Development
Henry Lester had formed a company, Sir Nigel Films, which had the rights to develop projects based on the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle's son was chairman of the company. Sir Nigel had produced the Sherlock Holmes film A Study in Terror (1965). [6] In 1966 it was announced Sir Nigel was looking at filming the Brigadier Gerard Stories. Doyle's daughter in law unsuccessfully sought to prevent this from happening. [7]
Gene Gutowski was a film producer who had put director Jerzy Skolimowski under contract to Gutowski's company, Cadre Films, on the recommendation of Roman Polanski, who had made Knife in Water with Skolimowski. Cadre paid Skolimowski a minimum of $60,000 a year. [8]
Gutoskwi was friends with Henry Lester, who invited Gutoswki to co produce The Adventures of Gerard with him. The movie was going to be financed and distributed by United Artists. Gutowski, wanting a project for Skolimowski, suggested him as director and United Artists agreed. [9] The producer later wrote in his memoirs, "I blame myself as I should have recognized his limitations and expressed apprehensions in the first place, but the year was 1968 and Hollywood studios were eager to try out new directing talent." [10] Skolimowski later said "I was very confident in myself after the success of Le Depart... I honestly thought that I could do anything... When these Americans came along - I hate Americans - and when they offered me all this money to make a film I said 'Yes, why not?'" [11]
The original script was by Harry Craig, who had written A Study in Terror. Gutowski said Skolimowski felt the script was old fashioned and had it rewritten, adding elements of surrealism. [12] "I didn't like the script that much," admitted the director. "Anyway I never use a script like that I just improvise." [11]
Gutowski claims that before filming began he and Lester tried to get the director replaced by UA's executive on the project, Ilya Lopert, backed Skolimowski. [13]
Shooting
Peter McEnery was announced as star. Filming took place in 1968. [14] Jack Hawkins made the film after major surgery. [15]
The film was shot at Cinecitta Studios in Rome. [16]
Gutowski later called the production "nothing short of a disaster. While Skolimowski was no doubt a talented director, the scope of the film... was well beyond the limits of his experience, ability or skill." [17] "It was the worst 14 months of my life," confirmed the director, who said he lost confidence as filming went on, even going to see Ben Hur during the shoot "hoping to find out how they wanted me to make the film." [11]
Gutowski wrote, "The film dragged on and even though Ilya Lopert and United Artists at last became aware of the problems and put a second director on the picture to help Skolimowski, he was made of Teflon and no arguments seemed to make any impression on him." [18] The producer claims that Skolimowski later apologised, admitting he was out of his element, and that both the director Roman Polanski thought Gutowski should have fired Skolimowsky. [19]
