Surprise Package(film)
Surprise Package | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Stanley Donen |
Screenplay by | Harry Kurnitz |
Based on | A Gift from the Boys 1958 novel byArt Buchwald[1] |
Produced by | Stanley Donen Paul B. Radin |
Starring | Yul Brynner Mitzi Gaynor Noël Coward |
Cinematography | Christopher Challis |
Edited by | Jim Clark |
Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
Production company | Stanley Donen Productions |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures Corporation |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1,100,000 (US and Canada rentals)[2] |
Surprise Packageis a 1960 Americancomedy filmdirected byStanley Donenand starringYul Brynner,Mitzi Gaynor,andNoël Coward.The supporting cast featuresGeorge Coulouris,Michael Balfour,Eric PohlmannandBarry Foster.[3]The screenplay concerns an American gangster living on a Greek island who hatches a plan to steal the crown of a banished king.[4]
Plot
[edit]Nico March is being deported by the U.S. government. Not wanting his money confiscated he orders an accomplice to hide it while also keeping an eye on his longtime girlfriend, Gabby Rogers.
Exiled to a Greek island Nico quickly meets corrupt cop Mirales and the banished king ofAnatolia,Pavel II, who wants to sell Nico his old crown. Nico is double-crossed by his accomplice, who instead of sending him the money sends Gabby.
Nico figures out where the king's crown is hidden inside the villa where he lives and plans to steal it, using Gabby to distract him. Other criminals, including Dr. Panzer and strongman Igor, want to get to it first. They knock Nico unconscious and found the crown but Tibor, Nico's Hungarian spy friend, steals it back. In the ensuing chase Tibor gets shot and dies in Gabby's arms. Gabby gives the crown to Stavrin who will place it in a monastery for all the people to see. Dr. Panzer and Igor end up placed under arrest for the murder of Tibor.
Nico proposes and Gabby accepts. Nico and the king both need money, so they turn the latter's villa into a casino, where Gabby works as the hat & coat check girl.
Cast
[edit]- Yul Brynneras Nico March
- Mitzi Gaynoras Gabby Rogers
- Noël Cowardas King Pavel II
- George Coulourisas Dr. Panzer
- Michael Balfouras Oscar
- Eric Pohlmannas Mirales
- Guy Deghyas Tibor
- Lyndon Brookas Stavrin
- Alf Dean as Igor Trofim (as Man Mountain Dean)
- Lionel Murtonas US Marshal
- Barry Fosteras US Marshal
- Michael Balfouras Oscar
- Cec Linderas Lawyer
- Bill Nagy as Johnny Stettina
- Frederick Leisteras Aide to King Pavel II
- Paul Carpenteras TV News Broadcaster
- Danny Greenas Nicky Canfield
- Carol Whiteas Sexy Teenager
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Surprise PackageatIMDb
- Surprise PackageatAllMovie
- Surprise Packageat theTCM Movie Database
- Surprise Packageat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
- 1960 films
- 1960 comedy films
- 1960s heist films
- American black-and-white films
- American comedy films
- American heist films
- Films based on American novels
- Films directed by Stanley Donen
- Films set in Greece
- Films set on islands
- Films set in the Mediterranean Sea
- Films with screenplays by Harry Kurnitz
- Columbia Pictures films
- American crime comedy films
- 1960s English-language films
- 1960s American films
- 1960s comedy film stubs
- 1960s American film stubs