Something for the Birds
| Something for the Birds | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Robert Wise |
| Produced by | Samuel G. Engel |
| Written by |
I. A. L. Diamond Boris Ingster |
| Based on | stories by Alvin Josephy Joseph Petracca Boris Ingster |
| Starring | Victor Mature |
| Cinematography | Joseph LaShelle |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
|
Release date
|
October 1952 |
|
Running time
|
81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Something for the Birds is a 1952 film directed by Robert Wise. It stars Victor Mature and Patricia Neal.
Johnnie Adams, an engraver in Washington, uses some of the invitations his firm makes to crash Washington parties. He gets to be called "Admiral," and is accepted as part of the social group.
Johnnie meets Anne Richards, interested in preventing a gas company from drilling on certain west coast lands, destroying the breeding grounds of some California condors.
She enlists his aid, and he asks Steve Bennett, a lobbyist, for help. Bennett's company is also employed by the gas outfit.
When an investigating committee gets on the job, Johnnie's actual position is exposed, and he comes in for national publicity.
This makes it possible for the bird sanctuary to be saved, and Johnnie gets his job back, with a promotion. Steve, who has had a falling out with Anne, finds himself invited to his own wedding, with Anne.
The film was based on an original story by Joseph Petracca and Alvin Josephy about the romance between an environmentalist and a lobbyist. It was purchased by 20th Century Fox in October 1950 and assigned to producer Sam Engel. Boris Ingster wrote the script. The original stars were Anne Baxter (environmentalist), Paul Douglas (lobbyist) and Victor Moore (admiral). However Douglas dropped out when his contract with Fox terminated, and he was replaced by Dana Andrews.
The film took some months to go into production. By April 1952 Baxter had dropped out and Jeanne Craine was to star. But Craine had just given birth and could not get medical clearance tdo make the movie so Patricia Neal was cast instead. The male romantic lead was given to Victor Mature, who was meant to be in Farmer Takes a Wife for Fox but was reassigned. At this stage the title had been changed to Old Sailors Never Die. The other lead role was given to Edmund Gwenn who played a counterfeiter for Fox in Mister 880.
I.A.L. Diamond was bought on to the film to rewrite the script.
Filming started May 1952. The cast included Christian Rub,making his first film in ten years.
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