The Honeymoon Machine *** (1961, Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, Dean Jagger, Jack Weston, Jack Mullaney, Marcel Hillaire) – Classic Movie Review 12,504

Steve McQueen stepped in when Cary Grant turned down the 1961 comedy film The Honeymoon Machine. McQueen later regretted the decision, and walked out of the first public sneak preview, saying he’d never to work for MGM again. 

Director Richard Thorpe’s attractive and appealing 1961 American comedy film The Honeymoon Machine stars Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, Dean Jagger, Jack Weston, Jack Mullaney, and Marcel Hillaire.

Funny transfer of Lorenzo Semple’s 1959 Broadway play The Golden Fleecing about a couple of US naval officers (Steve McQueen, Jack Mullaney) who uses boffin Jim Hutton’s US Navy computer on board ship to win the jackpot at roulette at the Venice Lido casino. American admiral Dean Jagger thinks their radio signals are signs of an impending enemy attack and ruins their scheme.

The lighter-than-air stuff gets what it needs – lively acting (particularly by Steve McQueen, Jim Hutton and Jack Mullaney as the three plotters), pacey handling and a handsomely designed production. Popular Prentiss and Hutton, first paired in Where the Boys Are, were re-teamed for next year’s Bachelor in Paradise and The Horizontal Lieutenant.

MGM signed Prentiss and Hutton to a studio contract after their success in Where the Boys Are, starring them in three films: The Honeymoon Machine, Bachelor in Paradise and The Horizontal Lieutenant.

Steve McQueen stepped in when Cary Grant turned down the star role. McQueen later regretted the decision, and walked out of the first public sneak preview, saying he’d never to work for MGM again although contracted to make two more films for them. But, for once, it went into a small profit of $122,000.

The cast are Steve McQueen as Lt. Ferguson ‘Fergie’ Howard, Brigid Bazlen as Julie Fitch, Jim Hutton as Jason Eldridge, Paula Prentiss as Pam Dunstan, Dean Jagger as Admiral Fitch, Jack Weston as Signalman Burford Taylor, Jack Mullaney as Lt. Beauregard ‘Beau’ Gilliam, Marcel Hillaire as inspector of casino games, Ben Astar as Russian consul, William Lanteau as Tommy Dane, Ken Lynch as Captain James Angle, and Simon Scott as Captain Harvey Adam.

Paula Prentiss (born Paula Ragusa on March 4, 1938).

Jim Hutton (May 31, 1934 – June 2, 1979).

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,504

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