Arte: This request by Frank Sinatra that displeased the studio on Colonel Von Ryan’s Express

SPOILER ALERT! What follows reveals the end of “Colonel Von Ryan’s Express.” Read on at the risk of spoiling the movie.

Discover Frank Sinatra as you’ve rarely seen him in Mark Robson’s Colonel Von Ryan Express. The story takes place during the Second World War, in 1943. American Colonel Joseph Ryan’s plane is shot down and he is forcibly taken to a prison camp. Even though his release is near, he is convinced to take part in the escape attempt. And the solution may be from the train!

But before filming, Sinatra will have a request that will disappoint the studio!

in memories of film producer Saul Davit, Industry: Life in the Hollywood Fast Lane, says that Frank Sinatra asks to be flown to the set every day! Officially to avoid the paparazzi. An extravagance that cost the studio dearly, which at the time was already shelling out $250,000 (nearly $2.4 million today) for the singer’s title.

But it doesn’t end there!

In both the book and the screenplay, his character, Colonel Ryan, manages to escape with the other members of the mission. That’s a good thing, because Fox believes that Saving Ryan made a sequel possible if box office success was the date. Except the actor doesn’t see himself coming back.

The star of the film and at the height of his popularity at the time, Sinatra decides to change the planned ending and kill off his character! The studio concedes defeat and reluctantly admits that Ryan was eventually killed while trying to escape. As for the singer, he now has confidence that we will not try to get hold of him.

Two years later, he would again play the role of private detective Tony Rome in two films released in 1967 and 1968.

Revenge of the studio?

Along with his narrative desires, Sinatra also wants to answer for Richard Burton. He sets out on his way to convince Twentieth Century Fox to hire comedian, husband-to-be Elizabeth Taylor.

The studio lets him work for a while and repeatedly contacts Burton to convince him, before the singer-actress discovers…that it’s never going to happen!

Indeed, after filming on Cleopatra (1963), Fox filed a lawsuit against Burton and Taylor on 5 counts – one of which is specifically aimed at the actor. He is accused of breaking the contract with the studio “not taken”And by not finishing his work “Diligence, care and attention”.

Moreover, he sometimes failed to fulfill his obligations, the punctuality required for filming and other elements not listed trial account, all to break his contract with Cleopatra (whose colossal shoot lasted two years). Fox lost a fortune on the project and hoped the lawsuit would also recoup the couple’s diva behavior on set.

A distraught Sinatra realizes he’s been lied to and will never have Burton in a conflict with the studio in Colonel Von Ryan’s Express. The fox gave him labor in vain.

Epilogue

Directed by Daryl Zanuck, the studio pressured Saul David throughout the shoot to keep the film within its schedule, but to no avail: it ended up ten days late, resulting in a $6 million overrun. Colonel von Ryan’s express will still be a great success.