Promise Her Anything

Plot

Recently widowed Michelle O'Brien moves into a Greenwich Village brownstone with her infant son John Thomas. Her neighbor, Harley Rummel, a bohemian who earns a living by making nudie films in his apartment, becomes interested in her, but Michele believes her boss, wealthy psychologist Phillip Brock, is a better prospect as a new mate.

Although he is an authority on children, Phillip actually despises them, so Michelle decides to keep John Thomas a secret for the time being. Unbeknownst to her, Harley is using the baby in his movies. When John Thomas is admitted to Phillip's clinic for observation, Harley sneaks into his room to complete a film, but his surreptitious activities are captured by a hidden camera recording the baby's behavior. Michelle is furious but, when he saves John Thomas from a potentially dangerous situation, she forgives Harley and decides he may be the better choice for a father after all.

Production

The film was shot in its entirety at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. The original Baby John Thomas was supposed to be played by 2 year old Philip Barron but he did not get on with Warren Beatty and cried everytime he went near him so it was decided to change at the last minute so production could start.

The title song, with music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David, was performed on the soundtrack by Tom Jones.

Critical reception

Variety called the film "light" and "refreshing" and added, "Well-paced direction of many fine performances, generally sharp scripting and other good production elements add up to a satisfying comedy."

Time Out New York said, "This dull attempt at an offbeat and sophisticated romantic comedy falls flat on its face, thanks largely to the usual sluggish direction from Arthur Hiller [and] … a dismal script by William Peter Blatty."

Behind the scenes

While this film was being made, Leslie Caron and Warren Beatty were having an affair, this while she was married to her second husband Peter Hall. It led to a divorce case where Beatty was named as a co-respondent. The divorce of Caron and Hall was granted, with Beatty being ordered to pay the cost. He and Caron never saw each other afterwards. It created word of Beatty being a notorious womanizer, and he lived up to this in later years.