This article needs additional citations for verification . (April 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline . (May 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Illusion Infinity | |
---|---|
Directed by | Roger Steinmann |
Produced by | Roger Steinmann, Markus Imthurn, Eric Louzil |
Written by | Roger Steinmann |
Starring | Dee Wallace, Mickey Rooney, Timothy Bottoms, Barbara Carrera, Martin Kove, Theresa Saldana, Lilyan Chauvin |
Music by | Albritton McClain |
Cinematography | Ruurd M. Fenenga, Mark Melville |
Edited by | Jeff Wood |
Production company | Sunset International AG |
Running time | 107 min. |
Country | Switzerland / USA |
Language | English |
Illusion Infinity (aka Paradise) is a 2004 Swiss-USA drama, written and directed by Swiss Roger Steinmann [1] . The film stars Dee Wallace, Mickey Rooney [2] , Timothy Bottoms, Barbara Carrera, Martin Kove, Theresa Saldana [3] and Lilyan Chauvin.
Illusion Infinity deals about successful Las Vegas-singer Patricia Paradise's yearning for a genuine soul-mate, and a home she calls 'Shangri-La’. Faith brings her to Death Valley, where she finds a harmonic family life – until 18 years later her teenage son's doubts about his father's identity shifts Patricia's reality once again up-side-down.
Singer Patricia Paradise got everything: beauty, fame, success, money. Though her 40th birthday inevitably approaches, she increasingly longs for the only thing missing in her life: a child. Leaving her successful career and Las Vegas forever in order to build her family in a healthy environment was long prevented by Katherine Hiller, her discoverer and business manager. This spider-woman, secretly connected to the mob, has jealously controlled Patricia's life as well as the one of Patricia's husband, casino owner Francis Hiller who happens to be Katherine's half-brother. Due to his enormous debts with the mafia, he continually pushes Patricia to keep her career going.
One day, Francis mysteriously disappears. The word in Las Vegas is that he is dead. But Patricia, as she confides to her good-hearted maid Maria, is convinced that her husband got away and awaits her in 'Shangri-La', the fabulous get-away-paradise where she will fulfill her infinite happiness of a family. Patricia is able to escape Las Vegas, not before having had to overcome the heavily threatening Katherine and a brutal nurse who was ordered to keep her constantly drugged.
After hours of driving through the Nevada desert, the taxi driver abruptly quits of the search of this Shangri-La. He demands the pay-up, then angrily rapes Patricia. At this moment of highest desperation, Patricia's guardian angel, grandfather-like Simon, conveys strength and faith. She is able to flee into the desert and to hide in a deserted shack. Mysteriously, she gets to see the wise angel who explains that her dream place can be anywhere, even at a rotten shack where she is right now. Though, as her husband always has prevented her realization of this fact, she must be true to her own heart. With a knock at the door, a rejuvenated Francis appears. He charmingly convinces her to reverse all her plans in order to continue her career. On their way back to Las Vegas, they pass the Death Valley. Patricia increasingly becomes suspicious that this arrogant man impossibly can be her beloved husband - he indeed is Douglas, a perfect look-a-like of her Francis. Shocked, all of Patricia's dreams fall apart. But again, her guardian angel reactivates her will to live. And yes, suddenly she spots her beloved who wanders over sand dunes. By following him, the exhausted Patricia reaches an oasis she is convinced being her eternal 'Shangri-La'.
But the man, despite his close looks of Francis, is indeed Henry. He is a park ranger, contently living with his father, Henry Sr. – another mysterious incarnation, as he just looks like the angel Simon. Henry bears a much more refined character than Francis. Patricia is in seventh heaven. Her goal of happiness is achieved, a life in Shangri-La, with a harmonic family complete with her offspring Alan.
Eighteen years of unique happiness pass by. But slowly, their teenage-son Alan got obsessed that sterile Henry can't possibly be his father. Even worse, he nags at the thought of Henry having killed his real father who must be Douglas, the one Patricia had spent a night with back in the desert-shack. Henry can't stand these incriminations and, deadly hurt, he passes away. Ashamed, Alan escapes to the excessive Las Vegas, devastating Patricia even more so. Now, she suddenly is all-alone at her dream-place Shangri-La.
Her guarding angel Simon, the true incarnation of the good grandfather, calms his protégé: Genuine happiness only comes from within. Patricia regains her joy of life - although living in complete isolation.
As the years pass by, the aged Patricia gets a visit by...Francis. But does she realize, that this Francis, or is it Henry, or even Douglas, is in reality her grown up son Alan...?
Illusion Infinity was labeled as biopic; however, it's an original story and screenplay by Roger Steinmann he wrote 1997-2000 about the supposed real Las Vegas-singer Patricia Paradise.
In December 2000, principal photography started in Hollywood with newcomer Jolie Jackunas as Patricia; Edward Albert in the triple-role as Francis, Douglas and Henry; Ray Walston as Simon; and Eddie Albert as Henry Sr.
Illusion Infinity would have marked the first pairing of this Hollywood-legend with his actor-son Edward, if not the untimely death of 'Favorite Martian'-Ray Walston on Jan 1, 2001 would have put an immediate stop to the production. [4]
With the help of veteran casting director Gerald I. Wolff, a new cast was eventually assembled [5] Mickey Rooney replaced both Ray Walston and Eddie Albert as playing both characters Simon and Henry Sr., and Timothy Bottoms assumed the altered screenplay's quintuple-roles, including older Alan and young Patricia's father when filming resumed in November 2002.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and written by George Axelrod, loosely based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same name. Starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, and featuring Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, and Mickey Rooney, the film was initially released on October 5, 1961, by Paramount Pictures.
Mickey Rooney was an American actor, vaudevillian, comedian, producer and radio personality. In a career spanning nine decades and continuing until shortly before his death, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the silent-film era.
The year 1938 in film involved some significant events.
Ann-Margret Olsson, known mononymously as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer.
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966, they charted with teen melodramas, and remain especially known for their hits "Leader of the Pack", "Remember ", and "Give Him a Great Big Kiss".
A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada has been the site of many quick celebrity weddings. It is noted for its Drive-Thru Tunnel of Vows. It was established in 1951 or 1955, and has married about 800,000 couples. It employs ten ministers.
Gamora Zen Whoberi Ben Titan is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/artist Jim Starlin, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #180. Gamora is the adopted daughter of Thanos, and the last of her species. Her powers include superhuman strength and agility and an accelerated healing factor. She also is an elite combatant, being able to beat most of the opponents in the galaxy. She is a member of the group known as the Infinity Watch. The character played a role in the 2007 crossover comic book event "Annihilation: Conquest", and became a member of the titular team in its spin-off comic, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Juliet Anne Prowse was a dancer, whose four-decade career included stage, television and film. She was raised in South Africa, where her family emigrated after World War II. Known for her attractive legs, she was described after her death as having "... arguably the best legs since Betty Grable."
Candy Barr, born as Juanita Dale Slusher, was an American stripper, burlesque dancer, actress, and adult model in men's magazines of the mid-20th century.
The Miss Nevada USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nevada in the Miss USA pageant.
Elaine Devry is an American actress.
Juliette May Fraser was an American painter, muralist and printmaker. She was born in Honolulu, which was then the capital city of the Kingdom of Hawaii. After graduating from Wellesley College with a degree in art, she returned to Hawaii for several years. She continued her studies with Eugene Speicher and Frank DuMond at the Art Students League of New York and at the John F. Carlson School of Landscape Painting in Woodstock, New York. She returned to Hawaii to teach, like her parents who had both come to Hawaii as educators. Fraser designed the Hawaii Sesquicentennial half dollar, which was engraved by Chester Beach and issued in 1928.
Over Her Dead Body is a 2008 American romantic comedy film starring Eva Longoria, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Lindsay Sloane and Jason Biggs. It was written and directed by Jeff Lowell. The film is about Kate, who dies on the day of her wedding to fiancé Henry. He subsequently begins a relationship with psychic Ashley who becomes haunted by Kate trying to sabotage their relationship.
Girl Crazy is a 1943 American musical film produced by the Freed Unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Based on the stage musical Girl Crazy – which was written by Guy Bolton and Jack McGowan, with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin – it stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in the last of their nine co-starring movies. Production began with Busby Berkeley as director, but he was soon replaced by Norman Taurog.
Strike Up the Band is a 1940 American musical film produced by the Arthur Freed unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was directed by Busby Berkeley and stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, in the second of a series of musicals they co-starred in, after Babes in Arms, all directed by Berkeley.
Antonia Christina Basilotta, better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer, actress, choreographer, dancer, and filmmaker, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide hit "Mickey" (1981), which reached No. 1 in several countries.
Flight of Black Angel is a 1991 TV (Showtime) aviation film directed by Jonathan Mostow, featuring William O'Leary and Peter Strauss.
Jolene is a 2008 American drama film directed by Dan Ireland, based on the short story "Jolene: A Life" by E. L. Doctorow and inspired by Dolly Parton's song of the same name. Jessica Chastain played the title character in her film debut. It premiered on June 13, 2008 at the Seattle International Film Festival and was later released in the United States on October 29, 2010.
Roger Steinmann is a filmmaker and entrepreneur.