November 19, 2012

Meteora as Depicted in the Film 'Boy on a Dolphin' (1957)



This unique and beautiful view of Meteora comes from the film Boy on a Dolphin (1957).

About Boy on a Dolphin:
Boy on a Dolphin is a 1957 20th Century Fox romantic film set in Greece and shot in CinemaScope. It was directed by Jean Negulesco and produced by Samuel G. Engel from a screenplay by Ivan Moffat and Dwight Taylor, based on the novel by David Divine.

The film is noteworthy as Sophia Loren's English language debut. Opposite Loren were stars Alan Ladd and Clifton Webb, with Alexis Minotis and Laurence Naismith in support. Hugo Friedhofer's score was nominated for a Best Music Academy Award in 1958. Cinematography was by Milton R. Krasner.

Production notes

Much of the film was shot on location on the Greek Saronic Islands, notably Hydra. Establishing shots of Athens, Rhodes and Delos add to the verite, while matte shots and some interiors were done at Cinecittà in Rome. One scene utilizes the Eastern Orthodox monastery complex at Meteora later used as a location in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

The disparity in heights between the 5'8" (1.73m) Loren and 5'6" (1.625m) Ladd led to complications in filming. Some of their scenes together required him to stand on a box, while another forced a trench to be dug for Loren when the pair walked along the beach.