Come September

Come September
DVD cover
Directed by	Robert Mulligan
Produced by	Robert Arthur Henry Willson Raoul Walsh
Written by	Stanley Shapiro Maurice Richlin Stanley Roberts Robert Russell
Starring	Rock Hudson Gina Lollobrigida Sandra Dee Joel Grey Bobby Darin Walter Slezak
Music by	Hans J. Salter
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Editing by	Russell F. Schoengarth
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	August 9, 1961
Running time	112 min
Language	English Italian

For the Natalie Imbruglia song, see Come September (song).

Come September is a 1961 romantic comedy film directed by Robert Mulligan, and starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin.

Plot

Robert L. Talbot (Rock Hudson), an American millionaire, arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa. His long-time girlfriend Lisa (Gina Lollobrigida) has given up waiting for him to "pop the question," and has decided to marry another man. Meanwhile, his sneaky major domo Maurice (Walter Slezak) secretly misappropriates the villa as a hotel while Talbot is away. The current guests of the "hotel" are a group of young American girls trying to fend off a gang of oversexed boys, led by Tony (Bobby Darin).

Cast

• Rock Hudson as Robert L. Talbot
• Gina Lollobrigida as Lisa Helena Fellini
• Sandra Dee as Sandy Stevens
• Bobby Darin as Tony
• Walter Slezak as Maurice Clavell
• Brenda De Banzie as Margaret Allison
• Rosanna Rory as Anna
• Ronald Howard as Spencer
• Joel Grey as Beagle
• Ronnie Haran as Sparrow
• Chris Seitz as Larry
• Cindy Conroy as Julia
• Joan Freeman as Linda
• Nancy Anderson as Patricia
• Michael Eden as Ron
• Claudia Brack as Carol

Production

Screenwriters Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin started working on the script in late 1959. Shapiro spent a lot of time working on the script, and while the film was still in pre-production, he said in an interview: "I write all day at my office from 8:30 until 6:00, then have dinner and go home and spend two or three hours fixing, polishing or rewriting the day's output."^[1]

In early 1960, it was announced Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida were set to star.^[2] Before Lollobrigida's participation was confirmed, Marilyn Monroe was rumored to be casted.^[2] Along with the cast revealings, it was immediately announced production was not set to start until later, because Hudson was still working on the film The Last Sunset (1961) and Lollobrigida had commitments to Go Naked in the World (1961) and Lady L (1965).^[2] Ironically, filming was slated to begin in September 1960. In June 1960, Robert Mulligan signed on to the film's direction.^[3] A month later, singer Bobby Darin was announced to make his film debut in this film.

Initially, Lollobrigida was reluctant to do the film, because she was not enthusiastic about returning to Italy, where the film was shot. In an interview, she mentioned she eventually took the role, because it allowed her to work with Hudson. Furthermore, she explained: "It's a comedy that can only be made in Italy."^[4]

Music

Bobby Darin sings Multiplication and the Come September theme.

References

1. ^ Winnipeg Free Press - December 9, 1959, Winnipeg, Manitoba. p.52: Laughter is No Accident
2. ^ ^{a b c} Anderson Daily Bulletin - January 21, 1960, Anderson, Indiana. p.23: Hudson-Lollobrigida To Be Teamed In New Film Comedy
3. ^ Anderson Daily Bulletin - June 9, 1960, Anderson, Indiana. p.34: Robert Mulligan Is Signed To Direct Two More Films
4. ^ Anderson Daily Bulletin - October 23, 1960, Anderson, Indiana. p.33: Lollobrigida Goes Home, All Forgiven

External links

• Come September at the Internet Movie Database
• Come September at the TCM Movie Database