The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968)

Director:

Joseph McGrath

Writers:

Josef Shaftel (short story)
Alec Coppel (play)
(more)

Release Date:

11 September 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The Years Big Put-On...And Take-Off Too!

Plot:

Harriet Blossom, the lonely wife of a workaholic brassiere manufacturer, breaks her sewing machine and ends up in bed with the repairman...

Plot Keywords:

Disappearance | Breast Enlargement | Surrealism | Buxom | Breasts Growing

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Harriet Blossom
Richard Attenborough	...	Robert Blossom
James Booth	...	Ambrose Tuttle
Freddie Jones	...	Det. Sgt. Dylan
William Rushton	...	Dylan's assistant
Bob Monkhouse	...	Dr. Taylor
Patricia Routledge	...	Miss Reece
John Bluthal	...	Judge
Harry Towb	...	Doctor
Sandra Caron	...	Pet shop assistant
Sheila Steafel	...	Pet shop saleslady (as Sheila Staefel)
Frank Thornton	...	Factory manager
Barry Humphries	...	Art dealer
John Cleese	...	Post Office clerk
Bruce Lacey	...	Musketeer
Tony Gray	...	Musketeer
Douglas Grey	...	Musketeer
Leslie Dwyer	...	Bookshop assistant
Ronnie Brody	...	Security guard
Bob Godfrey	...	Factory mechanic
John Mulgrew	...	Factory mechanic
Marjorie Gresley	...	Post Office lady
Freddie Earlle	...	Interpreter (as Freddie Earle)
Marianne Stone	...	Factory tea lady
Clive Dunn	...	Dr. Zimmerman
Geraldine Sherman	...	Dr. Krunhauser
Julian Chagrin	...	Stockbroker
Keith Smith	...	Shop steward
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carol Cleveland	...	Bra Model (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Fireman (uncredited)
Sylvana Henriques	...	Bra Model (uncredited)
Michael Segal	...	Robert's Counsel (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph McGrath

Writing credits
Josef Shaftel		(short story)
Alec Coppel		(play)
Alec Coppel		(writer) and
Denis Norden		(writer)

Produced by
Josef Shaftel	....	producer

Original Music by
Riz Ortolani

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
Ralph Sheldon

Production Design by
Assheton Gorton

Art Direction by
William Alexander		(as Bill Alexander)
George Lack

Costume Design by
Jocelyn Rickards

Makeup Department
Trevor Crole-Rees	....	makeup chief
Bernadette Ibbetson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Fred Slark	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Besgrove	....	assistant director
Stuart Black	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	construction manager
Sally Scott	....	painter: Mrs. Blossom

Sound Department
Laurie Clarkson	....	sound
David Hawkins	....	sound editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer

Special Effects by
Richard Parker	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Elvin	....	camera operator
Peter MacDonald	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bridget Sellers	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Riz Ortolani	....	conductor

Other crew
Sidney King	....	title designer
Stan O'Toole	....	assistant to producer
Maggie Unsworth	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Films Paramount (1968) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Berkeil'K Ltd.  brassieres supplier

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (Suggested for Mature Audiences) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Taplow Goods Shed, Taplow, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The film is (loosely) based on a real incident. In the late 1910s and early 1920s, Dolly Oesterreich kept her lover, Otto Sanhuber in the attic where he lived for many years. Her husband Fred ran a company that made aprons. Otto even moved with the couple from Milwaukee to Los Angeles to stay above his lover. Unfortunately, the real story doesn't have the happy ending of the movie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Mrs Blossom meets Mr Tuttle they play a game of snooker. The last ball potted is shown, a green ball. In snooker the last ball is always black. There is no reason that they were not playing according to the rules.

Movie Connections:

References Zulu (1964)

Soundtrack:

I Think I'm Beginning to Fall in Love

A wonderful English comedy farce.

In 1968 I worked as a projectionist. I saw thousands of movies. Memories of this one, among few, have stuck with me for all these years.

Richard Attenborough at his "dry" best. Shirley Maclain at her most sexy and appealing as a bored housewife. James Booth, her "house guest" is a charmer. Along with a host of other fascinating characters an extraordinary look at the 60s English culture and sense of humor.

Keeping your paramour in the attic for the occasional tryst whilst hubby is off making brassieres. It makes for great comedy If you get a chance to see this.....do it. It is worth your time and you will enjoy it.