The Carpetbaggers (1964)

Jonas Cord's a disagreeable young tycoon who's building planes, directing films and catting around on the corporate make, in the 1930's Hollywood.

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Harold Robbins (novel), John Michael Hayes (screenplay)

Stars:

George Peppard, Alan Ladd, Carroll Baker

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Peppard	...	Jonas Cord
Alan Ladd	...	Nevada Smith
Carroll Baker	...	Rina Marlowe Cord
Robert Cummings	...	Dan Pierce (as Bob Cummings)
Martha Hyer	...	Jennie Denton
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Monica Winthrop
Lew Ayres	...	'Mac' McAllister
Martin Balsam	...	Bernard B. Norman
Ralph Taeger	...	Buzz Dalton
Archie Moore	...	Jedediah
Leif Erickson	...	Jonas Cord Sr.
Arthur Franz	...	Morrissey
Tom Tully	...	Amos Winthrop
Audrey Totter	...	Prostitute
Anthony Warde	...	Moroni

Storyline

George Peppard plays a hard-driven industrialist more than a little reminiscent of Howard Hughes. While he builds airplanes, directs movies and breaks hearts, his friends and lovers try to reach his human side, and find that it's an uphill battle. The film's title is a metaphor for self-promoting tycoons who perform quick financial takeovers, impose dictatorial controls for short-term profits, then move on to greener pastures.

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Plot Keywords:

tycoon | hollywood | movie producer | showbiz | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

It is unlikely that you will experience in a lifetime all that you will see in... THE CARPETBAGGERS.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1964 (UK)

Also Known As:

Die Unersättlichen

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embassy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

150 min

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (Westrex Recording System) (5.0) (L-R)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Alan Ladd's final film before his death on January 29, 1964 at the age of 50.

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Goofs

The story takes place in the 1920s and 1930s, but Carroll Baker's, Martha Hyer's and Elizabeth Ashley's hair styles are strictly 1963 from start to finish.

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Quotes

Jonas Cord, Sr.: What are you trying to prove? That you're a man? Well, a man is judged by what's in his head, not in his bed.

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Connections

Referenced in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 9 (2002)

User Reviews

Dressing Without Salad

Howard Hughes? Not really. George Peppard sketches a character without ever inhabit him. It's all effect. Carroll Baker, the brilliant Baby Doll, surrenders to the marketing demands and she revisits her aggressively sexual creature with more sparkle but less depth. Alan Ladd is the one that touches personal buttons and he is wonderful. Edward Dmytryck doesn't find a real center to Harold Robbins melodrama. Elizabeth Ashley's character exemplifies what I'm trying to say. Her journey is quite simply, absurd. She loves him and she hates him in a surprisingly unpredictable pattern. Absurd to such point that's not even entertaining but irritating. - As a side note, I had the experience to watch this movie on TCM with 5 twentysomethings - They laughed and laughed as if it was a hysterical comedy - I asked them what was so funny and their replay was, everything.