Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. The film was a parody on Ninotchka (1939), and Garbo thought the Hepburn film was the worst film that she had ever seen." Essentially a rehash of Ninotchka, the film stars Bob Hope as Chuck Lockwood, an American military officer assigned to “de-Communize” defecting Russian aviator Vinka Kovelonko (Katharine Hepburn). Hope had been embarrassed by the publication of a tell-all book by former lover Barbara Payton, and advised by close confidants to leave the United States until the bad press had subsided. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. THE IRON PETTICOAT is a creaky and dated comedy set in the Cold War era. She shows no interest in Chuck, and is just as determined to sell him on Russian virtues as he is on influencing her. "[9], According to his biographer, Hope also saw the opportunity to get away from the United States at a time when a scandal was tarnishing his reputation as a family man. Hepburn and Hecht agreed to make changes to keep Hope on the film. Naturally, they fall in love, but there's still the KGB, which doesn't like the idea of having a defected Russian officer running around in London. Capt. "[28], According to MGM records, the film was a modest box-office success, earning $1,260,000 in the US and Canada and $125,000 elsewhere. Directed by. If you are unsure how best to edit this programme please take a moment to read it. Captain Vinka Kovalenko (Katharine Hepburn) lands a Russian jet in West German territory, to the surprise of US armed forces, who take her prisoner. Unfortunately, your other partner, Katharine Hepburn, can't shy out of the fractured picture with me. Written by 90. [22] She recalled that Hope thought her sense of humour was basically "zilch."[23]. However, he finds things are not the way they were when he left. When she lands her aeroplane in Western territory, she is captured by the American forces. United Kingdom, 1956. The notion of these two characters falling rapturously, romantically in love is virtually revolting. [8][4] She contacted Thomas and Doctor in the House producer Betty E. Box while they were making Doctor at Sea, and they agreed to take part. The Iron Petticoat (1956) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Biography. As a result writer Ben Hecht unsuccessfully tried to have his name removed from the film. Domestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband. Vinka defects, not for political freedom, but because she feels discriminated against as a woman in the Soviet air force. Hope, whose company controlled US rights as one of the film's producers, cut 12 minutes from the version that was released in the UK. THE IRON PETTICOAT. If this was meant to be a travesty, it is. The Iron Petticoat Photos. The late Hepburn and Hope were an odd coupling, but they did manage to generate a certain amount of chemistry.Hepburn's interpretation of a Russian aviatrix is nothing more than a caricature, and the script presents a view of Russia and its people in line with the anti-Soviet sentiments of the McCarthy fifties. [5] However, the latest version released by TCM features a large screen credit: "Screenplay by Ben Hecht. The Iron Petticoat, a 1956 British movie, is not one of those. 18 of 32 people found this review helpful. 59. The main story borrows heavily from Ernst Lubitsch's Ninotchka (1939), starring Greta Garbo, and very closely resembles Josef Von Sternberg's Jet Pilot with Janet Leigh as the Russian pilot and John Wayne as the US Air Force officer. "[11], Donald Sinden, then a contract star for the Rank Organisation at Pinewood Studios, had a permanent dressing room in the same block as Hepburn's. The screenplay by Ben Hecht became the focus of a contentious history behind the production and led to the film's eventual suppression by Hope. The Iron Petticoat 1956. Subplots involve Lockwood trying to marry a member of the British upper class and communist agents trying to coerce Hepburn's character to return to the Soviet Union. Jet Pilot, inspired by real-life Cold War pilot defections, completed principal photography in 1950 but was not released until 1957, after The Iron Petticoat.[3]. Bosley Crowther of the New York Times, noting that Hecht had disavowed his work on the film, summed up many of the critical appraisals: "'The Iron Petticoat', which encloses Katharine Hepburn and Bob Hope, is about as inflexible and ponderous as the garment its title describes. Connie is also mistaken for Vinka in a cloakroom and taken captive. The Iron Petticoat (aka Not for Money) is a 1956 British Cold War comedy film starring Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn, and directed by Ralph Thomas. Review of The Iron Petticoat (1956) By Allan C (2,180) on 03 Dec 2012. Bob Hope came to the rescue and with his superb sense of humour said to her, 'If you don't behave yourself. The original screenplay, Not for Money, was written by Ben Hecht[4] from a story by producer Harry Saltzman. Yes. Miss Hepburn was removed from it by fifty percent. It features two absolutely mismatched stars whose lack of chemistry undermines the film. Connie becomes increasingly angry, more so when she finds out that Chuck is not as well-off financially as he has pretended to be. Four men, bored with their Thursday nights out from their wives/mom, rent a love nest in NYC, equipped with a blonde. The Iron Petticoat Ralph Thomas (1956) 90min. "Then we all had second thoughts and said, 'Why not?' Edit. Privately, Hepburn characterized Hope as "the biggest egomaniac with whom I have ever worked in my entire life." The Iron Petticoat (1957) "Bob and Kate...Simply Great" TMDb Score. The Iron Petticoat has generally received mixed reviews. [10], "We accepted the job because Miss Hepburn agreed to do it, and because we liked the Ben Hecht script," said Thomas. Vinka defects, not for political freedom, but because she feels discriminated against as a woman in the Soviet air force. No need to register, buy now! ", "Screen: 'Iron Petticoat'; Bob Hope, Katharine Hepburn are stars. He said, "Katharine Hepburn was delightful and most professional, but what was deemed by some to be 'professional' can also be called 'temperamental' by others. Edit Submit Cancel We have produced a Style Guide to help editors follow a standard format when editing a listing. Millicent's solitary existence changes when she encounters Burt Hansen a charismatic younger man. [24], As Hecht told journalist Mike Wallace in a 1958 interview, "The movie was written for a lady, Miss Katharine Hepburn, and ended up instead as a role for the hero, Mr. Bob Hope. TCM aired the film on 29 November 2012, almost a decade after the deaths of both leads.[5]. He describes her as cold and unappealing, but when Connie makes a surprise visit, Vinka strolls into Chuck's room wearing little else but a pajama top and her military medals. Hope had intended to change his role from that of a debonair leading man to that of his usual wise-cracking comic. Each was happy with the scene he had – until they compared notes! The screenplay by Ben Hecht became the focus of a contentious history behind the production, and led to the film's eventual suppression by Hope. [5], Turner Classic Movies indicated in April 2012 that it had entered into an agreement with Hope Enterprises for a 10-year licence for US and Canadian TV rights and negotiated to release The Iron Petticoat on Blu-ray and DVD in North America as part of its TCM Vault Collection video line. A man, Hilary Fairfield returns home after fifteen years in a mental asylum. She defects because she feels discriminated against as a woman. Vinka is pursued by her former lover, engineer Ivan (Robert Helpmann). Certificate: Passed "[5], In a 1972 interview, Italian actress Rossella Falk said that Garbo was "unhappy with Hepburn because she made a movie called 'The Iron Petticoat'. The author of a controversially racy best-selling book tries to hide her celebrity status from her provincial small-town neighbors, who'd be scandalized if they knew. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? But there is Katharine Hepburn, and that’s enough for me. Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London, England, UK. 1955 British comedy film, directed by Ralph Thomas, produced by Betty E. Box, and based on Richard Gordon's novel by the same name. When Kovelenko's MiG is escorted into West German airspace, two USAF North American F-86D Sabres intercept it. Domestic take: See "Top Grosses of 1957". The Iron Petticoat is a cold war comedy, starring Katherine Hepburn and Bob Hope, in which they portray a Russian pilot officer and an American air force officer respectively. "The Iron Petticoat" is a cold war comedy in which Hepburn plays Captain Vinka Kovelenko, an aviator who defects from the Soviet Union, landing her Mig in West Germany, where she is quickly turned over to the U.S. military. MGM received a 10-year licence for the Western Hemisphere in 1955. Captain Chuck Lockwood gets the order to show her the bright side of capitalism, while she tries to convince him of the superiority of communism. "[12], Bob Hope read the script and wanted to play the role. Not for Money Year 1956 Runtime 87 min. According to actress Rossella Falk: " Greta Garbo was unhappy with Katharine Hepburn because she made a movie called 'The Iron Petticoat'. [6] Hecht wrote the film specifically as a vehicle for Katharine Hepburn. Edit Submit Cancel We have produced a Style Guide to help editors follow a standard format when editing a listing. [7], Hepburn was pleased with the original script and personally selected Ralph Thomas as the director because she liked his film Doctor in the House (1954). BBC One London, 18 May 1995 14.15. She announces that her defection is based on the anger of being overlooked for a promotion. The Iron Petticoat (aka Not for Money) is a 1956 British Cold War comedy film starring Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn, and directed by Ralph Thomas. A Douglas C-47 Skytrain (as its counterpart, the Soviet Lisunov Li-2) is used for the return to Russia, while a Boeing Washington B.1 bomber and Avro Anson transport aircraft also appear, albeit mainly as backdrops. Captain Vinka Kovalenko defects from Russia, but not for political reasons. Apparently withheld because of Hope's unhappiness over the public controversy with Hecht, the film was not shown on US television nor had been released on home video there for many years, though it is readily available in the UK, where rights are currently controlled by ITV. Let us hope this swooning contingent is not confined to yourself and your euphoric agent, Louis Shurr. The Iron Petticoat was released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the American market. I can't really say I directed the picture. "The Iron Petticoat" is a cold war comedy in which Hepburn plays Captain Vinka Kovelenko, an aviator who defects from the Soviet Union, landing her Mig in West Germany, where she is quickly turned over to the U.S. military. "The Iron Petticoat" (also known as "Eiserne Unterrock, Der", "Sottana di ferro, La") is a Comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas, released on January 07 of 1957 in the USA , starring Bob Hope, Katharine Hepburn, Noelle Middleton, James Robertson Justice, Robert Helpmann and David Kossoff. Synopsis. [10] However, casting the role proved difficult. The Iron Petticoat (1956) It's one of the unlikeliest pairings in the history of movies: Katharine Hepburn, the theater-trained, Oscar®-winning actress whose style was the height of brittle sophistication; and Bob Hope, the knockabout comedian whose low-comedy vaudeville roots remained visible in … However, she is neither on a mission nor defecting, just upset about a personal matter back home. Although the plot involved a defecting military pilot, only a minimal number of aircraft appeared in the production, with the use of a Republic F-84F Thunderstreak as a stand-in for the ubiquitous MiG-15 jet fighter, the staple of 1950s Soviet air forces. [17] Many of Hepburn's best scenes were cut, and the title was changed from Not for Money. Their styles were doomed to clash. She defects because she feels discriminated against as a woman. Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. (1956). Find the perfect the iron petticoat stock photo. "They [Rank] turned very sour," wrote Box. Hecht had been part of the screenwriting team on the similarly themed Comrade X (1940). [26], For the US release, the film's credits read "Based on an Original Story by Harry Saltzman." According to Box, Hepburn originally envisioned the male lead being played by Cary Grant, William Holden or James Stewart. He then told Box and Thomas that he wanted to pull out of the film, saying that he was unhappy with the script. The Russians misunderstand Vinka's intentions and charge her with treason. A superior officer named Tarbell (Alan Gifford) cancels his furlough, ordering Chuck to sell the Soviet aviatrix on everything good about America and convince her to permanently come over to their side. However, she remains a full-blooded Communist and has nothing but disdain for the West. She has just been awarded a certificate for starting work on time for 1000 days. View All Photos (1) The Iron Petticoat Quotes. Lensed in England, The Iron Petticoat has been out of circulation for so long that it's difficult to determine whether it is a long-lost classic or the unmitigated disaster many have claimed it to be. U Certificate ADVERTISEMENT. A web page about The Iron Petticoat. A fictionalized account of the career of jazz singer Ruth Etting and her tempestuous marriage to gangster Marty Snyder, who helped propel her to stardom. The Iron Petticoat provides a few chuckles but lacks in originality. And the pairing of Hope and Hepburn is just so damn strange. BBC One London, 4 November 1993 14.15. The film was a parody on 'Ninotchka', and Garbo thought the Hepburn film was the worst film that she had ever seen. Shortly before his execution on the death row in San Quentin, amateur sleuth and baby photographer Ronnie Jackson, tells reporters how he got there. The Iron Petticoat (1956) Info; In lists (21) Comments (0) Friends; Activity; Checks (94) Favorites (1) Remove ads. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. Let’s check out the trailer… The Iron Petticoat (Original Trailer) I'll tell everyone that you are Audrey Hepburn's father! [5] The two men formed a company called Benhar to produce the film. Hecht had been part of the screenwriting team on the similarly themed Comrade X (1940). The screenplay by Ben Hecht became the focus of a contentious history behind the production, and led to the film's eventual suppression by Hope. Movie (1956) Starring: Bob Hope (Capt. The second of seven films in the Doctor series, following the hugely popular Doctor in the House from the previous year. [13], "We all thought the idea quite mad at first," said Box of Hope's casting. A sleeping potion meant for Chuck ends up in Tarbell's drink instead. [1], The film's distribution rights were divided between Hope's company, which controlled the Western Hemisphere, and the UK company Romulus Films, which held the Eastern Hemisphere, including the UK. Red-star markings appear on both the F-84F and C-47 to convert them to their Soviet lookalikes. I refereed it. View production, box office, & company info. Hepburn plays a Soviet military pilot who lands in West Germany and, after sampling life in the West in the company of Hope's Major Chuck Lockwood, is converted to capitalism. There was always something about the way Hepburn looked at a man that led you to believe he was in for a truly joyous experience.This isn't a great film, but it passes the time. The Iron Petticoat is a 1956 feature film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn. And I must say the first of us to see that it made sense was Katie. The Iron Petticoat poster. This FAQ is empty. Comedy, Certificate: Passed Although her magnificent comic performance has been blowtorched out of the film, there is enough left of the Hepburn footage to identify her for her sharpshooters. Millicent Wetherby is a middle-aged woman whose life is devoid of love and affection. Naturally, they fall in love, but there's still the KGB, which doesn't like the idea of having a defected Russian officer running around in London. ", The Iron Petticoat was a critical failure when it was released in December 1956 in the United States. Comedy. "He had seven writers, she had none. The Iron Petticoat (DVD, 2003) Be the first to write a review. After a wealthy man finds out his wife is a gold digger, he meets and falls for a widowed mother, and complications ensue. The Iron Petticoat (1956) Trivia (14) Add new Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn had a difficult and wary relationship during production as Hepburn became aware that the film was being changed to a typical Hope comedy leaving nearly fifty percent of her work on the film on the cutting room floor.