| Forever, Darling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Alexander Hall |
| Written by | Helen Deutsch |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Harold Lipstein |
| Edited by | |
| Music by | Bronislau Kaper |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Loew's Incorporated |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $951,000[1] |
| Box office | $2.29 million[1] |
Forever, Darling is a 1956 Americanfantasyromantic comedy film directed byAlexander Hall, written byHelen Deutsch, and starringLucille Ball,Desi Arnaz, andJames Mason.[2] In the film, Ball stars as a wife who tries to save her struggling marriage to a chemical engineer (Arnaz) with the help of herguardian angel (Mason).Louis Calhern andNatalie Schafer co-star in supporting roles.
Originally intended forWilliam Powell andMyrna Loy, the script caught the interest of Ball and Arnaz, who were interested in making another film for MGM after the success ofThe Long, Long Trailer. The film was produced during the hiatus ofI Love Lucy.
MGM released the film on February 9, 1956. UnlikeThe Long, Long Trailer, the film received mixed reviews and a lukewarm commercial response.[2]
After five years of marriage, chemical engineer Lorenzo Xavier Vega (Desi Arnaz) tends to neglect his wife Susan (Lucille Ball) in favor of his work. When she wishes aloud that she had a more attentive spouse, her Guardian Angel – coincidentally the mirror image of her favorite movie star (James Mason) – appears.
The angel advises Susan to take a greater interest in Lorenzo's career, so she agrees to accompany him on a camping trip to test the revolutionary insecticide he's developed. However, Susan's dream of a second honeymoon turns into a nightmare when everything that could go wrong does. She becomes determined to save her marriage before it's too late.
Marilyn Maxwell also makes an uncredited appearance as herself in a fictional film she co-stars in with Mason.
The script initially titledGuardian Angel had been written by Deutsch in the 1940s as a vehicle forWilliam Powell andMyrna Loy and had been languishing atMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer for several years. Later,Spencer Tracy andKatharine Hepburn were slated for the film, but it eventually fell through.[3]
Following the success of their 1954 filmThe Long, Long Trailer, Ball and Arnaz had signed a two-picture deal with MGM in an attempt to set up a film unit forDesilu Productions. MGM headDore Schary suggestedGuardian Angel to the couple as the first picture of the deal.[4] Ball believed the project would bring the couple closer together, and they agreed to do it.[5] It was the first time Desilu was involved in feature film production. As withThe Long, Long Trailer, the lead characters are similar in personality to the Ricardos.
In March 1955,Cary Grant was the reported choice for the guardian angel; however, his demanded salary was too high, so the role went to Mason.[4][6] Alexander Hall — who was Ball's boyfriend at the time she met Arnaz — was hired as the director. Arnaz felt the script was weak, and he brought inI Love Lucy writersMadelyn Pugh andBob Carroll, Jr. to make uncredited changes; the duo's contribution was theslapstick camping sequence in the final third of the film.[7]
Filming started in mid-June 1955 while Ball and Arnaz were on hiatus from filmingI Love Lucy.[6] Although mostly filmed atDesilu Studios inCulver City, California, some scenes were filmed on location inYosemite National Park. Filming wrapped on July 12.[6]
The title song, with lyrics bySammy Cahn and music byBronislau Kaper, was recorded by both Arnaz and theAmes Brothers, who performed it over the opening credits and ultimately had the bigger hit. The tune became an Arnaz family tradition, sung by Desi at special events, including his daughterLucie's marriage to actorLaurence Luckinbill.[4]
Ball and Arnaz promoted the film via a cross-country train tour aboard a special car provided by theSanta Fe Railroad, with stops in Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City, and Ball's hometown of Jamestown, New York.[8] The film opened at theLoew's State Theatre, where the newlywed couple had performed their firstvaudeville act in 1941.
The film has received mixed reviews. When it opened,Bosley Crowther ofThe New York Times described it as a "thin, overdrawn, weak caper,"[9] andTime Out London later called it a "fitfully amusing offering."[10] Most notably, programmers atRadio City Music Hall, whereTrailer had premiered, refused to let the film open there because they found it "sub-standard."
According to MGM records, the film earned $1,912,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $376,000 in other markets, resulting in a loss of $188,000.[1] As a result of the disappointing results, MGM and the couple mutually agreed to cancel the deal, and Desilu did not produce another film untilYours, Mine, and Ours 11 years later.[11]