A Breath of Scandal

A Breath of Scandal (released as Olympia in Italy) is a 1960 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, based on the stage play Olympia by Ferenc Molnár. It stars Sophia Loren, Maurice Chevalier, and John Gavin, with Angela Lansbury, Milly Vitale, Roberto Risso, Isabel Jeans, and Tullio Carminati. The film is set at the turn of the 20th century and features lush technicolor photography of Vienna and the countryside of Austria. The costumes and lighting were designed by George Hoyningen-Huene and executed by Ella Bei of the Knize fashion house (Austria). In part because Loren was at odds with Curtiz's direction, Italian director Vittorio De Sica was hired to reshoot certain scenes with Loren after hours without Curtiz's knowledge.

Not to be confused with The Breath of Scandal.
A Breath of Scandal
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Curtiz
Screenplay byWalter Bernstein
Based onOlympia
by Ferenc Molnár
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMario Montuori
Edited byHoward A. Smith
Music by
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • March 16, 1960 (1960-03-16) (Italy)
  • December 16, 1960 (1960-12-16) (United States)
Running time
97 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Italy
LanguageEnglish

The film is based on the 1928 play Olympia rather than being a remake of the 1929 MGM film His Glorious Night.[1]

Plot

An Austrian princess (Loren) falls in love with a Pittsburgh mining engineer (Gavin) over the Prince of Prussia, whom her father (Chevalier) favors.

Cast

Production

The film was part of a three-picture deal, which Loren had, under contract with Paramount. It was also a co-production between Paramount and producers Ponti and Girosi. Filming started on June 1, 1959, in Vienna.[2]

John Gavin, who had been borrowed from Universal, later recalled, "we were being directed by Michael Curtiz, which sounds so good on paper." Apparently, he soon realized the director was past it.

I said to Sophia [during the shoot], "We're in a terrible picture. He may have been a great director once but he doesn't know what he's doing."

According to Gavin, Loren had looked worried and asked, "Do you really think so?"

Gavin said, "The next thing I know Vittorio De Sica is turning up on set, at 2:00am every morning to give Sophia a few hours coaching before shooting started. Imagine! Drama classes at that hour! Still, I wouldn't have minded a little help myself. So I asked him and he said 'Don't change a thing. Everything you do is so American.' That sort of left me up in the air without a compass."[3]

Reception

Gavin later called the film a "turkey" saying Loren playing a princess was "not what she does best."[3]

See also

References
  1. "Olympia as produced on Broadway" October 16, 1928 to November 1928, 39 performances, Empire Theatre; IBDb.com
  2. "ROLE IN 'OLYMPIA' FOR SOPHIA LOREN: She Will Star With Gavin in Movie of Molnar Play -Maureen O'Hara Signs". New York Times. April 7, 1959. p. 39.
  3. Tom Donnelly (July 28, 1974). "John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw': John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw'". The Washington Post. p. L1.
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