The Red Beret (1953)

No Quote for this film.

According to Richard Todd's 1986 auto-biography 'Caught in the Act', this film's director Terence Young's first choice for the lead role of Steve MacKendrick (aka Canada) was him, Richard Todd. Apparently, Todd thought the part was "far fetched" and turned it down. Todd did appear a couple of years later in another movie about the Second World War involving flying. He played Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C. in The Dam Busters.
For the lead role in this picture playing Steve MacKendrick (aka Canada), Alan Ladd was paid US $ 200,000 for eleven weeks work. Ladd also received free accommodation and first class travel for his family (his wife and four children) and their nurse. Ladd also apparently received a back-end points deal receiving 10% of gross box-office receipts over the US$2 million mark described as "deferred compensation" in United States Court of Appeals legal documents. Ladd worked on this picture from 20 September 20 1952 until 6 December 1952.
Some of the characters in the film are based on actual people, but their names have been changed in suggestive ways. Major Snow is based on the real John Frost. Major General Whiting represents the real General Browning (and the actor bears quite a resemblance to him).
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