What Were the High-Budget Flops in Hollywood in 1959?
The movie industry in 1959 had its fair share of challenges, particularly for one of the most renowned movie studios, Walt Disney. Despite the studio's animated classics and live-action hits, several high-budget films failed to meet the expected returns, including a popular global star's origin story.
Walt Disney's Financial Struggles in 1959
Walt Disney's studio had a tumultuous year in 1959, with multiple movies falling short of their financial projections. The most notable among them was the animated feature 'Sleeping Beauty.' This ambitious 70mm film, which was in development for most of the decade and cost 6 million dollars, failed to generate a profit. Following its failure, the studio significantly downsized its animation department and ceased the production of hand-inked features. The next animated movie, '101 Dalmatians,' was a fraction of the cost and became a major hit, indicating the studio's need to adapt.
Live-Action Flops: 'Third Man on the Mountain' and 'Darby O’Gill and the Little People'
Other high-budget films during this period also met with disappointment. The live-action film 'Third Man on the Mountain,' which cost 2 million dollars, earned only 1.7 million in film rentals. Another significant financial loss was 'Darby O’Gill and the Little People,' an effects-heavy feature that cost a substantial amount to produce. Filmed in Southern California, this movie starred Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Jimmy O’Dea, and Sean Connery, making it a star-studded endeavor.
Sean Connery, a relatively unknown actor at the time, starred in 'Darby O’Gill.' Despite his inexperience, Connery was still loaned out to Disney to take on the lead role. His first trip to America was memorable; he recounted, on the plane I didn't realize all the food and drink was free. They got me an Impala, blue with white wall tires, and I was perfectly happy. The movie's budget was significant, with moviegoers in Southern California being the primary audience for the production.
The movie's music was a bright spot; Connery's vocals, originally recorded for a soundtrack, were released as a single in Britain and made the charts. However, despite the critical acclaim, the movie's financial success was modest, and it did not cover production and advertising costs.
James Bond Connection: Sean Connery's Breakthrough
Despite the budget overruns and moderate returns, 'Darby O’Gill' was a stepping stone for Sean Connery's career. Producer Cubby Broccoli, known for the James Bond series, saw Connery's performance, which eventually led to his role in 'Dr. No' and the subsequent Bond films. This early stage with Disney marked the beginning of Connery's illustrious career in Hollywood.
One Successful Release: 'The Shaggy Dog'
Amidst the financial disappointments, one bright spot among Disney's unsuccessful features was 'The Shaggy Dog.' This movie, produced for 1.25 million dollars, became the second highest-grossing movie of 1959, earning twelve times its cost. Interestingly, another major release, 'The Big Fisherman,' shot in 70mm Panavision, incurred a loss despite its ambitious production. This film, titled The Big Fisherman and distributed under the 'Centurion Films' label, was a New Testament roadshow attraction with a massive budget but modest returns.
While 'The Big Fisherman' was a significant loss for Disney, it remains largely forgotten, as it has never been released on DVD or Blu-Ray.
In conclusion, 1959 was a volatile year for Walt Disney, with several high-budget films failing to meet expectations. However, these financial disappointments did pave the way for some of the studio's biggest successes in the long term.