Never Put It in Writing is a 1964 British comedy film directed and written by Andrew L. Stone and starring Pat Boone, Milo O'Shea, Fidelma Murphy and Reginald Beckwith.BFI.org
Plot While in Ireland, an insurance executive learns that somebody else has been promoted over his head. He writes an abusive letter to his bosses, only to discover that he is to be given another important post with the company. He desperately tries to recover the letter before it reaches his bosses.
Cast Pat Boone as Steven Cole Milo O'Shea as Danny O'Toole Fidelma Murphy as Katie O'Connell Reginald Beckwith as Lombardi Harry Brogan as Mr. Breeden Nuala Moiselle as Miss Bull John Le Mesurier as Adams Sarah Ballantine as Adams' secretary Polly Adams as receptionist Colin Blakely as Oscar Ed Devereaux as Pringle John Dunbar as judge Bill Foley as tower man John Gardiner as security officer Karal Gardner as young woman Seamus Healy as sorting office foreman Liz Lanchbury as Basil's girlfriend John Lynch as man at elevator Julia Nelson as maid Derry Power as taxi driver Susan Richards as judge's wife
Production The film was originally known as The Letter, with Pat Boone's signing announced in June 1963. It was to be produced for Seven Arts-MGM (eventually it would be made for Seven Arts-Allied Artists)."Drama of Nuclear Sub to Be Filmed: Anne Rogers Set for 'Zenda;' Ava Gardner Out of 'Iguana'" Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 4 June 1963: C7. It was also known as Strictly Personal."Pat Boone Hits Road to Boost New Movie" Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Tribune 20 June 1963: c6.
Filming began in Dublin, Ireland, in July 1963. The schedule was for two months.
Accident On the first day of shooting at Shannon Airport, a plane crashed in a camera and the director's van, injuring seven people, one of them seriously. A CL44 plane was taking off while a Proctor plane was taxiing on the runway. The Proctor went off the runway and crashed into the camera van"Aircraft Crashes into Film Director's Van at Shannon: Seven injured during shooting of comedy" The Irish Times 8 July 1963: 1. (It was later ruled that the probably cause of the accident was the loss of control by the Proctor due to the effect of the slipstream caused by the C44."No inquiry into Shannon accident" The Irish Times 10 Feb 1965: 6.)
Andrew Stone and his wife were among those with minor injuries. Pat Boone was not involved in the accident; he arrived in the country shortly afterwards. Questions were asked in the Dail over the incident."Dail Question on Low-Flying Plane to Film Dublin: 'Shannon has nothing to gain'" The Irish Times 9 July 1963: 9.
Filming continued in Dublin for a number of weeks, with scenes shot at Dublin Airport, the Gresham Hotel, the Irish Life Building, Jury's Hotel and the Andrew Street Post Office. However, the government refused permission for any further low flying sequences. In August, the unit moved to London to complete the film."Low-Flying Ban Stops Pat Boone Film" The Irish Times 5 Aug 1963: 1."London letter: Long memory of a poet" The Guardian 17 Aug 1963: 6.
Release The world premiere was held at the Adelphi Theatre in Dublin."An Irishman's Diary" The Irish Times 21 May 1964: 9.
Reception The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "On the evidence of their recent British films, it looks as if the Stones are in danger of joining that long line of American filmmakers who have come a cropper in Europe. The new film disappoints on various levels: true, it has all the familiar Stone location work, with lots of tracking through office blocks and crowded streets, but nowhere is there the kind of sparkle and go which characterises their best American work. But the main trouble is the script. Here we have all the old Irish jokes about bureaucratic government employees, hard drinkers and quaint old men, with scarcely a good line to go round."
Variety wrote: "Boone turns in a creditable performance as the hotshot insurance agent. The girl with whom he plays post office is Fidelma Murphy of the Abbey, a pretty colleen who tends to overemote. The outstanding participant is Milo O'Shea, who's a delight as a devious, opportunistic "friend" of Boone's."
Diabolique magazine said "This is a sluggish, underwritten effort.. the sort of movie that needed songs and color to compensate for the script. It has neither. Boone's performance is fine."
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