Seagulls Over Sorrento

Infobox Film
name = Seagulls Over Sorrento
(Crest of the Wave)


image_size = 215px
caption = U.S. poster
director = John Boulting
Roy Boulting
producer = John Boulting
Roy Boulting
writer = Hugh Hastings "(play)"
Frank Harvey
Roy Boulting
narrator =
starring = Gene Kelly
music = Miklós Rózsa
Ernesto de Curtis "(song)"
cinematography = Gilbert Taylor
editing = Max Benedict
distributor = MGM
released = 13 July fy|1954 "(London)"
10 November "(NYC)"
6 December "(US)"
runtime = 92 minutes
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget =
gross =
imdb_id = 0046877

"Seagulls Over Sorrento" is a fy|1954 British wartime drama film made by the Boulting Brothers based on the play of the same name by Hugh Hastings. The film stars Gene Kelly and was one of three made by Kelly in Europe over an 18 month period in order to make use of frozen MGM funds. The cast features John Justin, Bernard Lee and Jeff Richards.

Although the film finished shooting in July fy|1953, MGM could not release it in England until the play finished its London run, which delayed the film's release for almost a year. In the United States, the film was titled "Crest of the Wave".

Plot

A small group of British sailors stationed on a Scottish island engaged in top-secret research on a new and dangerous torpedo are joined by a U.S. Navy scientist, Lt. Brad Bradville (Gene Kelly), and his assistants. When several tests of the weapon fail, and men are killed, tensions within the group mount. Bradville must prove that the torpedo can work and win over the British, especially Lt. Rogert Wharton (John Justin), before the Admiralty pulls the plug on the project.

Cast

*Gene Kelly as "Lt. "Brad" Bradville (USN)"
*John Justin as "Lt. Roger Wharton"
*Bernard Lee as "Seaman "Lofty" Turner"
*Jeff Richards as "Seaman D. "Butch" Clelland (USN)"
*Sid James as "Seaman Charlie "Badge" Badger"
*Patric Doonan as "Petty Officer Herbert"
*Ray Jackson as "Seaman "Sprog" Sims"
*Fredd Wayne as "Seaman N. Sam "Shorty" Kaminsky (USN)"
*Patrick Barr as "Cmdr. Sinclair"
*David Orr as "Haggis Mackintosh"

Cast notes:
* Bernard Lee played the same role in the London stage production.

Production

The play by Hugh Hastings opened in London's West End on 14 June 1950, [TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=2773&category=Screenplay%20Info Screenplay info] ] and was a hit there,TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=2773&category=Notes Notes] ] but played for only two weeks on Broadway. [ibdb title|2334] . Because the play – in which all the characters were British, and the emphasis was more on the enlised men then in the film – was a hit, MGM retained the title for the film everywhere except in the U.S. and Canada, where the title "Crest of the Wave" was used.

Although set on a Scottish island, the movie was filmed on the Channel Islands off the coast of France, with interiors filmed at MGM's British studios at Boreham Wood, Elstree. Production took place between 4 May and late July of fy|1953.

Ernesto de Curtis's song "Torna a Sorrento" [TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=2773&category=Music Music] ] ("Come Back to Sorrento"), is performed on the concertina by David Orr, and was also used as background music throughout the film.

MGM was contractually obligated not to release the film until "Seagulls Over Sorrento" finished its West End run, which delayed the films release until 13 July fy|1954, almost a year after filming completed. The film then premiered in New York City on 10 November of that year, and went into general American release on 6 December. [IMDB [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046877/releaseinfo Release dates] ]

Notes

External links

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