All the Fine Young Cannibals
All the Fine Young Cannibals is a 1960 American film directed by Michael Anderson, based on the novel by Rosamond Marshall, starring Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, Susan Kohner, George Hamilton, and Pearl Bailey.[3] Hamilton said it "combined Southern Gothic with a biopic of jazzman Chet Baker."[4]
| All the Fine Young Cannibals | |
|---|---|
 Original movie poster by Reynold Brown | |
| Directed by | Michael Anderson |
| Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
| Written by | Robert Thom |
| Based on | novel The Bixby Girls by Rosamond Marshall |
| Starring | Robert Wagner Natalie Wood Susan Kohner George Hamilton |
| Music by | Jeff Alexander |
| Cinematography | William H. Daniels |
| Edited by | John McSweeney, Jr. |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Loew's Inc.[1] |
Release date | September 15, 1960 |
Running time | 112 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,638,000[2] |
| Box office | $1,810,000[2] |
Overview
The film focuses on two young people in love, Chad Bixby (Wagner) and Sarah "Salome" Davis (Wood), who are forced apart and marry others, then brought together again by chance. The film also examines, in a melodramatic style, the experience of starting off "dirt poor" and ending up "idle rich", and concludes that after the changes in lifestyle, the personalities remain the same. Wagner's character is loosely based on the jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. Pearl Bailey plays a down-on-her-luck blues singer who mothers Wagner's character, while guiding his career.
Cast
- Robert Wagner as Chad Bixby
- Natalie Wood as Sarah "Salome" Davis
- Susan Kohner as Catherine McDowall
- George Hamilton as Tony McDowall
- Pearl Bailey as Ruby
- Jack Mullaney as Putney Tinker
- Onslow Stevens as Joshua Davis
- Anne Seymour as Mrs. Bixby
- Virginia Gregg as Ada Davis
- Mabel Albertson as Mrs. McDowall
- Louise Beavers as Rose
Production
All the Fine Young Cannibals was the first film that Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood made together.[5] George Hamilton says that director Vincente Minnelli shot some scenes when Michael Anderson was unavailable, including an ending for the film that was not used.[6]
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $950,000 in the US and Canada, and $860,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $1,108,000.[2]
Influence
The film's title was the inspiration for the name of the 1980s musical group Fine Young Cannibals.[7]
See also
References
- All the Fine Young Cannibals at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- "All the Fine Young Cannibals". The New York Times.
- George Hamilton & William Stadiem, Don't Mind If I Do, Simon & Schuster 2008 p 139
- Hopper, Hedda (Jan 24, 1960). "Smooth Sailing for the Wagners: Sure Sign of Success in Hollywood: Bob and Nat Are Buying Fifth Boat". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. f22.
- Interview with George Hamilton accessed 23 December 2014
- Jessica Berens (April 1986). "Fine Young Cannibals – They're England's latest sultans of soul. Soon they'll be bringing it on home to America, where at least a band can get a decent meal". Spin Magazine. p. 73. Retrieved 11 September 2010.