The Green Helmet

The Green Helmet
Directed by Michael Forlong
Produced by Charles F. Vetter
Written by Jon Cleary
Based on novel by Jon Cleary
Starring Bill Travers
Ed Begley
Sid James
Music by Ken Jones
Cinematography Geoffrey Faithfull
Edited by Frank Clarke
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • 1961 (1961)
Language English
Budget $378,000[1]
Box office $950,000[1]

The Green Helmet is a 1961 British film starring Bill Travers, Ed Begley and Sid James. The film is centred on a British motor racing team. It is based on a novel by Australian author Jon Cleary.

Original novel

Cleary wrote the original novel in the 1950s. He had written a book about Australian politics, The Mayor's Nest, but his English publisher was worried it would not appeal to an international audience, and suggested a book on motor racing. Cleary and his wife had lived in Italy for a year and became familiar with the motor races there. He wrote it in Spain in twenty days at a chapter a day, and it became a best seller on its publication in 1957.[2]

Production

Film rights were bought by MGM who hired Cleary to adapt his own novel. Although most of the movie was set in Italy, it was shot in Wales.[2] Sid James was cast as an Australian.

Cast

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $375,000 in the US and $575,000 internationally, making a profit of $124,000.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. 1 2 Jon Cleary Interviewed by Stephen Vagg: Oral History at National Film and Sound Archive


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