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Walk, Don't Run
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Wikipedia article
'Walk, Don't Run' is a 1966 American comedy film directed by Charles Walters, and starring Cary Grant in his final film role, Samantha Eggar and Jim Hutton. The film is a remake of the 1943 film 'The More the Merrier' and is set during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The title stems from the basic rule of racewalking that competitors must not at any point run (both feet leaving the ground).
Plot
In 1964, important British businessman Sir William Rutland arrives two days early in Tokyo and runs afoul of the housing shortage caused by the 1964 Summer Olympics. While at the British Embassy seeking help, he spots an advertisement for a roommate and decides to check the place out. He finds himself at the residence of Christine Easton, who insists that it would be improper to take him in as a housemate; she had forgotten to advertise that she wanted to sublet to a woman. Easton eventually lets Rutland stay.
Rutland sublets half of his space to American Olympic competitor Steve Davis. While Easton is less than thrilled with the arrangement, she has to put up with it, as she has already spent Rutland's share of the rent. Rutland sets about playing matchmaker for the two young people, in spite of their disparate personalities and Easton's engagement to a boringly dependable British diplomat, Julius P. Haversack.
Davis repeatedly refuses to reveal what sport he is competing in. Rutland meddles in the young couple's romantic troubles. To further his matchmaking, he even strips down to his boxer shorts and a T-shirt so he can pretend to be a competitor and talk to Davis during his event, the 50-kilometre walk, and eventually heals the breach between the young lovers.
Cast
* Cary Grant as Sir William Rutland
* Samantha Eggar as Christine Easton
* Jim Hutton as Steve Davis
* John Standing as Julius P. Haversack
* Miiko Taka as Aiko Kurawa
* Ted Hartley as Yuri Andreyovitch
* Ben Astar as Dimitri
* George Takei as Police Captain
* Teru Shimada as Mr. Kurawa
* Lois Kiuchi as Mrs. Kurawa
Production
Grant retired from acting after this film in order to raise his daughter, who was born earlier that year.
Filming locations were at the Hotel Okura Tokyo, Embassy of the United Kingdom, Tokyo, and Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
Score
The film's music was composed by Quincy Jones, with Peggy Lee contributing to the writing of the songs, "Stay with Me" and "Happy Feet".
Personnel
*Quincy Jones composer, conductor
*Toots Thielemans harmonica, whistles
*Harry "Sweets" Edison trumpet
*Bud Shank reeds
*Earl Palmer drums
*Carol Kaye electric bass
*Emil Richards percussion
*Don Elliot Voices vocals on "Happy Feet"
*Tony Clementi vocals on "Stay with Me"
*Jack Hayes, Leo Shuken orchestrations
*Richard Hazard vocal orchestrations
Reception
The film grossed $7,500,000 at the box office, earning $4.5 million in US theatrical rentals."Big Rental Pictures of 1966", 'Variety', 4 January 1967 pg 8 It was the 22nd highest grossing film of 1966.
See also
*List of American films of 1966
References
Bibliography
* Reid, John Howard. "'Walk, Don't Run.'" 'Reid's Film Index', no. 36 (1998): 178181.
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