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The Bobo
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = The Bobo
| image = The_Bobo_starring_Peter_Sellers_and_Britt_Ekland.png
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Robert Parrish
Peter Sellers (uncredited)
| producer = Jerry Gershwin
Elliott Kastner
| writer = David R. Schwartz
| based_on =
| starring = Peter Sellers
Britt Ekland
Rossano Brazzi
Adolfo Celi
| music = Francis Lai
| cinematography = Gerry Turpin
| editing = John Jympson
Pamela Tomling
| distributor = Warner-Path Distributors (UK)
Warner Bros. Pictures (USA)
| released =
| runtime = 103 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget = $3 millionHannan, Brian (2016). 'Coming Back to a Theater Near You: A History of Hollywood Reissues, 1914-2014'. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., pg. 178, .
| gross =
}}
'The Bobo' is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Robert Parrish and starring Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland.BOBO, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 34, Iss. 396, (January 1, 1967): 138. The screenplay is based on the 1959 novel 'Olimpia' by Burt Cole, also known as Thomas Dixon.
Plot
Singing matador Juan Bautista is offered a break by a theater manager if he will seduce the beautiful Olimpia.
Cast
* Peter Sellers as Juan Bautista
* Britt Ekland as Olimpia Segura
* Rossano Brazzi as Carlos Matabosch
* Adolfo Celi as Francisco Carbonell
* Hattie Jacques as Trinity Martinez
* Ferdy Mayne as Silvestre Flores
* Kenneth Griffith as Pepe Gamazo
* Al Lettieri as Eugenio Gomez
* Marne Maitland as Luis Castillo
* John Wells as Pompadour Major Domo
* Don Lurio as Ramon Gonzales
* Antonia Santiago Amador ('La Chana') as flamenco dancer
Production
Original novel and play
The film was based on the novel 'Olimpia' by Burt Cole, published in 1959. 'The New York Times' wrote that "the author does have an ability to see with imagination and occasionally literary artistry. What he lacks ... is not flamboyance, but a story with substance."Results Much Cheaper: Olimpia. By Burt Cole. 152 pp. New York: The Macmillan Company. $3.50. Mitgang, Herbert. The New York Times 12 July 1959: BR22.In 1961 it was announced that David R. Schwartz had written a theatre adaptation titled 'The Bobo', with former Moss Hart assistant Joseph Hyman slated to produce,Lucille Ball Ill; 'Wildcat' Halted New York Times 7 February 1961: 39. Norman Jewison to direct and Diane Cilento and Shelley Berman to star. Jewison said: "It's not a slick comedy. It's a little different and much fresher."Romantic Comedy Planned for Fall. New York Times 17 April 1961: 36. In 1962, Caroline Swan was named as producer,Carol Channing Signed ror Play: Musical Star Gets Lead in 'King's Mare,' a Comedy. By Sam Zolotow. The New York Times 23 May 1962: 38. but the play never materialized.
Development
In August 1962, George Cukor announced that he would produce a film based on the book to star Ava Gardner.Cinerama Plans 2 More Theatres. By Eugene Archer. The New York Times 25 Aug 1962: 11.In May 1966, it was announced that film rights to the play were owned by the team of Eliot Kastner and Jerry Gershwin, who had recently produced 'Harper' and 'Kaleidescope' for Warner Bros. They signed a deal with Peter Sellers to star in the film and possibly direct it.Coming Up: 'Bobo' Sellers: About Movies By A.H. Weiler. The New York Times 22 May 1966: 129. In August 1966, it was announced that Sellers' wife Britt Ekland would appear in the film as the first of a five-film contract with Gershwin.Top Role for Candy Bergen. Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 August 1966: c9. Eventually, Sellers decided not to direct and Robert Parrish took the job.
Shooting
Filming took place in Italy and Barcelona in August 1966Movie Call Sheet: Team to Produce 14 Films. Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 30 November 1966: D16. and at Cinecitt Studios, Rome. It was a difficult shoot, as Sellers and Ekland were having marital problems and Sellers' mother died during filming. Sellers insisted on directing some of the film.Soundtrack
"Imagine," the song heard with the titles, was written by Francis Lai, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was released as a single by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, by Dana Valery as a B-side to "You" and by John Gary as a B-side to "Cold", all in 1967.Billboard - 2 September 1967 - Page 43 Francis Lai, composer of "A Man and a Woman," has come up with another melodical score in Peter Sellers ... With Sammy Cahn's lyrics, the Mexican-oriented music includes vocals and instrumental of the title song, "Imagine" and "The Blue Matador."The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures 0520209702 1997 Songs: "Imagine," "The Song of the Blue Matador" Francis Lai, Sammy Cahn
Reception
In a contemporary review for 'The New York Times', critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "[A]fter sitting dutifully through it, I can tell you what a bobo is. It's a boobooand that goes not only for the title character, played by a strangely lackluster Mr. Sellers, but also for the film. It's amazing how labored and unfunny is the screenplay of this pseudocomic tale."
Richard Schickel wrote in 'Time': "There comes a time in the life of every screen comedian when he urgently feels the need to have the adjective 'Chaplinesque' applied to his work. It is a dangerous moment, with the pitfall of pretentiousness yawning on one side, sentimentality on the other and all the psychological hazards of overreaching buzzing in the back of the mind. It is a pleasure to report that Peter Sellersthat excellent fellowhas not only endured this trial, but has mostly prevailed over it."
References
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