On This Day... The Pride and the Passion (1957)

 Cary Grant's 61st full length feature film, The Pride and the Passion, was released today, back in 1957. 

Summary: 

During the Napoleonic Wars, a British captain is sent to Spain to help prevent the French from stealing a powerful cannon. The story follows the hardships and struggles of moving such a giant weapon across Spain and how it had to be hidden from the French.

Cast:

Cary Grant...Anthony

Frank Sinatra...Miguel

Sophia Loren...Juana

Theodore Bikel...Gen. Jouvet

John Wengraf...Sermaine

Jay Novello...Ballinger

José Nieto...Carlos (as Jose Nieto)

Carlos Larrañaga...Jose (as Carlos Larranaga)

Philip Van Zandt...Vidal

Paco El Laberinto...Manolo (as Paco el Laberinto)

Julián Ugarte...Enrique

Félix de Pomés...Bishop (as Felix de Pomes)

Carlos Casaravilla...Leonardo

Juan Olaguivel...Ramon

Nana DeHerrera...Maria (as Nana de Herrera)

Carlos De Mendoza...Francisco (as Carlos de Mendoza)

Luis Guedes...French Soldier

Did You Know?

Stanley Kramer originally wanted Marlon Brando and Ava Gardner as Grant's costars. Marlon Brando bowed out after reading the script, which he was not to his liking. He was replaced by Frank Sinatra.

Cary Grant had sworn never to make another historical film after The Howards of Virginia (1940) failed both critically and with audiences. He made an exception for this film, which ultimately failed to make a profit, though in this case, his performance was appreciated by audiences.

With seven weeks of shooting in Spain still left on the schedule, Frank Sinatra--who hated Spain--told director Stanley Kramer, "Hot or cold, Thursday I'm leaving the movie. So get a lawyer and sue me," according to Kramer biographer Donald Spoto. Kramer tried to solve the problem with two days of shooting in a Hollywood studio with potted palms.

Quotes:

Miguel: We cannot go up, we must go down.

Anthony: Brilliant.

Miguel: Up or down, it weighs what it weighs.

Juana: Miguel. Carlos will kill him.

Miguel: I will only let him kill him a little.

Miguel: I know peasants. I live with peasants. I do not need anybody to tell me about peasants.

Miguel: [to Anthony] Your face is dirty.

Anthony: [to Miguel] Your face is dirty.

Miguel: I do not ask you to die. Or even to bleed. Just to sweat a little

Posters:

Directed and Produced by Stanley Kramer

Distributed by United Artists

Based on the novel 'The Gun' by C.S. Forrester

Running time: 130 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.