

Lollobrigida Paints Co-Workers On Set (Current) The artistic accomplishments of Italian film star Gina Lollobrigida were not ignored while Gina was in Hollywood to star with Rock Hudson, Gig Young and Edward Judd in the Panama-Frank Universal comedy, “Strange BedfelLOWS} SOW. ab tnG 2 ee Theatre. Gina, a skilled artist as well as a photographer of professional calibre, captured likenesses of her co-stars, as well as producer-director Melvin Frank, on both film and sketch pad between scenes of the film. “Sketching is my favorite means of relaxation,’ Gina admitted, “and photography gives me my greatest enjoyment.” Before she came to Hollywood for “Strange Bedfellows,” two full pages of one of Italy’s leading news magazines (Epoca) carried photos of Italy’s president Antonio Segni with a credit line: “Photos by staff photographer Gina Lollobrigida.” “Strange Bedfellows” was photographed in Technicolor. Wrong Color, Rock's Wardrobe Increased (Advance) The peculiar sensitivities of Technicolor film added four suits to movie star Rock Hudson’s personal wardrobe during the filming of his newest romantic comedy. Hudson, with his most extensive wardrobe in many years—21 different outfits—as he co-stars with Gina Lollobrigida and Gig Young in the Panama and Frank comedy, “Strange Bedfellows,” purchased the four suits out of his movie costumery because the clothes photographed a different shade than they appeared to the human eye, and were not the right tints for the color sensitive film. In ‘Strange Bedfellows,” a Universal picture which comes............ tO: -UhiGis=s Ao Theatre, Hudson is seen as a highly successful European representative of an American industrial corporation. Producer ' Directs” Rock Hudson Haircut (Current) It appears that both sides won a friendly argument involving Rock Hudson, producer director Melvin Frank and the length of Hudson’s hair. During preliminary discussions of Hudson’s co-starring role with Gina Lollobrigidia and Gig Young in the Technicolor photographed romantic comedy, Universal’s “Strange Bedfellows,’ now at the << Seer ee Theatre, Rock casually suggested that he wear a crew-cut for his portrayal of the European representative of an American oil company. Frank thought it would be too youthful a style, perhaps, to fit the role. The solution: Frank ‘‘directed”’ the haircut until both he and Hudson reached an amicable agreement on the length, described as “Ivy League — Alumni.” Vivacious Italian sereen star Gina Lollobrigida, who has been making films literally around the world, returns to Hollywood for the lead in Universal’s* hilarious Panama and Frank comedy, “‘Strange Bedfellows,”? photographed in Technicolor. (Still No. 1941-133) Copyright 1965 — Universal Pictures Co., In R $ ELLOWS" [2 Gina Lollobrigida and Rock Hudson are “Strange Bedfellows,” in the Universal hilarious comedy of the same name, after picking up a brief marriage that was abandoned seven years before. The romantic comedy is a Panama and Frank production, produced and directed by Melvin Frank. (Still No. 1941-160) Rock Hudson Aids New Movie Sleepcake™ Trend In Strange Bedfellows” (Advance) Hollywood, normally directing its trends with the subtlety of a jackhammer, has moved slyly for a change to create a movie cycle calculated to replace what is modestly termed beefcake. The new trend, friends, is toward ‘‘sleepcake.”’ One of filmdom’s most celebrated exponents of beefcake, Rock Hudson, has found himself neatly maneuvered into “sleepcake” in a series of movie scenes that have developed relentlessly in his last seven films. In all of them, the Hudson physique—a trim 205 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame—has been given exposure via the natural nocturnal route, usually involving bedroom settings. “Tt’s better this way, as long as producers insist on stuff like this,” says Hudson, lounging around Stage 12 at Universal studios in a pair of pearl-gray pajamas as dictated by the script demands of “Strange Bedfellows,” a comedy in which he stars with Gina Lollobrigida and Gig Young, and which, photographed in Technicolor, Theatre. “In other years, beefcake in a movie scene was downright embarrassing. On the slightest pretense, the hero had to peel off his shirt, inhale deeply and pose. He bared himself to the waist to wash his hands, comb his hair or brush his teeth. Most people go to a barber for a haircut; Hollywood actors had to report regularly to have their chests shaved.” For another inexplicable reason, guardians of the codes of cinematic morals frown on hairychested movie sequences. “At least,’ Hudson went on, “under the latest trend, there’s a less embarrassing reason for stripping the male frame in color and widescreen. Everybody has_ to sleep, everybody has his own version of nightdress, and almost anything is logical in a bedroom, from shorts to long flannels. It’s better this way.” To get a firm idea of how “sleepcake’ has inched its way past old-style beefcake on movie sereens, here’s a rundown on Hudson’s cinematic treks in and out of dreamland: (1) In “Come September,” he stood in pajamas on the balcony of an Italian villa, cracking open a bottle of champagne; (2) In “The Spiral Road,’ he was aroused from a cot in an equatorial jungle by a pretty native girl whose scant costume matched (in material, at least) the T-shirt and shorts being worn by Rock; (3) In “A Gathering of Eagles,” Hudson, in pajama bottoms, leaps out of bed to answer the Red Telephone that governs every moment in the life of a U.S. Strategic Air Command wing commander; (4) In “Man’s Favorite Sport?” with Paula Prentiss, he gets trapped in a mountain cabin with amorous Paula while both are A boxoffice champion for many years, Rock Hudson returns to the type of role that made him famous in Universal’s hilarious Panama and Frank comedy, ‘Strange Bedfellows,” photographed in Technicolor. (Still No. 1941-130) wearing shortie pajamas; (5) In “Lover Come Back,” he and Doris Day appear as newlyweds in a motel; (6) In “Send Me No Flowers,” again with Miss Day, Hudson, as a hypochondriac, ends up at one hilarious moment in a red flannel night-shirt that was made for Tony Randall. “Strange Bedfellows,’ as its title promises, will find Rock in at least ten different stages of dress and undress as he portrays an American business executive on a relentless campaign to end a seven-year separation from his tempestuous Italian wife (Gina Lollobrigida) by luring her back to home and husband. During the “second courtship’ Rock cavorts in pajamas, pajama tops, pajama bottoms and boxer shorts. “Please make an effort to remember that,’ Hudson cautioned with a grin, “because when people see ‘Strange Bedfellows,’ the thing audiences will remember is bound to be the scene of Gina Lollobrigida as Lady Godiva.” Produced and directed by Melvin Frank from a screen play in which he collaborated with Michael Pertwee, and based on an original story by him and Norman Panama, the hilarious comedy also stars Edward Judd, and TerryThomas as guest star. Set in London, “Strange Bedfellows” is a Panama-Frank Production and a Universal Picture. Page 2 Hudson, Lollobrigida, Young Magnificent In New Comedy Movie Strange Bedfellows” (Review) It’s an accepted fact that love and laughter are the universal language, but never has it been proven so delightfully as last night at the... igeteaay. Theatre when Universal unveiled its magnificent Panama and Frank romantic comedy, “Strange Bedfellows,” starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollo brigida and Gig Young. Racing across the screen with the zest and excitement of a frisky colt, “Strange Bedfellows” is a brilliant tribute to the fact that Hollywood, through the years, has lost none of its incomparable knack for blending the ingredients that produce Entertainment with a capital “EK.” For Melvin Frank, who collaborated on the original screenplay with Norman Panama and Michael Pertwee, then produced and directed the shimmering Technicolor extravaganza, this comedy is truly a brightly-burning giant candle on the frosty cake that heralds the silver anniversary of Messrs. Panama and Frank as laughmaking kings of the cinema world. “Strange Bedfellows’ is the prime jewel in their starstudded necklace of screen hits. The millions of moviegoers throughout the world who helped turn the teaming of Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida in “Come September” into the number one hit comedy of a few film seasons ago are going to be delighted that its success has prompted a reunion of this popular pair in “Strange Bedfellows.” Whatever romantic excitement they may have stirred up in their first pairing has been trebled in this brilliant return engagement. Certainly the screen will have to present more Hudson-Lollobrigida romantic comedies in the future—this latest one veritably demands more. “Strange Bedfellows,” backgrounded against modern London, is the wacky-wonderful tale of an American business executive who is forced to attempt a reconciliation with his tempestuous Italian wife after a sevenyear separation in order to establish a “family image” and qualify for a_ vice-presidency. Filmed both in Hollywood and London, the comedy features a true international cast. In addition to Rock and Gina, who have never been better on the screen, Gig Young, as the corporation public relations man, adds a magnificent touch to the cinematic tomfoolery. England’s rising young star, Edward Judd, shows off his comedy wares to great advantage as the “other man” in Gina’s life. British TV star Arthur Haynes, as a London cabbie, makes his comedy debut in American movies a memorable event. Terry-Thomas, guest-starring in the cameo role of a _ befuddled assistant mortician, brings down the house with his brightly-paced horseplay. Others whose fine performances help make ‘Strange Bedfellows” such a winning boxoffice hit are British comic David King, as a second London cabbie; Nancy Kulp (of TV’s “Beverly Hillbillies” fame), as a man-hating spinster; Howard St. John, as a blustering corporation president; and many others too numerous to mention. All of the behind-camera talents — including the gorgeous Technicolor cinematography of Leo Tover, A.S.C.; the delightful sets designed by art directors Alexander Golitzen and Joseph Wright; Leigh Harline’s music score under the supervision of Joseph Gershenson; Miss Lollobrigida’s gowns by Jean Louis; and the work of Hal C. Kern as associate producer—deserve proper praise for outstanding contributions, but the most important factor is this: Rock and Gina are back together again in “Strange Bedfellows” and the motion picture screen is a lovelier, more exciting place because of it. Lollobrigida Plays Five Lady Godivas (Advance) Melvin Frank, who produced and directed Universal’s ‘Strange Bedfellows,” in Technicolor, com Theatre had to concern himself with the case of the five Lady Godivas. All five Godivas, incidentally, were portrayed by luscious Gina Lollobrigida. In the comedy which co-stars Gina with Rock Hudson, Gig Young and Edward Judd, Lady Godiva gets into the act when a London protest group led by Gina decides to re-enact the celebrated ride through the streets of Coventry. Naturally, Miss Lollobrigida plays Lady Godiva in the sequence. “Our problem was how historically accurate we could be without stirring a censor’s scissors,” Frank admitted. ‘As far as Gina was concerned, we could set our own limit of nudity. All we had to do was make the decision.” The decision was influenced by five different tests of Gina as Lady Godiva, utilizing different quantities of leotards, wigs and falls to cover — and uncover — Gina properly. “The original Lady Godiva needed no cover,’ Mel Frank pointed out, “because nobody saw her except that Coventry tailor, Peeping Tom. Our Lady Godiva will be ogled by millions of movie-goers throughout the world, so she appears in ‘Strange Bedfellows’ nude — but not too nude.” duced and directed by Melvin Frank. is } : Tempestuous and fiery Gina Lollobrigida matches Rock Hudson word for word in the family quarrel brought on by her championing of a weird minority cause in Universal’s zany romantic comedy, “Strange Bedfellows,” photographed in Technicolor. It was pro (Still No. 1941-147 )