Love Is a Ball

Love Is a Ball is a 1963 romantic comedy film starring Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, and Charles Boyer. It is based on the novel The Grand Duke and Mr. Pimm by Lindsay Hardy.[1]

Love Is a Ball
Hope Lange and Glenn Ford on the soundtrack album cover
Directed byDavid Swift
Produced byMartin Poll
Written byDavid Swift
Frank Waldman
Tom Waldman
Based onnovel The Grand Duke and Mr. Pimm by Lindsay Hardy
StarringGlenn Ford
Hope Lange
Charles Boyer
Music byMichel Legrand
CinematographyEdmond Séchan
Edited byCathy Kelber
Tom McAdoo
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • March 1963 (1963-03) (Las Vegas)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Etienne Pimm (Charles Boyer) has an unusual way of making a living: he arranges for impoverished European aristocrats to marry unsuspecting rich people. He is then discreetly compensated for his matchmaking. His latest target is Millicent "Milly" Mehaffey (Hope Lange), newly arrived on the Riviera. Pimm and his assistant Janine (Ulla Jacobsson) begin grooming the penniless Grand Duke Gaspard Ducluzeau (Ricardo Montalban) for Milly by hiring three men. Julian Soames (John Wood) is to teach him manners and English. As their target fancies herself a race car driver, Pimm recruits John Lathrop Davis (Glenn Ford), a (retired) champion many times over, to instruct Gaspard in the finer points of competitive driving. The third man is world-renowned chef Maurice Zoltan (André Luguet).

Pimm "accidentally" meets Milly's uncle and guardian, Dr. Christian Gump (Telly Savalas, cast against type as a cultured gourmet) and invites him to a dinner prepared by Zoltan. Gump cannot resist the bait of a meal prepared by a famous chef. After dinner, he is introduced to the handsome young duke, well prepared after weeks of intensive training. As Pimm had hoped, Gump begs him to bring the duke to a party he has arranged for Milly, confiding that he hopes they fall in love and that his troublesome ward will settle down.

Meanwhile, Priory (Laurence Hardy), another of Pimm's minions, has gotten himself hired as the chauffeur to spy on the family. When an errant polo ball struck by Gaspard breaks Priory's arm, a reluctant Davis takes his place. Davis is openly contemptuous of Milly's unrealistic plan to compete in the International Grand Prix, causing clashes with his spoiled employer. As they spend more time together though, her initial dislike turns into love.

With the romance between Milly and Gaspard not proceeding very well, Pimm suggests to Milly that the young couple spend a romantic night together at his private villa. She takes him up on his offer, only with Davis, not Gaspard.

The next morning, Milly learns the truth and is at first outraged, even though Pimm confesses that Davis was not the intended groom. For revenge, she decides to marry an oafish suitor named Freddie (Jean Parédès). However, on her wedding day, her wise grandmother (Ruth McDevitt) convinces her to reconcile with Davis. This is just fine with Gaspard, as he has fallen for Janine.

Cast

Production

The novel was published in 1959.[2] Rights were bought by Martin H. Poll of Gold Medal Enterprises; Poll owned Gold Medal Studios in the Bronx, facilities which were hired out to movie makers. He had decided to move into film production. The screenplay was originally written by the author of the novel.[3]

Blake Edwards was originally attached to direct.[4] Glenn Ford and Hope Lange were signed to star early on.[5] Eventually David Swift came in to write and direct.[6] Ulla Jacobsson signed to make her American debut with the film.[7]

The film was shot on the French Riviera.[8][9] Glenn Ford and Hope Lange were a real-life couple at the time.[10]

The film had its world premiere at Las Vegas.[11]

Reception

Bosley Crowther, critic for The New York Times, panned it, writing that "If 'Love Is a Ball,' somebody fumbled."[1] He found it "predictable nearly every step of the way" and "laboriously arch in tone, broadly played in general and directed with slapdash aimlessness by Mr. Swift."[1] He noted that the "sun-kissed scenery, though, should set anyone drooling". He mentioned the "determined, good-natured attitude of a game cast headed by Glenn Ford, Hope Lange and Charles Boyer", and in particular found Montalban and Jacobsson "entirely disarming."[1]

See also

References
  1. Bosley Crowther (April 25, 1963). "Screen: 'Magnificent Sinner' Opens:Czar Alexander Tale Is at the Victoria 'Love Is a Ball' Comes to Astor Theater Comedy on the Riviera". The New York Times.
  2. Robert Daley (October 4, 1959). "Old-Style Matchmaker: The Grand Duke and Mr. Pimm. By Lindsay Hardy. 256 pp. New York: Harper & Bros. $3.50". The New York Times.
  3. A. H. Weiler (May 15, 1960). "Local Film Panorama: New Gold Medal Company to Produce Here -- U.S. 'Pied Piper' -- Addenda". The New York Times.
  4. Philip K. Scheuer (August 11, 1961). "Vertical Producer Named Marty Here: He Bought a Studio to Make Pictures, Then Rented It Out". Los Angeles Times.
  5. Philip K. Scheuer (September 18, 1961). "Britons in 'Fool'; Barbara Eden Set: Columbia Snubs Local Pup; Widow Urges Movie Clubs". Los Angeles Times.
  6. Hedda Hopper (October 10, 1961). "Elizabeth Taylor to Do 'Gouffe Case': Fisher Will Produce at Watners; Steiger, Mineo Named as Team". Los Angeles Times.
  7. "'Arms and the Man' to Open Here Today". The New York Times. February 23, 1962.
  8. "New Comedy Filmed on French Riviera". Los Angeles Times. February 22, 1963.
  9. Harry Mines (May 13, 1962). "'Pimm' on the Riviera: Manufactured Mansion Starry-Eyed". The New York Times.
  10. Richard L. Coe (February 24, 1963). "At Times, a Star Must Be Himself". The Washington Post.
  11. John L. Scott (March 8, 1963). "'Love Is a Ball': Las Vegas Setting for Gala Premiere". Los Angeles Times.
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