This film is a 1960s version of the Damon Runyan short story of 1932 that was made into a Shirley Temple movie of the same title, "Little Miss Marker" in 1934. But, by version here is meant a very sanitized story that just uses the basic plot ideas. A little girl is left alone after her father disappears, and a gambling operation manager winds up with her on his hands. All else of the story is a big departure from the grittier situation and conditions in Runyan's story that was set in the underworld of New York during the prohibition era.
The big changes make this something more of a family movie. That's probably why Tony Curtis's production company jettisoned the original title as well, naming this film "40 Pounds of Trouble." Although the setting is the Nevada gambling mecca on the East side of Lake Tahoe, the characters and plot otherwise is toned down considerably. And, a big chunk of this movie is spent in Disneyland. The company seems to have filmed most of the rides that were in Disneyland at that time. I didn't notice scenes that showed Frontierland or Adventureland. This apparently is the first movie that was filmed in and that showed a great deal of Walt Disney's first major theme park. Disneyland opened in 1955.
I was in a top-rated high school marching band that marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 1959. We had a weeklong trip of touring that included band performances at other places. We gave a concert for the Navy aboard the carrier, Enterprise, that was then docked at Long Beach. And, we marched in and gave a concert in Disneyland. I think we were the first high school band to do that.
Tony Curtis must have wanted to do this film because he formed the company to make it. The opening scene has a car chase with some scenic shots around Lake Tahoe. And the Disneyland filming includes some hectic scenes of the lead characters on the various rides, with a foot chase through the park. The romantic aspect is quite weak, and although Claire Wilcox is cute as Penny Piper, she isn't a Shirley Temple.
I'm sure that Curtis, Suzanne Pleshette and the others gave it their best, but this was just a flat film. There's nothing exciting in it, and it gets dull in some spots. This is an instance when the scenery and the considerable filming of Disneyland lifted this film. For the latter alone, people may enjoy this film - especially anyone who may never have been to one of the Disney theme parks.
Here are a couple of lines - the closest thing to any humor in this supposed comedy.
Herman, "Mr. Friedman's first rule is, 'Do not call the cops.'"
Louie Blanchard's secretary, "How'd the man at Tahoe know that Mr. McClusky isn't there?" Louie Blanchard, "How does a big know it's gonna rain?"
The big changes make this something more of a family movie. That's probably why Tony Curtis's production company jettisoned the original title as well, naming this film "40 Pounds of Trouble." Although the setting is the Nevada gambling mecca on the East side of Lake Tahoe, the characters and plot otherwise is toned down considerably. And, a big chunk of this movie is spent in Disneyland. The company seems to have filmed most of the rides that were in Disneyland at that time. I didn't notice scenes that showed Frontierland or Adventureland. This apparently is the first movie that was filmed in and that showed a great deal of Walt Disney's first major theme park. Disneyland opened in 1955.
I was in a top-rated high school marching band that marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 1959. We had a weeklong trip of touring that included band performances at other places. We gave a concert for the Navy aboard the carrier, Enterprise, that was then docked at Long Beach. And, we marched in and gave a concert in Disneyland. I think we were the first high school band to do that.
Tony Curtis must have wanted to do this film because he formed the company to make it. The opening scene has a car chase with some scenic shots around Lake Tahoe. And the Disneyland filming includes some hectic scenes of the lead characters on the various rides, with a foot chase through the park. The romantic aspect is quite weak, and although Claire Wilcox is cute as Penny Piper, she isn't a Shirley Temple.
I'm sure that Curtis, Suzanne Pleshette and the others gave it their best, but this was just a flat film. There's nothing exciting in it, and it gets dull in some spots. This is an instance when the scenery and the considerable filming of Disneyland lifted this film. For the latter alone, people may enjoy this film - especially anyone who may never have been to one of the Disney theme parks.
Here are a couple of lines - the closest thing to any humor in this supposed comedy.
Herman, "Mr. Friedman's first rule is, 'Do not call the cops.'"
Louie Blanchard's secretary, "How'd the man at Tahoe know that Mr. McClusky isn't there?" Louie Blanchard, "How does a big know it's gonna rain?"