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{{Short description|1954 film by Terence Young}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
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{{Infobox film
| name = The Red Beret
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==Production==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Redberpost.jpg|left|thumb|300px|US release film poster<br/>{{ffdc|1=Redberpost.jpg|log=2017 November 11}}]] -->
''The Red Beret'' was based on a novel published in 1950.<ref>Henriques, R. [https://search.proquest.com/docview/475155177 "Review: 'Pegasus'."] ''The Observer'', 15 October 1950.</ref> Film rights were bought by [[Irving Allen]] who announced [[Trevor Howard]] and [[Leo Genn]] for the leading roles.<ref>Schallert, E. [https://search.proquest.com/docview/166245524 "Boyer to portray Hindu; sally forrest dramatic; Monroe deal simmering."] ''Los Angeles Times'', 8 March 1951.</ref> Hillary St George Saunders, who wrote the novel, was to work on the screenplay, but died during pre-production. Terence Young was signed to direct and write a script. The [[working title]] was ''The Red Devils''.<ref>Schallert, E. [https://search.proquest.com/docview/166273676 "Devils' on hot schedule; Coleen Gray in 'Models'; Laughton may do Pirate."] ''Los Angeles Times'', 1 January 1952.</ref>
 
''The Red Beret'' was originally intended to be a co-production with [[RKO Pictures]], but they and Warwick were unable to come to terms, so Warwick made a deal with Columbia instead.<ref>"Special to The New York Times: Studios planning 2 Alan Ladd films; Warwick and Columbia to join in offering 'The Red Beret' and 'The White South'." ''The New York Times'', 15 July 1952, p. 17.</ref>
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Terence Young's original choice for the lead, former [[World War II|Second World War]] Para [[Richard Todd]] turned the role down as being "too far fetched".<ref name="Todd">Todd 1986 p. 187.</ref> [[Ray Milland]] was also originally announced as landing the leading role.<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/166354056 "Movieland briefs."] ''Los Angeles Times '', 1 April 1952 .</ref>
 
Former agent Albert R. Broccoli knew that Alan Ladd was unhappy with Paramount due to a new contract for much less money.<ref>Broccoli and Zec 1999, p. 178.</ref> Broccoli met Ladd and his wife and agent Sue Carol who agreed to a three-picture contract with Warwick provided Ladd's scriptwriter Richard Maibaum was allowed to rewrite the screenplay for Ladd.<ref>[https://search.proquest.com/docview/112262054 "Special to The New York Times: Studios planning 2 Alan Ladd films."] ''The New York Times'', 15 July 1952.</ref>
 
Although Ladd's most popular and critically acclaimed film, ''[[Shane (film)|Shane]]'', was filmed earlier. it was also released in 1953, making him a prime box office attraction. Ladd was paid US$200,000, [[first class travel]] and accommodations for himself, his wife, their four children and their nurse, and 10 per cent of the gross receipts over US$2,000,000 for his 11 weeks work filming ''The Red Beret''.<ref>[http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/309/309.F2d.51.17759_1.html "309 F.2d 51: Alan W. Ladd and Sue Carol Ladd, Appellants, v. Robert A. Riddel, District Director of Internal Revenue, Los Angeles, California,"] ''United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit'', 22 October 1962.</ref>
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Although there was some public criticism of an American playing the lead in a British war film, British cinema owners responded that Hollywood stars filled their cinema seats, unlike most local actors. Ladd himself explained that his character had enlisted in the Parachute Regiment to learn from them. The [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]] provided extras, facilities and locations at the [[RAF Abingdon]] Parachute School, [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire]] and at [[Trawsfynydd]], North Wales.<ref>[http://www.reelstreets.com/index.php/component/films/?task=view&id=1545&film_ref=paratrooper "Films: Red Beret, The."] ''reelstreets.com''. Retrieved: 20 November 2015.</ref> Studio work took place at Shepperton.<ref>Grenville, Harvey. [http://www.paradata.org.uk/content/red-beret-1953 "Index: 'The Red Beret'(1953)".] ''paradata.org''. Retrieved: 21 November 2015.</ref>
 
The female lead was originally meant to be played by [[Dianne Foster]] but she was unable to make it due to a scheduling conflict. She was replaced by Susan Stephen.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pryor|first=Thomas M.|title=Lubin will do film of St. Johns story; Director buys screen rights to 'Wisdom of the Serpent', Irene Dunne to star.|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=18 October 1952|page=16}}</ref>
 
Actor Leo Genn served in the British Army in World War Two, reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel. Alan Ladd was initially attached to the American Air Force Film Unit but was discharged due to stomach disorders. Subsequently he was classified as A1 but thanks to pressure from film studios, his draft was postponed and finally in 1945 was removed from the draft along with all men over 30.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
 
The budget was £209,980 plus $315,000 to cover the fees of Ladd, Allen and Broccoli, Maibaum and American publicity.<ref name="money">Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 358</ref>
 
==Release==
The film had a simultaneous premiere at the [[Empire, Leicester Square]] in London and at Moascar in the [[Suez Canal]] Zone staged by the [[Army Kinematograph Service|Army Kinema Corporation]] on 14 August 1953.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Ladd Pic, 'Beret', Preems In West End and Suez|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=19 August 1953|page=13|url=https://archive.org/details/variety191-1953-08/page/n142/mode/1up?view=theater|access-date=17 March 2024|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
 
==Reception==
 
''The Red Beret'' was a hit at the British box office. According to producer Allen, it recouped its cost from the British market alone.<ref>Pryor, Thomas M. "Hollywood cheer: Eric Johnston predicts good year for industry; Producer's point of view." ''The New York Times'', 10 January 1954, p. X5.</ref> The film cost US$700,000 to make and grossed US$8 million worldwide.<ref name="Chapman"/> It earned US$225,000 in France.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety204-1956-11/page/n157/mode/1up?q=%22top+grossers%22|first=Harold|last=Meyers|magazine=Variety|title=Row Looms on Granting Licences for Brit Pix Made by US Outfits|date=21 Nov 1956|page=14}}</ref> It made $1,750,000 in rentals in the US and Canada.<ref name="box">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety197-1955-01-05/page/n58/mode/1up|title=1954 Box Office Champs|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 5, 1955|page=59}} - figures are rentals in the US and Canada</ref>
 
==References==
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{{Terence Young}}
{{Irving Allen}}
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