The Iron Petticoat
Encyclopedia
The Iron Petticoat is a 1956
British
Cold War
comedy film
starring Bob Hope
and Katharine Hepburn
and directed by Ralph Thomas
. Hepburn plays a Russian aviatrix who lands in West Germany
and is quickly converted to capitalism
after sampling life in the West in the company of Major Chuck Lockwood (Hope). Subplots involve Lockwood trying to marry Connie (Noelle Middleton), a member of the British upper class, and Communist agents trying to get Kovelenko to return to the U.S.S.R.
The film was heavily influenced by the popular 1939 comedy Ninotchka
.
Vinka is pursued by her former lover, Ivan, an engineer. She shows no interest in Chuck and is just as determined to sell him on Russian virtues as he is on influencing her. He describes her as cold and unappealing, but when Connie makes a surprise visit, Vinka strolls into Chuck's room wearing little else but a pajama top and her military medals. Connie is getting increasingly angry with Chuck, more so when she finds out that he isn't as well-off financially as he has pretended to be.
Vinka begins to dress more and more in an enticing manner. One night at a Russian restaurant, comrades come to kidnap her. A sleeping potion meant for Chuck ends up in Tarbell's drink instead. Connie is mistaken for Vinka in a cloak room and taken captive. In time, the Russians misunderstand Vinka's intentions and charge her with treason. Chuck leads a daring escape in the air and they end up falling in love. Money doesn't matter as much to Vinka as it did to Connie, but, just the same, she takes the $100,000.
with Hepburn in mind to play the female lead. The main story borrows heavily from Ernst Lubitsch
's Ninotchka
, starring Greta Garbo
, and Josef Von Sternberg
's Jet Pilot with Janet Leigh
as the Russian pilot and John Wayne
as the U.S. Air Force officer. It is based on real life inicidents of Cold War pilot defections.
When Hope had concerns that Hecht's script was unfinished, he turned the script over to his own writers to tailor it to his style (as was his usual practice). Many of Hepburn's best scenes were cut, and the title was changed from Not For Money. Hope played his role (that was first offered to Cary Grant
) in the manner of a handsome leading man
rather than his usual wise cracking coward.
As Hecht later told Mike Wallace
, "the movie was written for a lady, Miss Katharine Hepburn, and ended up instead as a role for the hero, Mr. Bob Hope, Miss Hepburn was removed from it by fifty percent. I got irritated and took my name off it -– it had nothing to do with the movie I wrote." Hecht printed an open letter in the film trade journals disclaiming the picture and offering Hepburn and her fans an apology. Hope replied with an open letter apologising that Hecht had a hit on his hands and hoped they would keep up corresponding in public. The film's credits ended up saying it was "Based on an Original Story by Harry Saltzman
." Saltzman often joked that his first motion picture production was the only Bob Hope film that failed at the box office
.
1956 in film
The year 1956 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 5 - The Ten Commandments opens in cinemas and becomes one of the most successful and popular movies of all time, currently ranking 5th on the list of all time moneymakers * February 5 - First showing of documentary films by...
British
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
and directed by Ralph Thomas
Ralph Thomas
Ralph Thomas was an English film director, born in Hull. He is perhaps best known for directing the Doctor series of films....
. Hepburn plays a Russian aviatrix who lands in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and is quickly converted to capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
after sampling life in the West in the company of Major Chuck Lockwood (Hope). Subplots involve Lockwood trying to marry Connie (Noelle Middleton), a member of the British upper class, and Communist agents trying to get Kovelenko to return to the U.S.S.R.
The film was heavily influenced by the popular 1939 comedy Ninotchka
Ninotchka
Ninotchka is a 1939 American film made for Metro Goldwyn Mayer by producer and director Ernst Lubitsch which stars Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. It was written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch, based on a screen story by Melchior Lengyel. Ninotchka is Greta Garbo's first full...
.
Plot
Captain Vinka Kovelenko lands a Russian jet in West German territory, to the surprise of U.S. armed forces who take her prisoner. She is neither on a mission nor defecting, however, just upset about a personal matter back home. A high-ranking American officer named Tarbell cancels the furlough of Captain Chuck Lockwood, who is eager to leave for London and visit his wealthy fiancee Connie. The colonel wants Chuck to sell the Soviet aviatrix on everything that's good about America and permanently come over to their side. He even dangles a $100,000 bonus if she does.Vinka is pursued by her former lover, Ivan, an engineer. She shows no interest in Chuck and is just as determined to sell him on Russian virtues as he is on influencing her. He describes her as cold and unappealing, but when Connie makes a surprise visit, Vinka strolls into Chuck's room wearing little else but a pajama top and her military medals. Connie is getting increasingly angry with Chuck, more so when she finds out that he isn't as well-off financially as he has pretended to be.
Vinka begins to dress more and more in an enticing manner. One night at a Russian restaurant, comrades come to kidnap her. A sleeping potion meant for Chuck ends up in Tarbell's drink instead. Connie is mistaken for Vinka in a cloak room and taken captive. In time, the Russians misunderstand Vinka's intentions and charge her with treason. Chuck leads a daring escape in the air and they end up falling in love. Money doesn't matter as much to Vinka as it did to Connie, but, just the same, she takes the $100,000.
Production
The original story Not for Money was written by Ben HechtBen Hecht
Ben Hecht was an American screenwriter, director, producer, playwright, and novelist. Called "the Shakespeare of Hollywood", he received screen credits, alone or in collaboration, for the stories or screenplays of some 70 films and as a prolific storyteller, authored 35 books and created some of...
with Hepburn in mind to play the female lead. The main story borrows heavily from Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch
Ernst Lubitsch was a German-born film director. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having "the Lubitsch touch."In 1947 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his...
's Ninotchka
Ninotchka
Ninotchka is a 1939 American film made for Metro Goldwyn Mayer by producer and director Ernst Lubitsch which stars Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. It was written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch, based on a screen story by Melchior Lengyel. Ninotchka is Greta Garbo's first full...
, starring Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
, and Josef Von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg — born Jonas Sternberg — was an Austrian-American film director. He is particularly noted for his distinctive mise en scène, use of lighting and soft lens, and seven-film collaboration with actress Marlene Dietrich.-Youth:Von Sternberg was born Jonas Sternberg to a Jewish...
's Jet Pilot with Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh , born Jeanette Helen Morrison, was an American actress. She was the wife of actor Tony Curtis from June 1951 to September 1962 and the mother of Kelly Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis....
as the Russian pilot and John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
as the U.S. Air Force officer. It is based on real life inicidents of Cold War pilot defections.
When Hope had concerns that Hecht's script was unfinished, he turned the script over to his own writers to tailor it to his style (as was his usual practice). Many of Hepburn's best scenes were cut, and the title was changed from Not For Money. Hope played his role (that was first offered to Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
) in the manner of a handsome leading man
Leading man
Leading man or leading gentleman is an informal term for the actor who plays a love interest to the leading actress in a film or play. A leading man is usually an all rounder; capable of singing, dancing, and acting at a professional level, but never outshining his female co-star...
rather than his usual wise cracking coward.
As Hecht later told Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace
Michael Wallace may refer to:*Mike Wallace , television correspondent**The Mike Wallace Interview, his TV series*Mike Wallace , American historian...
, "the movie was written for a lady, Miss Katharine Hepburn, and ended up instead as a role for the hero, Mr. Bob Hope, Miss Hepburn was removed from it by fifty percent. I got irritated and took my name off it -– it had nothing to do with the movie I wrote." Hecht printed an open letter in the film trade journals disclaiming the picture and offering Hepburn and her fans an apology. Hope replied with an open letter apologising that Hecht had a hit on his hands and hoped they would keep up corresponding in public. The film's credits ended up saying it was "Based on an Original Story by Harry Saltzman
Harry Saltzman
Harry Saltzman was a Canadian theatre and film producer best known for his mega-gamble which resulted in his co-producing the James Bond film series with Albert R...
." Saltzman often joked that his first motion picture production was the only Bob Hope film that failed at the box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
.