The Pleasure Seekers (1964 film)

Last updated
The Pleasure Seekers
Pleasure-seekers-poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jean Negulesco
Screenplay by Edith Sommer
Based on Coins in the Fountain
by John H. Secondari
Produced by David Weisbart
Starring
Cinematography Daniel L. Fapp
Edited by Louis R. Loeffler
Music by Lionel Newman
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 25, 1964 (1964-12-25)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
Budget$2.1 million [1]
Box office$2 million [2]

The Pleasure Seekers is a 1964 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Jean Negulesco from a screenplay by Edith Sommer, based on the 1952 novel Coins in the Fountain by John H. Secondari. The film stars Ann-Margret, Tony Franciosa, Carol Lynley, Gardner McKay, and Pamela Tiffin, with Gene Tierney (in her final film) and Brian Keith. Ann-Margret sings four songs composed by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen.

Contents

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Scoring of Music – Adaptation or Treatment for Lionel Newman and Alexander Courage.

Plot

Susie Higgins arrives in Madrid and moves in with her friend Maggie Williams and Maggie's roommate Fran Hobson. Still a virgin, Susie is surprised to find both of the other girls have active dating lives. Secretary Maggie has recently ended an affair and is now seeing her married boss Paul Barton, much to the dismay of Paul's jealous wife Jane. At the same time, Maggie's co-worker Pete McCoy is in love with Maggie, who barely notices him. Fran, an aspiring actress, flamenco dancer and singer, eagerly pursues Spanish doctor Andres Brioñes. While at the Museo del Prado, Susie catches the eye of wealthy playboy Emilio Lacayo, who adds her to his already large group of girlfriends.

The three girls spend the summer attending various parties while pursuing and being pursued by the men in their lives. In the end, Maggie chooses McCoy over Barton, Dr. Brioñes settles down with Fran, and Lacayo with Susie. All of them decide to stay in Madrid.

Cast

Production

The film was announced in February 1964. The original stars to be in it were Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley, James Darren and George Chakiris. [3] By April, Darren and Chakiris had dropped out, replaced by Gardner MacKay, with Pamela Tiffin as the third girl. Negulsesco said the film would be different from the earlier one. "Instead of Rome, this picture is set in Madrid. Instead of three girls and three men, I'm using four. Naturally, the problems of American girls living in Madrid are similar to those in Three Coins, but this is 1964, so we'll have more difficulties." [4]

Ann-Margret was paid $2,000 a week over ten weeks. This was less than she received for other studios, but she had an old commitment to Fox. [5]

Filming started in May which stage Brian Keith had joined the cast. [6] Several scenes were shot in the Prado Museum in Madrid. [7]

Reception

According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $3,900,000 in film rentals to break even and made $3,205,000 by December 11, 1970 (equivalent to $19.4 million in 2023) [8] , meaning it lost money. [9]

Filmink argued, "The film is fun but hampered by the fact Ann-Margret’s the only lead actor who can sing and dance, and it’s, well, a musical." [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Three Coins in the Fountain</i> (film) 1954 film by Jean Negulesco

Three Coins in the Fountain is a 1954 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Jean Negulesco from a screenplay by John Patrick, based on the 1952 novel Coins in the Fountain by John H. Secondari. It stars Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters, Louis Jourdan, and Maggie McNamara, with Rossano Brazzi, Howard St. John, Kathryn Givney, and Cathleen Nesbitt. The film follows three American women working in Rome who dream of finding romance in the Eternal City. It was originally titled We Believe in Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Franciosa</span> American actor (1928-2006)

Anthony George Franciosa was an American actor most often billed as Tony Franciosa at the height of his career. He began his career on stage and made a breakthrough portraying the brother of the drug addict in the play A Hatful of Rain, which earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He reprised his role in its subsequent film adaptation, for which he won the 1957 Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actor, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

The year 1964 in film involved some significant events, including three highly successful musical films, Mary Poppins,My Fair Lady, and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann-Margret</span> Swedish actress, singer, and dancer (born 1941)

Ann-Margret Olsson, credited as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-American actress and singer. She has won five Golden Globe Awards and been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and six Emmy Awards, winning in 2010 for a guest role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

<i>Viva Las Vegas</i> 1964 film by George Sidney

Viva Las Vegas is a 1964 American rock and roll musical film, with auto racing thrown in, directed by George Sidney, choreographed by David Winters, and starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova, William Demarest. Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the film tells about two competing race car drivers who also compete for the same girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Lynley</span> American actress (1942–2019)

Carol Lynley was an American actress known for her roles in the films Blue Denim (1959) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972).

<i>Kitten with a Whip</i> 1964 US crime drama film by Douglas Heyes

Kitten with a Whip is a 1964 American crime drama film directed by Douglas Heyes, who co-wrote the screenplay with Whit Masterson, a pseudonym for writers Robert Allison “Bob” Wade and H. Bill Miller, who also wrote the novel on which the film is based under the name Wade Miller. The film stars John Forsythe, Ann-Margret, Peter Brown, Patricia Barry and Richard Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pamela Tiffin</span> American actress and model (1942–2020)

Pamela Tiffin Wonso was an American film and television actress.

The 19th Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best in film and television for 1961, were held on March 5, 1962.

<i>John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!</i> 1965 film directed by J. Lee Thompson

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! is a 1965 American comedy film based on the novel by William Peter Blatty published in 1963. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The film was shot in the Mojave Desert.

<i>State Fair</i> (1962 film) 1962 film

State Fair is a 1962 American musical film directed by José Ferrer and starring Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Ann-Margret, Tom Ewell, Pamela Tiffin and Alice Faye. A remake of the 1933 film State Fair and the 1945 film State Fair, it was considered to be a financially and critically unsuccessful film. Richard Rodgers, whose collaborator Oscar Hammerstein had died in 1960, wrote additional songs, both music and lyrics, for this film adaptation of the 1932 novel by Phil Stong.

<i>Lady in a Cage</i> 1964 film by Walter Grauman

Lady in a Cage is a 1964 American psychological thriller film directed by Walter Grauman, written and produced by Luther Davis, and starring Olivia de Havilland and James Caan. The film was released by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Made in Paris</i> 1966 film by Boris Sagal

Made in Paris is a 1966 American romantic-comedy film starring Ann-Margret, Louis Jourdan, Richard Crenna, Edie Adams, and Chad Everett. The film was written by Stanley Roberts and directed by Boris Sagal.

<i>Bus Rileys Back in Town</i> 1965 film by Harvey Hart

Bus Riley's Back in Town is a 1965 American comedy film written by William Inge, directed by Harvey Hart, and starring Ann-Margret and Michael Parks.

<i>Hound-Dog Man</i> 1959 American film

Hound-Dog Man is a 1959 American musical comedy drama film directed by Don Siegel, based on the 1947 novel by Fred Gipson, and starring Fabian, Carol Lynley, and Stuart Whitman.

<i>Joseph Andrews</i> (film) 1977 British film

Joseph Andrews is a 1977 British period comedy film directed by Tony Richardson. It is based on the 1742 novel Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding.

<i>The Swinger</i> 1966 film by George Sidney

The Swinger is a 1966 American sex comedy film directed by George Sidney and starring Ann-Margret and Anthony Franciosa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelby Grant</span> American actress

Shelby Grant was an American actress whose credits included Our Man Flint, Fantastic Voyage, and Medical Center.

<i>Tammy and the Doctor</i> 1963 film by Harry Keller

Tammy and the Doctor is a 1963 Eastmancolor romantic comedy film directed by Harry Keller and starring Sandra Dee as Tambrey "Tammy" Tyree and Peter Fonda as Dr. Mark Cheswick. It is the third of the four Tammy films.

Peter Levathes was an American film and advertising executive, best known for briefly running 20th Century Fox.

References

  1. ↑ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p254
  2. ↑ Anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Top Grossers of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 36
  3. ↑ Stars Celebrate Benny's Birthday: 90 Notables Attend Party; Loren, Peppard a New Team Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1964: D10.
  4. ↑ Looking at Hollywood: MacArthur Story to Be Made Into Movie Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune. 11 Apr 1964: 16.
  5. ↑ Meet Ann-Margret: Hard Work, Ambition Propel a Young Actress To the Top in Hollywood By DAVID H. KELSEY Wall Street Journal 7 Apr 1964: 1.
  6. ↑ Looking at Hollywood: Brigitte Wanted for Jimmy Stewart Film Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 7 May 1964: e6.
  7. ↑ Art Treasures Used in Picture Shot in Spain Los Angeles Times 18 Jan 1965: C15.
  8. ↑ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  9. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M (1988). "Appendix I". The Fox that got away: the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox . Secaucus, New Jersey, United States: Lyle Stuart. p.  324. ISBN   9780818404856.
  10. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (September 6, 2021). "Surviving Cold Streaks: Ann-Margret". Filmink. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.