I'll Take Sweden (United Artists) (1965)

Publicity ‘I'll Take Sweden’ Has Hope, Fun, Frolic and Females (Production Story) If there’s a place on earth where females and fun abound, Bob Hope is sure to get there sooner or later. For his latest cinematic fling, he takes Sweden! Co-starring Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon, Dina Merrill and Jeremy Slate, “Vl Take Sweden” is a Technicolor comedy with music opening ab ther Sena Theatre, through United Artists release. In the film, produced by Edward Small, Hope plays the father of a teenage swinger about to embark on a trial marriage, Swedish style. Hope doesn’t think much of the custom until he meets a_ sexy Scandinavian who proposes the same kind of arrangement! It’s the kind of situation-comedy Bob is most at home in and filming the picture was a continuous round of off-the-cuff acting and ad-libbing —which kept director Fred de Cordova constantly wondering just which picture the cast was making. During an off-stage party, Frankie Avalon offered to sing for Tuesday, accompanying himself on the guitar then unexpectedly broke it over Jeremy Slate’s head! The astonished guests quickly realized it was one of the “breakaway” guitars used for a fight scene in the film. When audiences see it, they will actually be watching nine guitars smashed to pieces —at a total cost of $360.00, Excusing the pun, it breaks down this way: to cover the sequence in long shots, closeups and “pointof-view” shots, director de Cordo In the Mood Frankie Avalon has a collection of than 100 “mood-music” records which he listened to before going on the sets for his starring role in “Vll Take Sweden,” opening in Technicolor ........ atthe. Theatre, through United Artists release. The practice, a throwback to silent-screen tradition, was regarded with amusement and speculation by co-star Tuesday Weld, who asked Bob Hope whether the moodmaking really worked. more “You'll have to ask Crosby,” cracked the comedian, who plays Tuesday’s father in the film, “He’s the only one I know who goes back that far!” Sull ITS-48 Popular singer-actor Frankie Avalon co-stars with Bob Hope, Tuesday Weld, Dina Merrill and Jeremy Slate in “Vl Take Sweden,” opening, in Technicolor, va filmed the scene nine different times. Each time a_ breakaway guitar, made out of balsa wood and costing $40, was broken over Slate’s head. Or we should say, the head of Slate! In addition to learning this new way to “play” guitar, Avalon learned a little Swedish (from Swedish actor Peter Bourne) ; a little boxing — (from “Mushy” Callahan, former fighter now working as a technical advisor); a little about orchid culture (from studio florist Larry Liberman—who raises prizewinning plants as a sideline); a little electronics (from sound engineer Al Overton—who claims to have catalogued the sounds of movie stars’ kisses!) and a_ little soft-shoe from a veteran vaudevillian who got his start in show-business shuffling around with a straw hat and a cane. All The Ladies Are Title Winners Among the bikini-clad blondes in “Ill Take Sweden,” new Bob Hope comedy opening in Technicolor nee at the ................. Theatre, through United Artists release, are two statuesque brunette contest winners: Siv Marta Aberg, last year’s Miss Sweden and Rosemarie Frankland, former Miss World. The short blonde in the bikini is Tuesday Weld, who has won a few titles of her own, including: Miss Teenager of the Month; Miss Teenager of the Year; Miss Cinema Teenager; Tuesday Teenager and Miss Avocado. Among her many honorary titles are: Honorary Mayor of Memphis ; Honorary Fire Chief of Tucson; Honorary Cookie Salesgirl of the Brownies; Honorary Member of the Los Angeles City Council and .. . Honorary Queen of the Waterworks of East St. Louis! Bob Hope has more honors, awards and titles than everyone in the cast put together . . . but he doesn’t wear a bikini! Mat 2D Bee es cae at the Theatre, through United Artists release. In the comedy with music Frankie sings a selection of new songs. PAGE 8 Stull ITS-45 Bob Hope’s 50th film is “Vl Take Sweden,” opening at the nt a Theatre, through United Artists release. Co starred with the veteran comedian is Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon, Dina Merrill and Jeremy Slate. For the Technicolor comedy with music Hope journeys to the land of blondes, bath houses and bikinis. Bob Hope Abandons Roads But Takes Sweden’ in Latest Bob Hope’s travels are legendary and although he does not hit a new “road” for his 50th movie, he does come ashore in a new country. For his latest comedy romp, Leslie Townes Hope co-stars with Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon and Dina Merrill in “Pll Take Sweden,” opening in Technicolor Es] cael O(c ee Theatre, through United Artists release. Originally from Cleveland (or England, depending on how far back you want to go), Hope began his career in a_ vaudeville dance act. One night in Newcastle, Indiana he was asked to make an announcement and wound up kidding it, kidding his partner and kidding the audience. He’s been kidding ever since! As his vaudeville engagement continued, so did his comedy and by the time he had made the Broadway big-time, Bob had _ perfected a free-and-easy style that delighted audiences. His first stage show, “Ballyhoo,” was followed by “Roberta,” “Ziegfeld Follies” and “Red, Hot and Blue.” Then radio heard of Hope and all America did too. Bob’s first film was “The Big Broadcast of 1938,” in which he sang “Thanks for the Memory” with Shirley Ross. From then on his star soared until today he is perhaps the best-known, best-loved personality in show _ business. Among the many awards he has been given are the Congressional Gold Medal, the Medal of Merit, two Academy Award ‘Oscars’, an honorary Emmy and the Milestone Award of the Screen Producer’s Guild. During his incredibly busy career Bob Hope has been seen in almost every theatre in the world. This includes, of course, the many military theatres of operation he visited both during and after the war. His stages have included the huge flight-decks of airplane carriers and small, damp jungle clearings. His patriotic global travels are inspiring; his stamina incredible. In private life (yes, he has one!) Hope has been married since 1932 to former actress Dolores Reade. They have four children and live in a rambling North Hollywood home. Frankie Avalon Sings, Stars In ‘I'll Take Sweden’ Comedy When he was six, Frankie Avalon sang “Give Me Five Minutes More” and won first prize in an amateur hour: a big red scooter. His reward is slightly more valuable for his co-star ring role, with Bob Hope, Tuesday Weld and Dina Merrill, in “VIL Take Sweden,” opening in Technicolor at the Theatre, through United Artists release. Frankie has indeed come a long way, presently enjoying success as both a singer and actor. Behind him are records that sell in the millions, movies that are seen by millions—and TV, night club and concert appearances which have made him one of the most in-demand stars in the entertainment industry. A child prodigy on the trumpet, Frankie formed his own musical combo at 14. But his trumpetplaying, band-leading days ended abruptly when he made his first record, singing a catchy tune called “De De Dinah.” His second hit was “Venus” which went over the million mark earning Frankie his first Gold Record. Later, a Gold Album, “Swingin’ on a Rainbow,” began to attract adults as well as teenagers to his unusual voice and style. Guest appearances on all the leading shows followed and soon Frankie Avalon’s name was familiar on the night club circuit as well. In New York’s famous Copacabana he broke Sammy _ Davis’ Saturday night house record. He has also played the Las Vegas Sands Hotel, co-billed with Joey Bishop—and toured Europe proving American music is still the best in the world. Among his ten movie roles are those in “Guns of the Timberland,” “The Alamo,” “Panic in Year Zero” and “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.” Although his fan mail averages between 1500 and 2000 letters a week, Frankie has managed to remain a modest young man with poise and intelligence far exceeding his years. It would seem that his classmates knew what they were doing when they voted him “The Boy Most Likely To Suc ceed.” de Cordova, Hope Reunited in Film “T’ll Take Sweden” marks Fred de Cordova’s second professional association with Bob Hope. The first was long ago when Bob and Fanny Brice starred in “Ziegfeld Follies of 1936” and de Cordova, then five years out of Harvard law school, was pursuing his career as a director. Today, almost 30 years later, star and director are united again—still clowning it up! OpenING esc: at the ............ Theatre, through United Artists release, “Pll Take Sweden” is in Technicolor and co-stars Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon, Dina Merrill and Jeremy Slate. Fred de Cordova began his show business career with the Shubert Theatres and remained with them for 12 years, working his way up from assistant stage manager to director of some of Broadway’s biggest hits. He also produced and directed six seasons of summer operetta throughout the country. In 1942, Fred was signed by Warner Brothers, where he directed for five years before joining Universal-International. In 1935 he was signed to produce and direct the “Burns & Allen” show, beginning a new and remarkably successful career in the television medium. He subsequently produced and directed the “Jack Benny Program,” “Mr. Adams & Eve” and the “George Gobel Program.” Fred is today one of Hollywood’s top TV and motion picture directors — a trooper thoroughly schooled in the art of entertainment—with an old-timer’s sense of timing that is indispensable to a performer like Bob Hope in a romp like “I’ll Take Sweden.” Bob Hope Taught Waltzing Watusi! When a scene in United Artists’ “Pll Take Sweden” opening in Technicolor. ............ at theme ses... Theatre, called for Bob Hope to dance the Watusi with Tuesday Weld, Frankie Avalon and a group of teenagers — dance directress Miriam Nelson was called in to teach him the necessary steps. What surprised Hope, however, was that Miss Nelson was actually employed to teach the waltz and not the Watusi! Traditionally, when a movie is made incorporating the latest dance craze, all the actors involved gather together to learn the new steps. Ballroom scenes never called for instruction of any kind. The extras were simply told to “waltz around and look happy.” “But.” says Miss Nelson, “the old timers who used to be able to waltz and fox-trot at the drop of a music cue are rapidly passing out of the Hollywood scene. The newcomers that take their places are up on the latest dances but stumble over the standards.” Asked what she thought of the new dances, Miss Nelson catagorized most of them as “mostly fanny shaking.” Fred de Cordova Gets In The Act There was an extra actor on the set of “Ill Take Sweden,” Bob Hope’s new Technicolor comedy opening ............... at. the... ee Theatre, through United Artists release. Director Fred de Cordova did as much emoting behind the cameras as his cast did in front of them. He’s one of the many directors who must “help” his actors by mugging, mouthing, moving and maneuvering through each scene. His crews usually watch him and not the performers—noting from his performance which scenes will be “takes” and which will have to be re-shot. “Except for Crosby, I usually do a single,” cracked Hope—who said he could learn to get used to de Cordova’s eccentric ways, adding, “But I just wish I could finish one scene before he does!” Writing Tome On Superstitions! Jeremy Slate claims to be one actor who is not superstitious. In a community of wood-knockers and salt-tossers, Slate collects the eccentricities of other actors, but has none of his own. In “Vl Take Sweden,” Slate collects girls—specifically Tuesday Weld, with whom he co-stars along with Frankie Avalon and Dina Merrill. The Bob Hope comedy opens in Technicolor cere es, at the ................. Theatre, through United Artists release. A patient and painstaking man, Jeremy researches theatrical volumes and also contacts veteran members of the show world, industriously recording superstitions for a reference book which he hopes will become the standard work of the industry. Here are just a few of the curious facts he has discovered: — Greek playwright Aristophanes kept a slave handy to prod with a sharp-pointed stick when he_ became discouraged with the way his plays were going. Modern comedians employ “stooges” for the same purpose, Jeremy points out. — The great Sarah Bernhardt often postponed performances for an hour or more if she saw a cat near the theatre—so theatre managers often hired local urchins to toss stones at stray felines anywhere on the block! — Famous “Dutch” slapstick comics Weber & Fields wouldn’t speak to each other for half an hour before they went on stage. In real life, they later didn’t speak to each other for years. — Shakespeare kept a French coin as a good luck charm and rubbed it while seeking inspiration for his plays. Slate has compiled three notebooks of such superstitions, most of them much more current—but he’s not revealing them now. “Bad luck,” he winks slyly, “to say too much before a publisher is set. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed until I find one!” ‘Vl Take Sweden’ Merry Smorgasbord Bob Hope’s new comedy “I'll Take Sweden,” is a cinematic smorgasbord in which Tuesday Weld swings and Frankie Avalon sings. In Technicolor, the musical merriment in the land of blondes, bathhouses and bikinis opens ........ at the Theatre through United Artists release. Song numbers include “The Bells Keep Ringing,” and “There'll be Rainbows Again’—written by “By” Dunham and Bobby Bevery; “I'll Take Sweden” and “Would You Like My Last Name” by Diane Lampert and Ken Cauber; “Watusi Jo” by James Economides and Jimmie Haskell, and “Take it Off” by “By” Dunham and Jimmie Haskell. The musical background is by Jimmie Haskell and “By” Dunham, conducted by Haskell. Dina Merrill and Jeremy Slate co-star in the comedy, which was directed by Frederick de Cordova. Stull ITS-47 Tuesday Weld co-stars with Bob Mat 1A Hope, Frankie Avalon, Dina Merrill and Jeremy Slate in “Pll Take Sweden,” comedy with music opening in Technicolor ........ at the ........ Theatre, through United Artists release.