Francis Coppola's first attempt to direct a truly Hollywood picture. Mixed with location shooting in Napa. (Hermes Pan full ensemble choreography in Wine Country doubling for Tobacco Land. Very Stanley Donen, including potato sack race.) Had them all perform it as a play before filming after one month rehearsal. Kind of same method still in use fifty-five years later on Megalopolis. Weird juxtaposition of artificial and natural, landscaper's sod and field grass. Major flaw is the casting of Don Francks as Woody (imagine Frederic Forrest instead) but he's in fine tune. Astaire is old but can still carry a dance. Petula Clark has good Irish Accent, beauty and usual inimitable voice. Somehow didn't make her a movie star. (Only one after was Goodbye, Mr. Chips!) As on Megalopolis lots of grass was smoked. Got surprisingly good reviews. Trial run for later better pics.
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