Bloomfield (film): Difference between revisions

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| country = United Kingdom<br />Israel
| country = United Kingdom<br />Israel
| language = English<br />Hebrew
| language = English<br />Hebrew
| budget =
| budget = £800,000<ref name="uri">HARRIS MAKES HIS DIRECTING DEBUT
The Irish Times 10 Nov 1969: 16. </ref>
}}
}}
'''''Bloomfield''''' (released in the United States as ''The Hero'') is a 1971 British-Israeli drama film directed by [[Richard Harris]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bloomfield (The Hero) (1971)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009547-hero/|publisher=Rotten tomatoes|accessdate=8 June 2012}}</ref> and [[Uri Zohar]]. It was entered into the [[21st Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="imdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068694/awards |title=IMDB.com: Awards for Bloomfield |accessdate=13 March 2010|work=imdb.com}}</ref>
'''''Bloomfield''''' (released in the United States as ''The Hero'') is a 1971 British-Israeli drama film directed by [[Richard Harris]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bloomfield (The Hero) (1971)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009547-hero/|publisher=Rotten tomatoes|accessdate=8 June 2012}}</ref> and [[Uri Zohar]]. It was entered into the [[21st Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="imdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068694/awards |title=IMDB.com: Awards for Bloomfield |accessdate=13 March 2010|work=imdb.com}}</ref>


The soundtrack of this film composed and produced by [[Johnny Harris (musician)|Johnny Harris]] includes a short version of "[[The Loner (Maurice Gibb song)|The Loner]]", a song co-written by [[Maurice Gibb]] and Lulu's brother Billy Lawrie. Johnny Harris was MD for [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]] at the time this song was composed and recorded in 1969. It was released on a [[Pye Records]] single in 1972 performed by [[The Bloomfields]] when the film was finally released in Great Britain. The soundtrack also includes 3 tracks by [[Heads Hands & Feet]].
The soundtrack of this film composed and produced by [[Johnny Harris (musician)|Johnny Harris]] includes a short version of "[[The Loner (Maurice Gibb song)|The Loner]]", a song co-written by [[Maurice Gibb]] and Lulu's brother Billy Lawrie. Johnny Harris was MD for [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]] at the time this song was composed and recorded in 1969. It was released on a [[Pye Records]] single in 1972 performed by [[The Bloomfields]] when the film was finally released in Great Britain. The soundtrack also includes 3 tracks by [[Heads Hands & Feet]].
==Plot==

A footballer in Israel is offered a bribe to lose a match. But when he meets a child who is a fan of his, the footballer decides to win the game.
==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Richard Harris]] as Eitan
* [[Richard Harris]] as Eitan
Line 38: Line 40:
* [[Beyla Genauer]] as Nimrod's mother
* [[Beyla Genauer]] as Nimrod's mother
* [[Amnon Berenson]] as Bulldozer foreman
* [[Amnon Berenson]] as Bulldozer foreman
==Production==
The film was originally called ''Knights of Bloomfield'' and was to be directed by Uri Zohar. At one point the film was going to be shot in Italy and was known as ''Viva Higgins''.<ref>MISCELLANY: Hush-hush demo
The Guardian 23 Aug 1969: 9.</ref> Harris called the story "very autobiographical. It's a story about freedom and man's success and moments of failure."<ref>Film: Harris's 'interpretive art': Only the Irish... History-shaker Fled 'Red Desert'
By Louise Sweeney. The Christian Science Monitor 26 Aug 1970: 6. </ref>

The movie was financed by the Investor's Overseas Service, a mutual fund run by Bernie Cornfeld. It was their first investment in moviemaking although Cornfeld had invested in the short lived Commonwealth United Company.<ref>Sherwood Wrote Big Finish for F.D.R.
Los Angeles Times 19 Mar 1970: g20. </ref>

Filming started in October 1969 in Israel, in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Two weeks into filming director Uri Zohar left the production. After a week Harris took over as director.<ref name="uri">HARRIS MAKES HIS DIRECTING DEBUT
The Irish Times 10 Nov 1969: 16. </ref> Since Harris was not a member of a technical union a crew union ordered its members to stop working but they continued anyway.<ref>Union Blacklists Movie Directed by Richard Harris
Los Angeles Times 15 Dec 1969: g27. </ref>

"No other director would take over without months of preparation," claimed Harris.<ref>Richard Harris in Harness for Directing Job
Blume, Mary. Los Angeles Times 23 Aug 1970: q16. </ref>

Harris was meant to be in Israel for five weeks and ended up staying five months, causing him to miss out on playing the title role in the film ''[[Scrooge (1970 film)|Scrooge]]'' (Albert Finney took the role).<ref>Having a Scrooge loose
Walker, John. The Guardian 12 Dec 1970: 7. </ref>

After he made the film Harris said he felt like putting an ad in ''Variety'' apologizing to all the directors he had worked with.<ref>Versatile Richard Harris Isn't One of the Tin Gods
Pearce, Sterling. Chicago Tribune 13 Dec 1970: g6. </ref>

Cinematographer Otto Heller died two weeks after filming.<ref>Actor Harris' 'Bloomfield'
Brass, Sally K. Los Angeles Times 9 July 1971: g14. </ref>
==Reception==
The film had its world premiere in Harris' home town of Limerick. screened at the Berlin Film Festival. [[Rex Reed]] who was a judge called it "an appalling piece of self indulgent garbage."<ref>Berlin Festival Ends with Laugh--and Argument
Reed, Rex. Chicago Tribune 18 July 1971: e2. </ref>


The film was not released in the US until 1972 where it was screened under the title ''The Hero''.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 08:40, 8 January 2020

Bloomfield
Directed byRichard Harris
Uri Zohar
Written byRichard Harris
Joseph Gross
Wolf Mankowitz
Produced byMaurice Foster
StarringRichard Harris
CinematographyOtto Heller
Edited byKevin Connor
Music byJohnny Harris
Maurice Gibb
Distributed by20th Century Fox (UK)
Release date
  • June 1971 (1971-06)
Running time
97 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Israel
LanguagesEnglish
Hebrew
Budget£800,000[1]

Bloomfield (released in the United States as The Hero) is a 1971 British-Israeli drama film directed by Richard Harris[2] and Uri Zohar. It was entered into the 21st Berlin International Film Festival.[3]

The soundtrack of this film composed and produced by Johnny Harris includes a short version of "The Loner", a song co-written by Maurice Gibb and Lulu's brother Billy Lawrie. Johnny Harris was MD for Lulu at the time this song was composed and recorded in 1969. It was released on a Pye Records single in 1972 performed by The Bloomfields when the film was finally released in Great Britain. The soundtrack also includes 3 tracks by Heads Hands & Feet.

Plot

A footballer in Israel is offered a bribe to lose a match. But when he meets a child who is a fan of his, the footballer decides to win the game.

Cast

Production

The film was originally called Knights of Bloomfield and was to be directed by Uri Zohar. At one point the film was going to be shot in Italy and was known as Viva Higgins.[4] Harris called the story "very autobiographical. It's a story about freedom and man's success and moments of failure."[5]

The movie was financed by the Investor's Overseas Service, a mutual fund run by Bernie Cornfeld. It was their first investment in moviemaking although Cornfeld had invested in the short lived Commonwealth United Company.[6]

Filming started in October 1969 in Israel, in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Two weeks into filming director Uri Zohar left the production. After a week Harris took over as director.[1] Since Harris was not a member of a technical union a crew union ordered its members to stop working but they continued anyway.[7]

"No other director would take over without months of preparation," claimed Harris.[8]

Harris was meant to be in Israel for five weeks and ended up staying five months, causing him to miss out on playing the title role in the film Scrooge (Albert Finney took the role).[9]

After he made the film Harris said he felt like putting an ad in Variety apologizing to all the directors he had worked with.[10]

Cinematographer Otto Heller died two weeks after filming.[11]

Reception

The film had its world premiere in Harris' home town of Limerick. screened at the Berlin Film Festival. Rex Reed who was a judge called it "an appalling piece of self indulgent garbage."[12]

The film was not released in the US until 1972 where it was screened under the title The Hero.

References

  1. ^ a b HARRIS MAKES HIS DIRECTING DEBUT The Irish Times 10 Nov 1969: 16.
  2. ^ "Bloomfield (The Hero) (1971)". Rotten tomatoes. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  3. ^ "IMDB.com: Awards for Bloomfield". imdb.com. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  4. ^ MISCELLANY: Hush-hush demo The Guardian 23 Aug 1969: 9.
  5. ^ Film: Harris's 'interpretive art': Only the Irish... History-shaker Fled 'Red Desert' By Louise Sweeney. The Christian Science Monitor 26 Aug 1970: 6.
  6. ^ Sherwood Wrote Big Finish for F.D.R. Los Angeles Times 19 Mar 1970: g20.
  7. ^ Union Blacklists Movie Directed by Richard Harris Los Angeles Times 15 Dec 1969: g27.
  8. ^ Richard Harris in Harness for Directing Job Blume, Mary. Los Angeles Times 23 Aug 1970: q16.
  9. ^ Having a Scrooge loose Walker, John. The Guardian 12 Dec 1970: 7.
  10. ^ Versatile Richard Harris Isn't One of the Tin Gods Pearce, Sterling. Chicago Tribune 13 Dec 1970: g6.
  11. ^ Actor Harris' 'Bloomfield' Brass, Sally K. Los Angeles Times 9 July 1971: g14.
  12. ^ Berlin Festival Ends with Laugh--and Argument Reed, Rex. Chicago Tribune 18 July 1971: e2.

External links


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