Film
1956 Around the World in 80 Days (Film Release: October 17,1956)
(DVD Release date: 2004-05-18)
Starring: David Niven, Cantinflas, Shirley MacLaine, RobertNewton
Directed by MIchael Anderson, Produced by Michael Todd
Sinatra is revealed as the honky-tonk piano player in a San Franciscosaloon.
note: Film had an exclusive release at the Rivoli Theater in N.Y.C. on 10-17-56.
All seats were reserved for the limited run. Rivoli was one of the few theaters
in the country that could justice to the elaborate widescreen with enhanced
sound provided by the TODD-A.O. process. The film would have its L.A.
premiere on 12-22-56. Sinatra first met Shirley MacLaine while doing his
short segment. The producer, Mike Todd, dubbed the many brief segments
by majors stars as "cameo" appearances.The word would stick and is still
used today.
A year to the day after the New York opening, Mike Todd threw a huge
party at Madison Square Garden in New York. Title on the marquee was "A
Little Private Party Tonight." CBS broadcast the show live on its
Thursday night "Playhouse 90" from 9:30 to 11: 00 P.M.
The TV production had Sinatra and Maurice Chevalier as two major star set to
appear..
They never materialized and there was no explanation offered. Variety
considered the
production a disaster. But the ratings were huge. CBS was very pleased to get a
34.5
index. The highest for Playhouse 90 in more than two years. There was also a
radio
broadcast of the Garden activity on WOR-AM in New York.
Rehearsal with direstor Michael Anderson, producer Mike Todd and
a honky tonk piano player.
P.S. I saw Hitchcock's "Rear Window" at the Rivoli in August 1954. It was quite
a theater.Ed
