Filming was delayed when Huston and Bogart were involved in a car accident en route to Naples (Italian driver) and Bogie had his front teeth knocked out. Much of the filming was at the
Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, where the Terrazza dell'Infinito scene is shot:
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| Bogie and Jones in splendid crane shot over the Terrazza dell'Infinito by Oswald Morris, operated by Freddie Francis |
Nimbly scripted, really offbeat, quirky adventure, set in Ravello and unidentified North Africa, defies description. Great cast gives interesting performances. Bogie is involved in dodgy African mining plot with Robert Morley, Peter Lorre, Marco Tulli and psychotically unpleasant Major, Ivor Barnard (who died soon after). Bogie is married to Gina Lollabrigida but still finds the energy to romance fantasist Jennifer Jones, who's in turn married to oddball Edward Underdown. Mario Perrone (corrupt, smiley ship's officer), Saro Urzi (drunken captain), Manuel Serano (Arab, oddly not credited) and Bernard Lee also feature.
Huston definitely liked making films about people who are outside of their normal habitats.
Ralph Kemplen edited (several Hustons, and
Day of the Jackal). Screenplay by Huston and Truman Capote, from the novel by James Helvick. Lorre delivers this quotable gem:
"Time. Time. What is time? The Swiss manufacture it, French hoarde it,
Italians squander it, Americans say it is money, Hindus say it does not
exist. You know what I say? I say time is a crook!"
Great framing as well:
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| Jennifer Jones, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Morley, Gina Lollabrigida |
Why we watched a copy I made off a VHS video rather then buy a decent print I do not know.
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