I'll Take Sweden
| I'll Take Sweden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Frederick de Cordova |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Written by |
Nat Perrin Bob Fisher Arthur Marx |
| Starring |
Bob Hope Tuesday Weld Frankie Avalon |
| Music by |
William "By" Dunham Jimmie Haskell |
| Cinematography | Daniel L. Fapp |
Production company |
Edward Small Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates | June 18, 1965 (USA) |
Running time | 97 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,500,000[1] |
I'll Take Sweden is a 1965 comedy film directed by Frederick de Cordova, and starring Bob Hope, Frankie Avalon, and Tuesday Weld.
Plot
Single father Bob Holcomb (Hope), a widower, is unhappy with the guitar-playing boy (Avalon) his daughter JoJo (Weld) chooses as a husband-to-be. An executive with an oil company, Bob accepts a transfer to the firm's Stockholm branch and he takes JoJo along, hoping it will distract her.
Sweden turns out to be far more liberal sexually than the United States. Bob, having met an attractive interior designer, Karin (Dina Merrill), decides to take her away for a romantic weekend at a mountain resort.
JoJo, however, has accepted a similar offer from Erik (Jeremy Slate), who is Bob's new assistant. Originally seen as a respectable suitor, Erik turns out to be a playboy and a cad. A girl thought to be his cousin, Marti, is actually a former girlfriend.
Kenny turns up and brings Marti along to the resort, where the three couples continue to awkwardly encounter one another. Kenny finally has his fill of Erik, knocking him out with his guitar. On a voyage home, the ship's captain performs a double wedding ceremony.
Principal cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Bob Hope | Bob Holcomb |
| Tuesday Weld | JoJo Holcomb |
| Frankie Avalon | Kenny Klinger |
| Dina Merrill | Karin Granstedt |
| Jeremy Slate | Erik Carlson |
| Rosemarie Frankland | Marti |
| John Qualen | Olaf |
Production notes
The parts of the movie that were supposed to be in Sweden were shot at Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead, California.[2][3]
The casting of Tuesday Weld and Frankie Avalon was seen as Bob Hope getting some box office insurance to attract younger audiences.[4]
The movie was advertised as being Hope's 50th but even he disputed that.[5]
Director Frederick De Cordova saw Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, dance the Watusi at a White House barbecue. He offered her a role in the film but she declined on the grounds she had to go to school.[6] Billie Dove visited the set and Bob Hope offered her a role too but the former star declined.[7]
Critical reception
Howard Thompson of The New York Times loathed the film:
| “ | The picture is an altogether asinine little romp... Nothing can save this tattered, old-fashioned dip.[8] | ” |
Other reviews were mixed.[9]
Hope was so impressed with Avalon's work, he signed Avalon to appear on his television show.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ Anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Top Grossers of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 36
- ↑ I'll Take Sweden (1965) - Trivia - IMDb
- ↑ I'll Take Sweden (1965) - Filming locations
- ↑ BOX-OFFICE INSURANCE: Hope Takes Sweden, Teen-agers Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 02 July 1965: D11.
- ↑ Hope's Heard the One About the... Alpert, Don. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 20 June 1965: b7
- ↑ Luci Offered Film Role By Winzola McLendon. The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973) [Washington, D.C] 15 Aug 1964: C11.
- ↑ Former Silent Film Beauty Visits Hope Set Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 03 Oct 1964: B3
- ↑ http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9804EFDF103CE733A25751C1A96E9C946491D6CF
- ↑ Van Dyke Amusing in Faltering Comedy: Road to Sweden Leads Hope Astray By Philip Kopper Washington Post Staff Writer. The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973) [Washington, D.C] 01 July 1965: D25
- ↑ Skelton Hailed as Pied Piper of Fun: London Paper Asks Why His Show Hasn't Played Britain Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 10 Sep 1964: C12.