Who Was That Lady?: Difference between revisions

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In August 1957 Krasna announced his play ''My Wife and I'' would be produced on Broadway with [[David Merrick]].<ref>FARCE BY KRASNA DUE ON BROADWAY: 'My Wife and I' to Be Staged This Season-- New York Times 16 Aug 1957: 12. </ref> This became ''Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?'' (1958). The play was produced by [[Leland Hayward]].<ref>KRASNA'S COMEDY CHANGES ITS TITLE: 'WHO WAS THAT LADY I SAW YOU WITH?' DUE AT BECK-- BOOKING DELAYS 'AXE' By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 4 Dec 1957: 51.</ref>
In August 1957 Krasna announced his play ''My Wife and I'' would be produced on Broadway with [[David Merrick]].<ref>FARCE BY KRASNA DUE ON BROADWAY: 'My Wife and I' to Be Staged This Season-- New York Times 16 Aug 1957: 12. </ref> This became ''Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?'' (1958). The play was produced by [[Leland Hayward]].<ref>KRASNA'S COMEDY CHANGES ITS TITLE: 'WHO WAS THAT LADY I SAW YOU WITH?' DUE AT BECK-- BOOKING DELAYS 'AXE' By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 4 Dec 1957: 51.</ref>


The play opened on Broadway at the [[Martin Beck Theatre]] on March 3, 1958 in a production directed by Alex Segal and designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, and starring [[Peter Lind Hayes]] and [[Mary Healy (entertainer)|Mary Healy]]. The play ran for 208 performances.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/8266/Who-Was-That-Lady-I-Saw-You-With ''Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?'' original production] at Playbill</ref>
The play opened on Broadway at the [[Martin Beck Theatre]] on March 3, 1958 in a production directed by Alex Segal and designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, and starring [[Peter Lind Hayes]] and [[Mary Healy (entertainer)|Mary Healy]]. The play ran for 208 performances.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/8266/Who-Was-That-Lady-I-Saw-You-With ''Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?'' original production] at Playbill</ref> It only had three positive reviews but managed to run three months. Hayward elected not to take the play out touring because he felt as the play involved multiple sets it was too expensive to mount.<ref>KRASNA'S COMEDY TO CLOSE AUG. 30: ' Who Was That Lady?' Will Not Tour, Producer Says -- London Hit Delayed
By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 18 Aug 1958: 16. </ref>


Krasna was unsuccessfully sued for $500,000 in a breach of trust claim by writer [[Valentine Davies]], who contended that Krasna incorporated material from Davies' work ''Love Must Go On.''<ref>Writer Sues Norman Krasna New York Times 21 Nov 1959: 27.</ref>
Krasna was unsuccessfully sued for $500,000 in a breach of trust claim by writer [[Valentine Davies]], who contended that Krasna incorporated material from Davies' work ''Love Must Go On.''<ref>Writer Sues Norman Krasna New York Times 21 Nov 1959: 27.</ref>
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In September 1958 George Sidney announced he would make the film as part of a three picture deal with Columbia, along with ''Pepe'' and ''Here Come the Brides''.<ref>FILM COMEDY ROLE FOR MISS TAYLOR New York Times 22 Sep 1958: 26. </ref>
In September 1958 George Sidney announced he would make the film as part of a three picture deal with Columbia, along with ''Pepe'' and ''Here Come the Brides''.<ref>FILM COMEDY ROLE FOR MISS TAYLOR New York Times 22 Sep 1958: 26. </ref>

In March 1959 [[Debbie Reynolds]] signed to star alongside Dean Martin and Tony Curtis.<ref>DEBBIE REYNOLDS IN COLUMBIA DEAL: She Takes Role in 'Who Was That Lady?' -- New York Times 9 Mar 1959: 34. </ref> In May this role went to Janet Leigh.<ref>IF THERE'S AN AD, THERE'S MISS WOOD New York Times 7 May 1959: 36. </ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 02:23, 17 October 2019

Who Was That Lady?
Original film poster
Directed byGeorge Sidney
Written byNorman Krasna
Produced byNorman Krasna
StarringTony Curtis
Dean Martin
Janet Leigh
CinematographyHarry Stradling
Edited byViola Lawrence
Music byAndré Previn
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
April 15, 1960 (1960-04-15)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3,100,000 (US/Canada rentals)[1]

Who Was That Lady? is a 1960 comedy film directed by George Sidney and starring Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, and Janet Leigh.

The movie was made by Ansark-Sidney, distributed by Columbia Pictures and produced by Norman Krasna, who also wrote the screenplay based on his successful Broadway play Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? The music score was by André Previn and the cinematography by Harry Stradling. The costume design was by Jean Louis. The title song was written by Sammy Cahn.

The film features James Whitmore, John McIntire, Barbara Nichols, Larry Keating, Larry Storch, Simon Oakland and Joi Lansing. Jack Benny appears as himself.

Dean Martin received a Golden Globe award nomination for his performance in Who Was That Lady?, which also was nominated for Best Comedy.

Plot

Ann Wilson (Janet Leigh) catches her strait-laced husband, Columbia University Assistant Professor of Chemistry David Wilson (Tony Curtis), kissing another woman. From David's perspective, he was the one being kissed innocently, the woman in question being a grateful transfer student. However, Ann wants a divorce. On the advice of David's friend, TV writer Michael Haney (Dean Martin), David tries to convince Ann that he is really an FBI agent, the kiss all in the name of national security. Ann falls for it, but is so impressed with what her husband does for a living that she can't keep quiet about it. Michael is so impressed with Ann's gullibility and patriotic urging of her husband Dave to do more "secret missions" that Michael sets up a date with two blondes with the promise of spending a weekend together with them. The indiscretions cause a number of complications, including some with the real FBI, the CIA and hostile foreign secret agents.

Main cast

Actor Role
Tony Curtis David Wilson
Dean Martin Michael Haney
Janet Leigh Ann Wilson
James Whitmore Harry Powell
John McIntire Bob Doyle
Barbara Nichols Gloria Coogle
Larry Keating Parker
Larry Storch Orenov
Simon Oakland Belka
Joi Lansing Florence Coogle
Mike Lane Glinka the Henchman
Jack Benny Jack Benny

As of January 2016, Larry Storch is the only cast member still alive.

The film also features brief appearances by comedians Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Snub Pollard, and Emil Sitka.

Original play

Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?
Written byNorman Krasna
Date premiered3 March 1958
Place premieredMartin Beck Theatre, New York
Original languageEnglish

Background

In August 1957 Krasna announced his play My Wife and I would be produced on Broadway with David Merrick.[2] This became Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? (1958). The play was produced by Leland Hayward.[3]

The play opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on March 3, 1958 in a production directed by Alex Segal and designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, and starring Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy. The play ran for 208 performances.[4] It only had three positive reviews but managed to run three months. Hayward elected not to take the play out touring because he felt as the play involved multiple sets it was too expensive to mount.[5]

Krasna was unsuccessfully sued for $500,000 in a breach of trust claim by writer Valentine Davies, who contended that Krasna incorporated material from Davies' work Love Must Go On.[6]

Production

The production company, Ansark-Sidney, combines the names of producer Krasna (spelled backwards) and director Sidney.

In September 1958 George Sidney announced he would make the film as part of a three picture deal with Columbia, along with Pepe and Here Come the Brides.[7]

In March 1959 Debbie Reynolds signed to star alongside Dean Martin and Tony Curtis.[8] In May this role went to Janet Leigh.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rental Potentials of 1960". Variety. January 4, 1961. p. 47. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  2. ^ FARCE BY KRASNA DUE ON BROADWAY: 'My Wife and I' to Be Staged This Season-- New York Times 16 Aug 1957: 12.
  3. ^ KRASNA'S COMEDY CHANGES ITS TITLE: 'WHO WAS THAT LADY I SAW YOU WITH?' DUE AT BECK-- BOOKING DELAYS 'AXE' By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 4 Dec 1957: 51.
  4. ^ Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? original production at Playbill
  5. ^ KRASNA'S COMEDY TO CLOSE AUG. 30: ' Who Was That Lady?' Will Not Tour, Producer Says -- London Hit Delayed By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 18 Aug 1958: 16.
  6. ^ Writer Sues Norman Krasna New York Times 21 Nov 1959: 27.
  7. ^ FILM COMEDY ROLE FOR MISS TAYLOR New York Times 22 Sep 1958: 26.
  8. ^ DEBBIE REYNOLDS IN COLUMBIA DEAL: She Takes Role in 'Who Was That Lady?' -- New York Times 9 Mar 1959: 34.
  9. ^ IF THERE'S AN AD, THERE'S MISS WOOD New York Times 7 May 1959: 36.

External links

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