In the Cool of the Day
Directed byRobert Stevens
Screenplay byMeade Roberts
Based onIn the Cool of the Day
1960 novel
by Susan Ertz
Produced byJohn Houseman
Starring
CinematographyPeter Newbrook
Edited byThomas Stanford
Music byFrancis Chagrin
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
March 1963
Running time
89 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.5 million[1]

In the Cool of the Day is a 1963 British-American romantic drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Metrocolor and Panavision.[2][3] The film is directed by Robert Stevens and starring Peter Finch, Jane Fonda, Angela Lansbury, Arthur Hill, and Constance Cummings; with Nigel Davenport, and John Le Mesurier.[4]

Plot

Christine Bonner (Fonda) is a wealthy, beautiful young American woman with chronic health problems. She has been separated from her adoring but overly-protective husband Sam (Hill), but agrees to return to him. She meets an English friend of Sam's, a writer and publishing-company executive, Murray Logan (Finch), who shares her great interest in Greece.

Logan also is unhappily married because his vicious and shallow wife, Sybil (Lansbury), blames him for an automobile accident that scarred her and killed their son. Christine and Murray meet again in England and their attraction grows.

The two couples plan to vacation together in Greece, but Sam must stay home because of a family illness. Murray and Christine fall in love as they visit Greek ruins and other tourist attractions.

Sybil, besides being bored with the cultural landmarks, realizes what is happening and writes Sam in New York. She then tells Murray she is leaving him, running off to the Riviera for a fling with an Englishman (Davenport) she met in Greece. She tells Christine that “he’s all yours.”

Hearing that Christine’s controlling mother is pursuing them, they continue their travels, eventually making love. Christine’s mother finds them and takes her away. Christine falls ill from the stress and exertion and, according to Sam, refuses to fight for her life; she eventually contracts pneumonia.

Sam suggests that Murray visit the hospital. Before dying, Christine tells Murray she did not want him to have to deal with her chronic illness. She makes Murray promise to do what they would have done together. He continues his travels in Greece.[5]

Cast

Production

The novel was published in 1960. The New York Times called it "a mixture of high romance and exotic travelogue".[6]

Film rights were bought by MGM who assigned John Houseman to produce. Houseman had just returned to the studio after a six year absence. Meade Roberts, who had written a TV adaptation of Wings of the Dove for Houseman, was working on the script by January 1961.[7][8] In July Robert Stevens was announced as director; it was the second of a two picture deal with MGM, the first being I Thank a Fool. Stevens had worked with Houseman several times on television.[9]

In February 1962 Houseman said the film was in planning stages and described the project as "essentially it is a romantic drama dealing with marital problems, the settings of which are New York, Connecticut, London and Greece. No cast as yet?"[10]

Peter Finch, who had just made I Thank a Fool with Stevens, was the first cast member announced. In May 1962 MGM signed Jane Fonda, who had just made A Period of Adjustment with the studio, would star.[11]

Filming took place in August 1962. It was made on locations in London, Greece and at MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood, Herts.[3] The production schedule was hampered by the fact Jane Fonda was required back in New York at a certain date to begin rehearsals for a play. Houseman joked that the film was split into two sections, "Jane Fonda" and "post-Jane Fonda".[12]

Reception

On the January 19, 2018 episode of Watch What Happens Live, Fonda stated it was the worst film she'd ever made and she wished it had never been filmed; so bad, in fact, she wasn't even certain if it had been released.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "AFI|Catalog".
  2. ↑ "In the Cool of the Day (1963) - Robert Stevens | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  3. 1 2 "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com.
  4. ↑ "In the Cool of the Day (1963)". BFI. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017.
  5. ↑ "In the Cool of the Day (1963)". TCM.com. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ Saint Meets Martyr: IN THE COOL OF THE DAY. By Susan Ertz. 228 pp. New York: Harper & Bros. $4.50. By ISABELLE MALLET. New York Times 30 Oct 1960: BR49.
  7. ↑ Hollywood Scripters Mine Other Media The Christian Science Monitor 17 Jan 1961: 4.
  8. ↑ Producer With Itchy Feet Plants 'em Back in Films Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 31 Dec 1961: G3.
  9. ↑ Robert Stevens to Direct Film Special to The New York Times. New York Times 21 July 1961: 15
  10. ↑ BY WAY OF REPORT: By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 11 Feb 1962: 115.
  11. ↑ Albright in 'Fix' With Gene Barry: Ransohoff Holding Garner; Dore Schaiy in Total Recall Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 14 May 1962: C13.
  12. ↑ Interview with John Houseman Houston, Penelope. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 31, Iss. 4, (Fall 1962): 160.
  13. ↑ "After Show: Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin's Most Annoying Habits". YouTube. Watch What Happens Live on YouTube.
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