The Iron Petticoat

The Iron Petticoat is a 1956 motion picture directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn. The original story Not for Money was written by Ben Hecht with Hepburn in mind to play Captain Vinka Kovelenko, a Russian aviatrix who lands in West Germany. After defecting she is quickly coverted to capitalism after sampling life in the West in the company of Major Chuck Lockwood (Hope). There are subplots with Lockwood trying to marry Connie (Noelle Middleton), a member of the British upper class, and Communist agents trying to get Kovelenko to come back to the U.S.S.R.

Related Topics:
1956 - Ralph Thomas - Bob Hope - Katharine Hepburn - Not for Money - Ben Hecht - Noelle Middleton

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The main story owes a lot to Greta Garbo's Ninotchka. However, Hope turned the script over to his own writers to punch it up and tailor it to his style. Supposedly a lot of Hepburn's best scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. Eventually Heckt insisted that his name be removed from the credits, and printed an open letter in the film trade journals disclaiming the picture and offering Hepburn and her fans an apology. The film's credits ended up saying it was "Based on an Original Story by Harry Saltzman" and this Cold War comedy is arguably Hepburn's worst film appearance.

Related Topics:
Greta Garbo - Ninotchka - Harry Saltzman

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