''Nightmare in the Sun'' is a 1965 film drama directed by Marc Lawrence, and written by George Fass and Fanya Foss, about a murderous affair. Derek starred along with

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...

and Aldo Ray. Smaller roles in the film featured Sammy Davis, Jr. and

Robert Duvall Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career spans more than seven decades and he is considered one of the greatest American actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Gold ...

Plot

Beautiful young Marsha Wilson is married to Sam, a wealthy, jealous, much-older man. She is having an affair with the sheriff. Marsha picks up a handsome hitch-hiker one day, and brings him to husband's ranch and falls for him. Marsha wants to run off with the hitch-hiker, but he too is married and won't take her along. Sam returns home in a jealous rage, discovers what happened and kills Marsha with a rifle in a drunken rage. The town's sheriff concocts a scheme to blackmail Sam, promising to frame the hitch-hiker for Marsha's murder if Sam provides a hefty payment. The hitch-hiker is caught and jailed, escapes and then is recaptured. By then, a remorseful Sam has had enough. He kills the sheriff, then confesses to committing both murders.

Cast

as Marsha Wilson * John Derek as the Hitch-Hiker * Aldo Ray as the Sheriff * Arthur O'Connell as Sam Wilson *

Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...

as Truck Driver *

as Motorcyclist *

Richard Jaeckel Richard Hanley Jaeckel (October 10, 1926 – June 14, 1997) was an American actor of film and television. Jaeckel became a well-known character actor in his career, which spanned six decades. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominatio ...

as Motorcyclist * Allyn Joslyn as Junk Dealer * Keenan Wynn as Song and Dance Man * Chick Chandler as Bartender

Production

Marc Lawrence was best known as an actor, but he had moved into directing television. He helped come up with the original story, and his wife co-wrote the screenplay. The movie was financed by Ricky du Pont, one of the very rich

du Pont family The du Pont family () or Du Pont family is a prominent American family descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739–1817). It has been one of the richest families in the United States since the mid-19th century, when it founded its f ...

. Du Pont wanted on screen credit but Lawrence refused, stating in a later interview that "I said, 'I can't. If all these guys knew the money came from a millionaire, they'd cut my throat. If I sell the picture and your name is on it, I won't get a penny for it'." However

Hedda Hopper Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry; May 2, 1885February 1, 1966) was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, her readership was 35 million. A strong supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committ ...

announced that Du Pont financed the film in her column in September 1963.

played a cameo and was reportedly going to sing the title track, but it is not in the final film. Filming started on 13 September 1963. The movie was filmed in and around Calabasas, California over 15 days. Several of the cast agreed to appear for less than their usual fees as a favor to Lawrence. Lawrence made John Derek a co-producer in order that his then-wife Ursula Andress would do a nude scene. He says this would be in the scene at the beginning "when Aldo Ray rapes her" (although in the final film the sex is consensual). "Derek promised to allow his wife Ursula to do a nude scene with Aldo Ray", Lawrence later wrote, "but the day before shooting he changed his mind. Years later he did a nude layout of Ursula for ''Playboy'' and got $15,000 for his art." DuPont hindered filming by insisting filming should be dictated by astrology. After filming was completed, Lawrence assembled a rough cut which Du Pont bought for $50,000. "When I got a $50,000 note to get out of the picture, they put in a nude scene", claimed Lawrence. He defaulted on his payments and release of the film was held up when Lawrence attempted to reclaim his money or ownership of the film. Lawrence only directed one more film, ''

Daddy's Deadly Darling ''Pigs'' is a 1973 American psychological horror film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Marc Lawrence and currently distributed by Troma Entertainment. The film stars Toni Lawrence. ''Pigs'' premiered on May 23, 1973 in Detroit, Michigan ...

''.

References

External links

* * * {{BFI, 4ce2b74cd1a1a, Nightmare in the Sun
Joe Dante at "Nightmare in the Sun
at Trailers from Hell 1965 films American crime drama films 1965 crime drama films Adultery in films 1965 directorial debut films 1960s English-language films Films directed by Marc Lawrence 1960s American films

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links