Surprise Package ** (1960, Yul Brynner, Mitzi Gaynor, Noël Coward) – Classic Movie Review 10,771

Producer-director Stanley Donen’s 1960 British film Surprise Package is an off-the-wall comedy set on a Greek semi-tropical island, which is home to both a New York hoodlum, Nico March (Yul Brynner) and a European royal family, ruled by King Pavel II (Noel Coward). Brynner wants to buy Coward’s crown jewels, but, instead of sending him money, his US mob send him surprise package Gabby Rogers (Mitzi Gaynor).

With its pretty bizarre and always-unlikely plotline, New Yorker satirist Art Buchwald’s novel A Gift from the Boys is transferred to the screen in a typically heavy-handed, slack manner by screen-writer Harry Kurnitz. However, there is cheerful acting all round, in particular from Brynner, who, although ill suited to this form of comedy, still gives it his best shot, and of course Coward and Gaynor are appealing.

It really needs colour, but Christopher Challis shoots in black and white, though at least there is sharp, pacy direction from Donen, whose early success with musicals such as On the Town and Singin’ in the Rain was never repeated in his dramatic output, though Charade and Two for the Road are very likeable and memorable.

It was made in October 1959 at Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, and Lindos, Rhodes, Greece, with the opening shot of Nico’s mansion exterior shot at Great Fosters Hotel, Egham, Surrey, England.

It also features Bill Nagy, Eric Pohlmann, George Coulouris, Guy Deghy, Barry Foster, Lionel Murton, Alf Dean [Man Mountain Dean], Warren Mitchell, Guy Deghy, Lyndon Brook, Michael Balfour, Danny Green, Charles Farrell, Cec Linder, Frederick Leister, Claire Gordon, Austin Trevor, Kenneth J Warren and Carol White as Sexy Teenager (uncredited).

Maurice Binder’s opening credits are an animation of the three stars avoiding gangsters and bullets. The theme song ‘Surprise Package’ by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen is sung by a vocal chorus over the credits.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,771

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