The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz is a 1968 DeLuxe Color American comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Elke Sommer, Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer and Leon Askin.[1] The screenplay concerns an East German athlete who defects to the West by pole-vaulting over the Berlin Wall.[2]
| The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | George Marshall |
| Screenplay by | Albert E. Lewin Nat Perrin Burt Styler |
| Story by | Ken Englund |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Starring | Elke Sommer Bob Crane Werner Klemperer |
| Cinematography | Jacques Marquette |
| Edited by | Grant Whytock |
| Music by | Jimmie Haskell |
Production company | Edward Small Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editPaula Schultz (Elke Sommer) has been preparing to compete in the Olympic Games, but instead pole-vaults over the Berlin Wall to freedom in West Germany.
A black-market operator, Bill Mason (Bob Crane), hides her in the home of an old Army buddy, Herb Sweeney (Joey Forman), who now works for the CIA. Bill is willing to hand her over for a price, to either side, so a disappointed Paula returns to East Germany with propaganda minister Klaus instead. At this point, Bill comes to his senses, realizes he loves her, then disguises himself as a female athlete to get Paula back.
Cast
edit- Elke Sommer as Paula Schultz
- Bob Crane as Bill Mason
- Werner Klemperer as Klaus
- Joey Forman as Herbert Sweeney
- John Banner as Weber
- Leon Askin as Oscar
- Maureen Arthur as Barbara Sweeney
- Theodore Marcuse as Owl (as Theo Marcuse)
- Larry D. Mann as Grossmeyer
- John Myhers as Boss
- Barbara Morrison as Klabfus
- Fritz Feld as Kessel
Production
editThe film was based on an original screenplay by Ken Englund that Edward Small bought in 1966.[3] Harry Tugend was hired to rewrite it.[4]
Bob Crane was offered the lead role because of his success in Hogan's Heroes,[5] along with three other members of the series, and the film was shot during the show's summer hiatus in 1967.[6] Several other guest stars from the series also appeared in the film.
Paperback novelization
editIn advance of the film's release, per the practice of the era, Popular Library released a novelization of the screenplay credited to the pseudonym of Alton Harsh (the actual author may have been Al Hine).[citation needed]
Reception
editReviews were poor.[7][8][9] Quentin Tarantino appropriated the titular character's name for the title of Chapter 7 ("The Lonely Grave of Paula Schultz") for his film Kill Bill Vol. 2. Tarantino also used the name for the wife of the character Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) in the film Django Unchained.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1967)". Archived from the original on February 7, 2009.
- ^ Martin, Betty (August 11, 1966). "Elke Signed for 'Wicked Dreams'". Los Angeles Times. p. d13.
- ^ Martin, Betty (October 4, 1966). "Movie Call Sheet: Liz Signed for 'Comedians'". Los Angeles Times. p. c15.
- ^ Gowran, Clay (June 12, 1967). "New Time Angers Hogan's Heroes Star". Chicago Tribune. p. a10.
- ^ Royce, Brenda Scott Hogan's Heroes: Behind the Scenes at Stalag 13 St. Martin's Press, 10 December 2013
- ^ "Paula Schulz' Wicked Dreams Are a Nightmare at Keith's" By William Rice The Washington Post and Times-Herald 15 February 1968: E24.
- ^ "'The Wicked Dreams of Paula ...': Lively athleticism" By Alan N. Bunce. The Christian Science Monitor 2 February 1968: 4.
- ^ Adler, Renata (January 4, 1968). "The Screen: A Teutonic Striptease: 'The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz' Opens Elke Sommer a Victim of the Cold War". New York Times. p. 28.