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		Bachelor Flat
Bachelor Flat The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links Compositions: Films Previous: The Secret Ways Next: Diamond Head Chronological filmography Alphabetical filmography Television films Miscellanea		The Film Release date: January 12, 1962 Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Running time: 91 minutes Director: Frank Tashlin Cast: Tuesday Weld, Richard Beymer, Terry-Thomas, Celeste Holm, Francesca Bellini, Howard McNear, Ann Del Guerico, Roxanne Arlen, Alice Reinheart, Stephen Bekassy, Margo Moore Technical information: Cinemascope (2.35:1), DeLuxe Color Based on Budd Grossman's play of the same name, Bachelor Flat is a silly but innocuous comedy about archeology professor Bruce Patterson (Terry-Thomas), who finds that his female students and neighbors are inexplicably attracted to his British demeanor. The film opens with a brief skit involving Terry-Thomas as a British soldier wooing an American female during the American Revolution; during and after the opening credits we see examples of how his female suitors are dismayed at the news he is engaged to marry Helen Bushmill (Holm), from whom he rents a beach house (the titular bachelor flat). Returning home, we meet Michael (Beymer), a law student who parks his trailer in the driveway, and his pet dachshund, Jessica. Helen's daughter, Libby (Weld), arrives at the house; she discovers her stepfather-to-be has not been informed of her existence and pretends to be a juvenile delinquent on the lam. The expected complications ensue; a subplot involves a large dinosaur bone and a rival archeologist. While this film isn't exactly a comic masterpiece, it is amusing enough to hold one's interest. Although some of the dialogue and situations may have been considered a tad racy in 1961, they won't raise any eyebrows four decades later.
Bachelor Flat The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		The Music Music: Johnny Williams Orchestration: Bob Franklyn Asked two decades later about his score to the film, Williams replied, "Lots of brass chords on cuts to brassieres — that sort of thing." While this is accurate, it doesn't tell the whole story. Frank Tashlin's films are, for all intents and purposes, live-action cartoons, and Williams gives the slapstick visuals the expected "Tom and Jerry" treatment. However, there are two major themes used throughout the score in leitmotivic fashion: the first, a Russian-flavored march for Professor Patterson; the second, a tender theme for Libby (later recorded by Williams as "Tuesday's Theme"). The Patterson theme makes it's appearance in the prologue, given an 18th-Century period treatment. It quickly reappears in the main title, a delightful, tongue-firmly-in-cheek Prokofiev pastiche, predating "March of the Villains" and "The Basket Game" by nearly two decades. Libby's theme is heard when she first appears on screen and reoccurs throughout out the film, alternately playful and romantic. In addition to the orchestral underscoring, there are several instances of music in a more popular vein. The first such pieces are heard as source cues on the radio when Gladys (one of the professor's many female admirers) is preparing an indoor picnic and when Libby cooks breakfast for him the following morning. Williams is also given the opportunity to showcase a two-minute big band composition, free of dialogue and sound effects, when Mike's dachshund Jessica buries a huge dinosaur bone. This turned out to be the first in a string of "hip 60s comedies" scored by Williams in a similar vein. Although Bachelor Flat doesn't rank among his greatest achievements, it is delightful score, thankfully free of the semi-obligatory main title pop song, and points toward future successes. Although he did not receive screen credit, French-trained orchestrator Bob Franklyn (who often worked for Bronislau Kaper and was in Williams' circle of friends at MGM) orchestrated the score. Variety noted that "Johnny Williams' score is an asset, accompanying the action with strains and rhythms appropriate to the moment, such as a Latin rhumba beat for the sequence in which a dog is tugging the king-sized bone across the sand."
Bachelor Flat The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Audio No original soundtrack album was released for this film, but one selection, Tuesday's Theme (named for the actress Tuesday Weld, not her character in the film), was recorded by Johnny Williams and his orchestra and released as a 45 RPM single (Columbia 4-42516) — this waltz-like arrangement is almost reminiscent of Max Steiner's theme from A Summer Place. The tune was also recorded on André Previn Plays Music of the Young Hollywood Composers (RCA Victor LPM/LSP-3491) in an arrangement (made by Williams himself) for piano and orchestra; the latter recording was reissued on a Previn compilation album (RCA 1-2805). It is not available in any form on CD.
		Video The film is not available on video.  It is broadcast from time to time in pan and scan format on American Movie Classics and the Fox Movie Channel.
Bachelor Flat The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		References "Film Reviews: Bachelor Flat," Tube. Variety, Nov 29 1961, 6:3 "Review: Bachelor Flat," Eugene Archer New York Times, January 13 1962, 14:1 "John Williams: Part Two," Derek Elley Films and Filming, Aug 1978, 30-33 "Where is John Williams coming from?" Richard Dyer Boston Globe, Jun 29 1980, MAG
Bachelor Flat The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Links Internet Movie Database entry for Bachelor Flat Cinebooks Database entry for Bachelor Flat All Movie Guide entry for Bachelor Flat
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