Intimacy (1966 film)

Intimacy is a 1966 American film directed and produced by Victor Stoloff.[1] It was shot in Birmingham, Alabama during two weeks in January 1965.[2][3]

Intimacy
Directed byVictor Stoloff
Written byEva Wolas
Produced byVictor Stoloff
Starring
CinematographyTed and Vincent Saizis
Music byGeorge Blaskow
Distributed bySeven Arts Productions
Release date
  • May 1966 (1966-05) (United States)
Running time
87 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Businessman Walter Nicholson is at risk of bankruptcy and attempts to secure a lucrative business deal by blackmailing a key government employee, Jim Hawley, who is involved in the deal. Nicholson hires a freelance film creator to hide a secret camera in the hotel room of Hawley in the hope of catching him in a compromising position with local sex worker Carrie Lane. After getting drunk with anticipated excitement, Nicholson reviews the footage the morning after to find Hawley is actually having an affair with his own wife Barbara.

Cast

Casting

Several months prior to filming, William Shatner was reported to have been signed to play the lead role.[4] Later, Stuart Whitman was reported to star in the lead role, but left after a scene disagreement with Dana Wynter and was reportedly replaced by Fred Beir.[5]

Blackman signed for the film in mid-December 1964. Local talent were auditioned for minor roles around the same time.[6] Jack Ging was a late addition to the cast, having replaced Paul Richards a few weeks before filming started,[7] while actress Madelyn Rhue was also originally set to star but was replaced shortly before filming.[8]

Production

Pre-production

When reported in early 1964, the film was originally set to star actors Stuart Whitman, Dana Wynter, Cloris Leachman and Albert Salmi with an anticipated shooting time of just three days on a newly developed tape-plus-film process.[9] Wynter reportedly walked off set after Whitman "blew the scene because the movie script wasn't working out the way it did on paper",[5] although noted several months later that she hoped to still be involved, suggesting in July 1964 that plans were "just about ready" and including "the most delightful nude love scene".[10] Before Birmingham was chosen as the filming location, director Stoloff also visited Montreal, Quebec to consider the possibility of using the city for exterior shots.[4]

Filming

The film was shot in Birmingham, Alabama during two weeks in January 1965, although the only shot featuring the city is an exterior downtown shot at the start of the film. No mention is made to the filming location within the credits.[2] Producer Stoloff and Jack Ging praised the local people in making them feel welcome. Filming primarily took place within the Clark Theater,[11] which was converted into a two-room set. Local photographic brothers Ted and Vincent Saizis provided camera equipment.[12] A Hollywood set construction crew arrived on December 22, 1964 to convert the stage for movie purposes.[7] Filming wrapped around January 21, 1965 having begun on January 6. The relatively short shooting schedule was attributed to having done rehearsals in Hollywood prior to filming on location commencing.[13] The script was written by Eva Wolas, who had done a lot of script writing for the anthology series Playhouse 90.[6]

Release

The film was released to theaters during May 1966.[2]

Reception

Local reporter Emmett Weaver, writing for the Birmingham Post-Herald, regarded the film as being definitely for "adults only", primarily due to a single candid bedroom scene. While praising some dramatic performances from a well-known cast, Emmett felt the script was "contrived" although believed the film would be a financial success due to the low-cost of production.[2] Film critic Colin Bennett, writing for The Age, considered the film as passable, with a clever script that "boasts an ingenious idea".[14]

References
  1. INTIMACY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 33, Iss. 384, (Jan 1, 1966): 124.
  2. "'Intimacy' Set For Release". Birmingham Post-Herald. May 14, 1966. p. 7.
  3. HOW Great Will Be 1965 Movie Story?: Stevens Epic Lights Way; Harlow in Electronovision Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 19 Jan 1965: C9
  4. "William Shatner to star in Intimacy". The Gazette. September 15, 1964. p. 4.
  5. "Wynter walks off 'Intimacy' set". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 10, 1964. p. 14.
  6. "Star Named For Movie To Be Filmed In City". Birmingham Post-Herald. December 14, 1964. p. 17.
  7. "Cast Change Announced For 'Intimacy'". Birmingham Post-Herald. December 23, 1964. p. 10.
  8. "Guest House To Be In Movie". Birmingham Post-Herald. December 17, 1964. p. 36.
  9. "Victor Stoloff tears a leaf from TV for his next movie 'Intimacy'". Independent Star-News. January 26, 1964. p. 76.
  10. "Hollywood Today: Dana Wynter". The Herald=Palladium. July 21, 1964. p. 21.
  11. Betty Howell (January 11, 1965). "Birmingham May Be Scene Of More Movies In Future". The Anniston Star. p. 3.
  12. "Clark Theater Is Scene Of Movie". Birmingham Post-Herald. January 5, 1965. p. 9.
  13. Emmett Weaver (January 20, 1965). "Filming Over Here, 'Intimacy' Cast Scatters". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. 11.
  14. Colin Bennett (April 24, 1967). "Intimacy review". The Age. p. 6.
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