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m Task 30 - replacing deprecated parameters in Template:Infobox film
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| producer = Marcello Pagliero<br>[[Chips Rafferty]]<br>Lee Robinson
| producer = Marcello Pagliero<br>[[Chips Rafferty]]<br>Lee Robinson
| writer = [[Rex Rienits]]
| writer = [[Rex Rienits]]
|based on = story by Lee Robinson<br>Chips Rafferty
| based_on = story by Lee Robinson<br>Chips Rafferty
| starring = Chips Rafferty<br>[[Françoise Christophe]]
| starring = Chips Rafferty<br>[[Françoise Christophe]]
| music = Georges Auric
| music = Georges Auric
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'''''Walk Into Paradise''''' (also known as '''''Walk Into Hell''''') is a 1956 French-Australian [[international co-production]] [[adventure film]] directed by [[Lee Robinson (Australian director)|Lee Robinson]] and [[Marcello Pagliero]] and starring Chips Rafferty and [[Françoise Christophe]]. It was shot on location in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.<ref>WALK INTO PARADISE
'''''Walk Into Paradise''''' (also known as '''''Walk Into Hell''''') is a 1956 French-Australian [[international co-production]] [[adventure film]] directed by [[Lee Robinson (Australian director)|Lee Robinson]] and [[Marcello Pagliero]] and starring Chips Rafferty and [[Françoise Christophe]]. It was shot on location in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.<ref>WALK INTO PARADISE
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 23, Iss. 264, (Jan 1, 1956): 88. </ref>
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 23, Iss. 264, (Jan 1, 1956): 88.</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Line 50: Line 50:
Chips Rafferty and Lee Robinson had produced two earlier films starring Rafferty, ''The Phantom Stockman'' and ''King of the Coral Sea''. Their formula was to set the action in an exotic location and for this third movie they chose New Guinea, where Rafferty and Robinson had both served in World War Two.
Chips Rafferty and Lee Robinson had produced two earlier films starring Rafferty, ''The Phantom Stockman'' and ''King of the Coral Sea''. Their formula was to set the action in an exotic location and for this third movie they chose New Guinea, where Rafferty and Robinson had both served in World War Two.


In May 1954 Rafferty and Robinson returned to [[Wewa]] from a location trip up the Sepik River. They announced they planned to film at Kambaramba, a village on the swamp lagoon, at the end of July with a cast and technical crew of 40. It would be the location of their next film. They were so enthused they planned to make several movies in New Guinea. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23432795 |title='Chips' scores in N.G. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |location=Victoria, Australia |date=11 May 1954 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=11 |via=Trove }} </ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49634019 |title=Film Location Chosen On Sepik River |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Western Australia |date=11 May 1954 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=9 |via=Trove }} </ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205390692 |title=Feature Films to be Made in N. Guinea |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Victoria, Australia |date=26 May 1954 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }} </ref>
In May 1954 Rafferty and Robinson returned to [[Wewa]] from a location trip up the Sepik River. They announced they planned to film at Kambaramba, a village on the swamp lagoon, at the end of July with a cast and technical crew of 40. It would be the location of their next film. They were so enthused they planned to make several movies in New Guinea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23432795 |title='Chips' scores in N.G. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |location=Victoria, Australia |date=11 May 1954 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=11 |via=Trove }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49634019 |title=Film Location Chosen On Sepik River |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Western Australia |date=11 May 1954 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=9 |via=Trove }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205390692 |title=Feature Films to be Made in N. Guinea |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Victoria, Australia |date=26 May 1954 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=5 |via=Trove }}</ref>


Filming was delayed. Richard Boone and Chips Rafferty became friends making ''[[Kangaroo (1952 film)|Kangaroo]]'' together. In December 1954 Boone announced he would act in the film, then called ''The Head Hunters''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dick Boone Visits New Guinea for Movie on Head Hunters|author=Hopper, Hedda |work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=31 December 1954|page=10}}</ref> Filming on this project was also delayed reportedly due to poor weather.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Sanders Joins All-Star Group; 'Consul at Sunset' Optioned|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times|date=5 May 1955|page=B17}}</ref>
Filming was delayed. Richard Boone and Chips Rafferty became friends making ''[[Kangaroo (1952 film)|Kangaroo]]'' together. In December 1954 Boone announced he would act in the film, then called ''The Head Hunters''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dick Boone Visits New Guinea for Movie on Head Hunters|author=Hopper, Hedda |work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=31 December 1954|page=10}}</ref> Filming on this project was also delayed reportedly due to poor weather.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Sanders Joins All-Star Group; 'Consul at Sunset' Optioned|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times|date=5 May 1955|page=B17}}</ref>

===French involvement===
===French involvement===
French producer Paul-Edmond Decharme, best known for ''Manon'' and ''Bluebeard'', proposed Rafferty and Robinson go into business with the French company Discifilm. The script was rewritten to accommodate two French stars. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51596961 |title=French movie stars for New Guinea wilds. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=29 June 1955 |accessdate=27 August 2012 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
French producer Paul-Edmond Decharme, best known for ''Manon'' and ''Bluebeard'', proposed Rafferty and Robinson go into business with the French company Discifilm. The script was rewritten to accommodate two French stars.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51596961 |title=French movie stars for New Guinea wilds. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=29 June 1955 |accessdate=27 August 2012 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


In April 1955 Rafferty said the film would be called ''Walk into Paradise'' and that [[Ann Vernon]] would play the female lead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131392265 |title=FILM STAR VISITS PARRAMATTA |newspaper=[[The Cumberland Argus]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 April 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=7 |via=Trove }} </ref> Later that month Rafferty and Robinson issued a prospectus for investors to put money into the film, offering debentures at £50 each. They claimed ''The Phantom Stockman'' had repaid investors 27% and ''King of the Coral Sea'' had repaid them 10%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131388473 |title=PUBLIC INVITED TO HELP PRODUCE FILMS |newspaper=[[The Cumberland Argus]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 April 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=3 |via=Trove }} </ref>
In April 1955 Rafferty said the film would be called ''Walk into Paradise'' and that [[Ann Vernon]] would play the female lead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131392265 |title=FILM STAR VISITS PARRAMATTA |newspaper=[[The Cumberland Argus]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 April 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=7 |via=Trove }}</ref> Later that month Rafferty and Robinson issued a prospectus for investors to put money into the film, offering debentures at £50 each. They claimed ''The Phantom Stockman'' had repaid investors 27% and ''King of the Coral Sea'' had repaid them 10%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131388473 |title=PUBLIC INVITED TO HELP PRODUCE FILMS |newspaper=[[The Cumberland Argus]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 April 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=3 |via=Trove }}</ref>


In May 1955 Decharne announced he would make two films a year in the Pacific. The first two would be co productions with Rafferty and Robinson:, starting with''Walk into Paradise'', which would be shot on location in New Guinea, in English and French versions. The stars would be Rafferty, Reg Lye, and French players Pierre Cressoy and Francoise Christophe (Vernon having dropped out). Robinson would direct while Marcel Pagliero would be the dialogue director of the French version. The main party of the film unit will leave for New Guinea on June 11. The voices-of the French stars will be used in both French and English versions. The voices of the Australian stars would be "dubbed" with French dialogue for the French version.<ref name="may">{{cite news|title=Frenchman Here to Make Two Films Yearly|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 May 1955|page=17}}</ref>
In May 1955 Decharne announced he would make two films a year in the Pacific. The first two would be co productions with Rafferty and Robinson:, starting with''Walk into Paradise'', which would be shot on location in New Guinea, in English and French versions. The stars would be Rafferty, Reg Lye, and French players Pierre Cressoy and Francoise Christophe (Vernon having dropped out). Robinson would direct while Marcel Pagliero would be the dialogue director of the French version. The main party of the film unit will leave for New Guinea on June 11. The voices-of the French stars will be used in both French and English versions. The voices of the Australian stars would be "dubbed" with French dialogue for the French version.<ref name="may">{{cite news|title=Frenchman Here to Make Two Films Yearly|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 May 1955|page=17}}</ref>
Line 62: Line 63:
Music for ''Paradise'' would be written by Georges Auric, well-known composer of film music and the writer of the title track from ''Moulin Rouge''. The film would cost £150,000 and be financed on a 50/50 basis by Southern International and Decharme's company, Disci Films.<ref name="may"/>
Music for ''Paradise'' would be written by Georges Auric, well-known composer of film music and the writer of the title track from ''Moulin Rouge''. The film would cost £150,000 and be financed on a 50/50 basis by Southern International and Decharme's company, Disci Films.<ref name="may"/>


The second film would be made in Tahiti with French director Yves AHegret as the principal director and Robinson as director of the English version. This movie would be shot in Cinema-Scope and would hopefully star [[Gerard Philippe]].<ref name="may"/>
The second film would be made in Tahiti with French director Yves AHegret as the principal director and Robinson as director of the English version. This movie would be shot in Cinema-Scope and would hopefully star [[Gerard Philippe]].<ref name="may"/>


"I was told that the Pacific was very wide, and its capital was Sydney* so I came here," said Decharne."I also heard that Australians appreciated French films better than any other country outside Europe. 'La Ronde' made more money in Australia than it did in France."<ref name="may"/>
"I was told that the Pacific was very wide, and its capital was Sydney* so I came here," said Decharne."I also heard that Australians appreciated French films better than any other country outside Europe. 'La Ronde' made more money in Australia than it did in France."<ref name="may"/>


Robinson later claimed that 60% of the money invested in the film came from housewives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41857690 |title=New hope for stars of the future |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=9 May 1956 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=23 |via=Trove }} </ref>
Robinson later claimed that 60% of the money invested in the film came from housewives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41857690 |title=New hope for stars of the future |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=9 May 1956 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=23 |via=Trove }}</ref>

⚫
The French actors arrived in Australia in June 1955.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51596961 |title=French movie stars for New Guinea wilds |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=29 June 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=13 |via=Trove }}</ref>


⚫
The French actors arrived in Australia in June 1955.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51596961 |title=French movie stars for New Guinea wilds |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=29 June 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=13 |via=Trove }} </ref>
==Shooting==
==Shooting==
Shooting began in New Guinea in June 1955 and took place over twelve weeks.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41490169 |title=Worth Reporting |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=25 May 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=30 |via=Trove }} </ref> The unit was based out of Goroka.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/americancinemato37unse/page/222/mode/1up/search/%22walk+into+paradise%22?q=%22walk+into+paradise%22|first=Carl|last=Kayser|title=Assignment New Guinea|magazine=American Cinematographer|date=April 1956|page=222-223, 256-258}}</ref>
Shooting began in New Guinea in June 1955 and took place over twelve weeks.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41490169 |title=Worth Reporting |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=25 May 1955 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=30 |via=Trove }}</ref> The unit was based out of Goroka.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/americancinemato37unse/page/222/mode/1up/search/%22walk+into+paradise%22?q=%22walk+into+paradise%22|first=Carl|last=Kayser|title=Assignment New Guinea|magazine=American Cinematographer|date=April 1956|pages=222–223, 256–258}}</ref>


Every scene was shot twice – once in French, once in English: Pagliero would direct the French version, Robinson would do the English.
Every scene was shot twice – once in French, once in English: Pagliero would direct the French version, Robinson would do the English.
Line 76: Line 78:
Robinson got along well with Pagliero calling him "one of the most delightful guys you would ever meet in your life"<ref name="Robinson"/> He says after the first few days of filming both "very quickly realised that you can only have one boss on the floor of the set." They decided that Pagliero would through the scenes with the French actors in the morning and when the Australian actors had to speak French Pagliero would "get all the dialogue done out on idiot boards for them."<ref name="Robinson"/>
Robinson got along well with Pagliero calling him "one of the most delightful guys you would ever meet in your life"<ref name="Robinson"/> He says after the first few days of filming both "very quickly realised that you can only have one boss on the floor of the set." They decided that Pagliero would through the scenes with the French actors in the morning and when the Australian actors had to speak French Pagliero would "get all the dialogue done out on idiot boards for them."<ref name="Robinson"/>


Robinson said Pagliero "stood back from the film and worked with his actors a bit, helped the Australian actors with the French dialogue" but contributed more than Robinson originally thought because they would discuss scenes at night. <ref name="Robinson"/>
Robinson said Pagliero "stood back from the film and worked with his actors a bit, helped the Australian actors with the French dialogue" but contributed more than Robinson originally thought because they would discuss scenes at night.<ref name="Robinson"/>


Robinson said he clashed with the Frenchman only once, during a scene involving the lowering of the Australian flag but "it was a national argument rather than a film argument. But he was terribly aware of the fact that confusion would arise if the two of us were trying to run the set."<ref name="Robinson">{{cite magazine| |url=http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/1.1/Robinson.html |title=Lee Robinson interview with Albert Moran|first=Albert|last=Moran|magazine= Continuum: The Australian Journal of Media & Culture|volume=1|number=1|year=1987}}</ref>
Robinson said he clashed with the Frenchman only once, during a scene involving the lowering of the Australian flag but "it was a national argument rather than a film argument. But he was terribly aware of the fact that confusion would arise if the two of us were trying to run the set."<ref name="Robinson">{{cite magazine|url=http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/1.1/Robinson.html |title=Lee Robinson interview with Albert Moran|first=Albert|last=Moran|magazine= Continuum: The Australian Journal of Media & Culture|volume=1|number=1|year=1987}}</ref>


<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41490169 |title=Worth Reporting. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=25 May 1955 |accessdate=27 August 2012 |page=30 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Despite the difficulties of shooting on location, the film was infused only three days behind schedule.
<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41490169 |title=Worth Reporting. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=25 May 1955 |accessdate=27 August 2012 |page=30 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Despite the difficulties of shooting on location, the film was infused only three days behind schedule.
Line 87: Line 89:


The film was released in France as ''L'Odyssée du Capitaine Steve.'' A [[novelisation]] of the script by Gavin Casey was published in 1956.
The film was released in France as ''L'Odyssée du Capitaine Steve.'' A [[novelisation]] of the script by Gavin Casey was published in 1956.

==Reception==
==Reception==
===Awards===
===Awards===
The film screened at the [[1956 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51778190 |title=Australia's good showing at Cannes Film Festival |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=23 May 1956 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=23 |via=Trove }} </ref> Director [[Lee Robinson (Australian director)|Lee Robinson]] was nominated for the [[Golden Palm]] Award<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3577/year/1956.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Walk Into Paradise |accessdate=7 February 2009|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> but was beaten by [[Jacques-Yves Cousteau]] and [[Louis Malle]] for ''[[Le Monde du silence]]''.
The film screened at the [[1956 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51778190 |title=Australia's good showing at Cannes Film Festival |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |location=Australia, Australia |date=23 May 1956 |access-date=18 April 2020 |page=23 |via=Trove }}</ref> Director [[Lee Robinson (Australian director)|Lee Robinson]] was nominated for the [[Golden Palm]] Award<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3577/year/1956.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Walk Into Paradise |accessdate=7 February 2009|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> but was beaten by [[Jacques-Yves Cousteau]] and [[Louis Malle]] for ''[[Le Monde du silence]]''.

==US Release==
==US Release==
American producer [[Joseph E. Levine]] purchased the film for distribution and added more jungle footage. When the film did poor business he retitled it ''Walk Into Hell'', which increased its earnings dramatically.<ref>{{cite news|author=Scheuer, P. K.|date=27 July 1959|title=Meet joe levine, super(sales)man!|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|167430798}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/01/obituaries/joseph-elevine-a-towering-figure-in-movie-makingis-dead.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title=Joseph E. Levine: a towering figure in movie making is dead |accessdate=7 February 2009|work=New York Times | first=Nan | last=Robertson | date=1 August 1987}}</ref> Robinson claimed at one stage the movie was one of the 100 top grossers in the US.<ref name="Robinson"/>
American producer [[Joseph E. Levine]] purchased the film for distribution and added more jungle footage. When the film did poor business he retitled it ''Walk Into Hell'', which increased its earnings dramatically.<ref>{{cite news|author=Scheuer, P. K.|date=27 July 1959|title=Meet joe levine, super(sales)man!|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|167430798}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/01/obituaries/joseph-elevine-a-towering-figure-in-movie-makingis-dead.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title=Joseph E. Levine: a towering figure in movie making is dead |accessdate=7 February 2009|work=New York Times | first=Nan | last=Robertson | date=1 August 1987}}</ref> Robinson claimed at one stage the movie was one of the 100 top grossers in the US.<ref name="Robinson"/>


The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a fairly pleasant travelogue".<ref>Wild Land Setting of New Movie
The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a fairly pleasant travelogue".<ref>Wild Land Setting of New Movie
F L M. Los Angeles Times 6 Dec 1957: C11. </ref>
F L M. Los Angeles Times 6 Dec 1957: C11.</ref>

==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 11:26, 26 May 2020

Walk Into Paradise
US film poster
Directed byLee Robinson
Marcello Pagliero
Written byRex Rienits
Based onstory by Lee Robinson
Chips Rafferty
Produced byMarcello Pagliero
Chips Rafferty
Lee Robinson
StarringChips Rafferty
Françoise Christophe
CinematographyCarl Kayser
Edited byAlex Ezard
Music byGeorges Auric
Production
companies
Southern International Productions (Australia)
Discifilm (France)
Distributed byMGM (Aus)
Release dates
  • 28 July 1956 (1956-07-28) (France)
  • 24 October 1956 (1956-10-24) (Australia)
Running time
93 minutes
CountriesAustralia
France
LanguagesEnglish
French
Budget£65,000[1]
Box office£90,000 (England)[2]
1,333,157 admissions (France)[3]

Walk Into Paradise (also known as Walk Into Hell) is a 1956 French-Australian international co-production adventure film directed by Lee Robinson and Marcello Pagliero and starring Chips Rafferty and Françoise Christophe. It was shot on location in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.[4]

Plot

In New Guinea, Ned "Shark Eye" Kelly floats in town on a raft, suffering from malaria and heat. He has discovered oil in a valley. The local Australian District Officer, Fred, tells Kelly he cannot exploit the oil until the area has been officially "opened up".

In Port Moresby, another District Officer, Steve MacAllister, is about to go on eight months' leave when called in to help on the expedition, as he is the only person who knows the area. MacAllister has to help put in an airstrip so geologists can fly to the territory.

MacAllister has to take along United Nations doctor Louise Dumarcet on the expedition. He is unhappy about this, as it is Louise's first time in the tropics. However when there is a disease outbreak in a town, Louise helps treats some children.

The expedition arrives at a village and meet crocodile hunter Jeff Clayton. Kelley is reluctant to enter a village. He reveals his brother was killed by the locals. They decide to enter anyway. While treating a villager, Louise draws the patient's blood. This is seen by another villager who puts a snake in her bed. The snake bites Louise but she is treated by Jeff, who then kisses her.

The villagers rise up against the expedition and a fight ensues where Kelly is speared to death. However the children Louise was treating recover, ending the battle. The villagers help clear an air strip enabling a plane to land.

Cast

Development

Chips Rafferty and Lee Robinson had produced two earlier films starring Rafferty, The Phantom Stockman and King of the Coral Sea. Their formula was to set the action in an exotic location and for this third movie they chose New Guinea, where Rafferty and Robinson had both served in World War Two.

In May 1954 Rafferty and Robinson returned to Wewa from a location trip up the Sepik River. They announced they planned to film at Kambaramba, a village on the swamp lagoon, at the end of July with a cast and technical crew of 40. It would be the location of their next film. They were so enthused they planned to make several movies in New Guinea.[5][6][7]

Filming was delayed. Richard Boone and Chips Rafferty became friends making Kangaroo together. In December 1954 Boone announced he would act in the film, then called The Head Hunters.[8] Filming on this project was also delayed reportedly due to poor weather.[9]

French involvement

French producer Paul-Edmond Decharme, best known for Manon and Bluebeard, proposed Rafferty and Robinson go into business with the French company Discifilm. The script was rewritten to accommodate two French stars.[10]

In April 1955 Rafferty said the film would be called Walk into Paradise and that Ann Vernon would play the female lead.[11] Later that month Rafferty and Robinson issued a prospectus for investors to put money into the film, offering debentures at £50 each. They claimed The Phantom Stockman had repaid investors 27% and King of the Coral Sea had repaid them 10%.[12]

In May 1955 Decharne announced he would make two films a year in the Pacific. The first two would be co productions with Rafferty and Robinson:, starting withWalk into Paradise, which would be shot on location in New Guinea, in English and French versions. The stars would be Rafferty, Reg Lye, and French players Pierre Cressoy and Francoise Christophe (Vernon having dropped out). Robinson would direct while Marcel Pagliero would be the dialogue director of the French version. The main party of the film unit will leave for New Guinea on June 11. The voices-of the French stars will be used in both French and English versions. The voices of the Australian stars would be "dubbed" with French dialogue for the French version.[13]

Music for Paradise would be written by Georges Auric, well-known composer of film music and the writer of the title track from Moulin Rouge. The film would cost £150,000 and be financed on a 50/50 basis by Southern International and Decharme's company, Disci Films.[13]

The second film would be made in Tahiti with French director Yves AHegret as the principal director and Robinson as director of the English version. This movie would be shot in Cinema-Scope and would hopefully star Gerard Philippe.[13]

"I was told that the Pacific was very wide, and its capital was Sydney* so I came here," said Decharne."I also heard that Australians appreciated French films better than any other country outside Europe. 'La Ronde' made more money in Australia than it did in France."[13]

Robinson later claimed that 60% of the money invested in the film came from housewives.[14]

The French actors arrived in Australia in June 1955.[15]

Shooting

Shooting began in New Guinea in June 1955 and took place over twelve weeks.[16] The unit was based out of Goroka.[17]

Every scene was shot twice – once in French, once in English: Pagliero would direct the French version, Robinson would do the English.

Robinson got along well with Pagliero calling him "one of the most delightful guys you would ever meet in your life"[2] He says after the first few days of filming both "very quickly realised that you can only have one boss on the floor of the set." They decided that Pagliero would through the scenes with the French actors in the morning and when the Australian actors had to speak French Pagliero would "get all the dialogue done out on idiot boards for them."[2]

Robinson said Pagliero "stood back from the film and worked with his actors a bit, helped the Australian actors with the French dialogue" but contributed more than Robinson originally thought because they would discuss scenes at night.[2]

Robinson said he clashed with the Frenchman only once, during a scene involving the lowering of the Australian flag but "it was a national argument rather than a film argument. But he was terribly aware of the fact that confusion would arise if the two of us were trying to run the set."[2]

[18] Despite the difficulties of shooting on location, the film was infused only three days behind schedule.

The film was edited in Paris.[1]

Release

The film was released in France as L'Odyssée du Capitaine Steve. A novelisation of the script by Gavin Casey was published in 1956.

Reception

Awards

The film screened at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.[19] Director Lee Robinson was nominated for the Golden Palm Award[20] but was beaten by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Louis Malle for Le Monde du silence.

US Release

American producer Joseph E. Levine purchased the film for distribution and added more jungle footage. When the film did poor business he retitled it Walk Into Hell, which increased its earnings dramatically.[21][22] Robinson claimed at one stage the movie was one of the 100 top grossers in the US.[2]

The Los Angeles Times called it "a fairly pleasant travelogue".[23]

References

  1. ^ a b Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 222.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Moran, Albert (1987). "Lee Robinson interview with Albert Moran". Continuum: The Australian Journal of Media & Culture. Vol. 1, no. 1.
  3. ^ French box office figures for 1956 at Box Office Story
  4. ^ WALK INTO PARADISE Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 23, Iss. 264, (Jan 1, 1956): 88.
  5. ^ "'Chips' scores in N.G." The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 11 May 1954. p. 11. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Film Location Chosen On Sepik River". The West Australian. Western Australia. 11 May 1954. p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "Feature Films to be Made in N. Guinea". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 26 May 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  8. ^ Hopper, Hedda (31 December 1954). "Dick Boone Visits New Guinea for Movie on Head Hunters". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 10.
  9. ^ Schallert, Edwin (5 May 1955). "George Sanders Joins All-Star Group; 'Consul at Sunset' Optioned". Los Angeles Times. p. B17.
  10. ^ "French movie stars for New Guinea wilds". The Australian Women's Weekly. 29 June 1955. p. 13. Retrieved 27 August 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "FILM STAR VISITS PARRAMATTA". The Cumberland Argus. New South Wales, Australia. 20 April 1955. p. 7. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "PUBLIC INVITED TO HELP PRODUCE FILMS". The Cumberland Argus. New South Wales, Australia. 27 April 1955. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  13. ^ a b c d "Frenchman Here to Make Two Films Yearly". Sydney Morning Herald. 1 May 1955. p. 17.
  14. ^ "New hope for stars of the future". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia, Australia. 9 May 1956. p. 23. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  15. ^ "French movie stars for New Guinea wilds". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia, Australia. 29 June 1955. p. 13. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  16. ^ "Worth Reporting". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia, Australia. 25 May 1955. p. 30. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  17. ^ Kayser, Carl (April 1956). "Assignment New Guinea". American Cinematographer. pp. 222–223, 256–258.
  18. ^ "Worth Reporting". The Australian Women's Weekly. 25 May 1955. p. 30. Retrieved 27 August 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Australia's good showing at Cannes Film Festival". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia, Australia. 23 May 1956. p. 23. Retrieved 18 April 2020 – via Trove.
  20. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Walk Into Paradise". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  21. ^ Scheuer, P. K. (27 July 1959). "Meet joe levine, super(sales)man!". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167430798.
  22. ^ Robertson, Nan (1 August 1987). "Joseph E. Levine: a towering figure in movie making is dead". New York Times. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  23. ^ Wild Land Setting of New Movie F L M. Los Angeles Times 6 Dec 1957: C11.

External links

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