Bedtime Story (1964)

Director:

Ralph Levy

Writers:

Stanley Shapiro (writer) and
Paul Henning (writer)

Release Date:

21 August 1964 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The story of two gigolos who vie to see which is the best at their profession.

Plot Keywords:

Con Artist | Beautiful Woman | Swiss Psychiatrist

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Freddy Benson
David Niven	...	Lawrence Jameson
Shirley Jones	...	Janet Walker
Dody Goodman	...	Fanny Eubank
Aram Stephan	...	Andre
Parley Baer	...	Col. Williams
Marie Windsor	...	Mrs. Sutton
Rebecca Sand	...	Miss Trumble
Frances Robinson	...	Miss Harrington
Henry Slate	...	Sattler
Norman Alden	...	Dubin
Susanne Cramer	...	Anna
Cynthia Lynn	...	Frieda
Ilse Taurins	...	Hilda
Francine York	...	Gina

Also Known As:

King of the Mountain (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Company:

Pennebaker Productions

Trivia:

Marlon Brando said that he found co-star David Niven so funny, he often broke into uncontrollable laughter during filming, thus ruining many takes. It was so bad he would have to force himself not to look Niven in the eye during filming.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Brando (2007) (TV)

Masterclass in How Not To Do...

Having enjoyed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the 1980s comedy with Michael Caine and Steve Martin, i was intrigued to learn it was a remake of a 1964 film, Bedtime Story. The story is mostly the same: an elegant English conman on the Riviera is annoyed to find his pitch invaded by an uncouth American huckster. They briefly become partners, then rivals.

In the original, the leads are taken by David Niven and Marlon Brando, of all people. But it's a comedy masterclass - in how not to do comedy. Just about every scene in the remake milks the full comic potential far better.

In DRS, there's a scene where Freddie the Yank conman is thrown into a French jail. Steve Martin has a loud check shirt, a big white Panama hat and big shades, he's the epitome of the loud American abroad and out of his depth as, leaning against the bars,he goes all self- pitying and pleading to the unimpressed French inspector. Watching the original we find that Martin filched the entire performance from Brando, with one crucial difference - Martin is funny. Brando - he just ain't funny...

At one point, Freddie is asked if he has a reliable local character witness. Martin goes through a minute of exasperated tip-of-his-tongue recall, jumping up and down, banging his head until he gets it at last. Brando just gives him the name. Brando seems to be enjoying himself, but Martin has the comic's gleeful sadism/masochism towards his character's plight.

Later you may recall Caine is required to impersonate a German psychotherapist. He has a cold sadistic tone that works well against Martin's horrified incredulity. Niven, who plays the same role, is called upon to impersonate a Swiss doctor. And just plays him as Niven, with the same voice and everything. Critics say Caine is always the same, but Niven though urbane really is shown to be a one-note actor in this.

The comic scenes are generally leaden, though to be fair Martin borrowed Rupret's hulking suspicious demeanor from Brando, except again he's funny and Brando is not. Worst of all, the film ditches the surprise twist of DRS, ending with a real cop out.

They could have cast it with Jerry Lewis as Freddie and maybe Dean Martin as the smooth one, or even as a Hope and Crosby vehicle. But bland Niven and unfunny Brando sink it.