The Main Attraction (film)

Plot summary

The Main Attraction is a cute and romantic story, featuring the neat and wholesome Eddie (Pat Boone) who tries to transform himself into a cooler guy. Eddie works in an Italian café but is fired when he is caught hanging with some troublemakers. At the same time he meets Gina (Mai Zetterling) who is a ventriloquist in a visiting circus. Soon enough Eddie helps Gina out with her act and they become lovers. All is well until Eddie moves on to falling in love with another circus performer, Tessa (Nancy Kwan), which makes his life a lot more complicated.

Cast

Production

The film was the first in a multi-picture deal between MGM and Seven Arts.

Pat Boone says he was talked into doing the film by Ray Stark who encouraged Boone to try a straight dramatic role. Boone agreed because Hollywood were making less musicals at the time. He also felt that "the film's moral is good."

Stark and writer-producer John Patrick wanted Boone's character to sleep with Nancy Kwan's. Boone was reluctant and refused to shoot a scene with them in bed together. However, as he did not have script approval he filmed scenes which indicated his character slept with Kwan's.

There were ten weeks of studio filming in London, followed by location work in Italy. In order to play his role, Boone learned how to play the guitar and do basic trapeze tricks.

After filming was completed, Boone said he would oppose release of the film unless it was given approval by the US censor, the Shurlock office. Boone was worried some scenes had been re-shot to be more lurid and sexy - something Ray Stark denied. "There have been no changes at all in the film," said Stark. "It is exactly the same film that Pat Boone saw when he attended its world premiere in London some weeks ago."

"I am terribly concerned about the board's reaction to certain scenes," said Boone. "Because as long as I have anything to do with it, no Pat Boone picture will ever be released without a seal of approval."

Boone offered to reshoot any objectionable scenes, even do the whole movie over again without pay.

Seven Arts compromised and agreed to cut some scenes in exchange for Boone going on a publicity tour for the movie.