Dear Brigitte

Plot

Robert Leaf (James Stewart) is an American college professor whose precocious son Erasmus (Bill Mumy) is a mathematical prodigy. After using his skills for gambling at the racetrack, it is discovered that Erasmus is infatuated with model and actress Brigitte Bardot. He writes love letters to her, and she invites him to visit her in France. Prof. Leaf accompanies him on the journey. Prof. Leaf later uses his son's talent to raise funds for liberal arts scholarships. He is assisted by Peregrine Upjohn (John Williams), who is secretly a con artist who plans to abscond with the funds.

Cast

Production

The novel was published in 1963. There was some talk that Disney would option the film rights and cast Bing Crosby in the lead role. However rights were bought by 20th Century Fox who assigned the project to Nunnally Johnson, Henry Koster and James Stewart, the team that made Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation and Take Her, She's Mine. It was one of the first movies made at the recently re-opened 20th Century Fox studios.

Billy Mumy was cast on the recommendation of James Stewart's wife, Gloria Stewart, who taught a Sunday School class that Mumy attended.

Although Nunnally Johnson wrote early drafts of the film, Hal Kanter was brought in to work on it and he gets sole screen credit. Kanter says it was Henry Koster's idea to introduce a captain, played by Ed Wynn, to act as a Greek chorus.

The film was the sixth straight acting role for Fabian since he quit singing. He had never been to the races before being cast so researched his role by going to the races and developing a betting system.

There was some doubt Bardot would appear in the film but she relented and her scenes were shot in three days in Paris.