Gone with the Pope
Encyclopedia
Gone with the Pope is a 1976 independent film written, directed and produced by Italian-American crooner
-actor Duke Mitchell
that was first released in 2010 by Grindhouse Releasing
.
to attempt to kidnap the Pope
, planning to charge a ransom
of "a dollar from every Catholic
in the world."
and Palm Springs, California
, as well as in Las Vegas, Nevada
and Rome, Italy. The re-recording was done by Marti D. Humphrey, C.A.S., at The Dub Stage in Burbank, California
. Digital restoration was completed at Fotokem Film and Video. Duke Mitchell stars as the ring leader "Paul," with Peter Milo as "Peter" and also starring Jim LoBianco and Giorgio Tavolieri. The cinematography is by Peter Santoro, with original editing by Oscar-nominated Bob Leighton (Rob Reiner
's film editor) and Emmy-nominated editor Robert Florio. The re-release version was edited by Bob Murawski
, Paul Hart and Jody Fedele, and features the music of Frankie Carr & the Novelites. Mitchell was known for his starring role in the film Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
and for directing the cult film, The Executioner. Gone with the Pope was originally shot in 1976, but remained unfinished until 2009. The film negative and unfinished cut work print were discovered in Mitchell's parking garage several years after his death. It has been edited and restored by cult film distributor Grindhouse Releasing
. Mitchell was said to have been inspired by Francis Ford Coppola
's The Godfather
.
in Hollywood premiered the film on March 12, 2010 at the Egyptian Theatre
. The film is currently screening theatrically at domestic and international film festivals in the United States and Australia
.
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
-actor Duke Mitchell
Duke Mitchell
Duke Mitchell was an American film actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director. Mitchell often performed his nightclub act in and around Palm Springs, California and anointed himself the "King of Palm Springs."-Early life and career:Mitchell was born Dominic Miceli in Farrell,...
that was first released in 2010 by Grindhouse Releasing
Grindhouse Releasing
Grindhouse Releasing is a Hollywood-based cult film distribution company owned by director/actor Sage Stallone and headed up by film editor Bob Murawski...
.
Plot
The movie tells the story of four ex-convicts who journey to RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to attempt to kidnap the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, planning to charge a ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
of "a dollar from every Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
in the world."
Production
Gone with the Pope was shot on location in Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, as well as in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and Rome, Italy. The re-recording was done by Marti D. Humphrey, C.A.S., at The Dub Stage in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
. Digital restoration was completed at Fotokem Film and Video. Duke Mitchell stars as the ring leader "Paul," with Peter Milo as "Peter" and also starring Jim LoBianco and Giorgio Tavolieri. The cinematography is by Peter Santoro, with original editing by Oscar-nominated Bob Leighton (Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
's film editor) and Emmy-nominated editor Robert Florio. The re-release version was edited by Bob Murawski
Bob Murawski
Bob Murawski is an American film editor as well as a film distributor of cult horror and independent films under the "Box Office Spectaculars" and "Grindhouse Releasing" labels. He was awarded the 2010 Academy Award, BAFTA, and A.C.E. awards for "Best Film Editing" on the feature film, The Hurt...
, Paul Hart and Jody Fedele, and features the music of Frankie Carr & the Novelites. Mitchell was known for his starring role in the film Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla is a 1952 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring horror veteran Béla Lugosi and nightclub comedians Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo in roles approximating Martin and Lewis.-Plot:...
and for directing the cult film, The Executioner. Gone with the Pope was originally shot in 1976, but remained unfinished until 2009. The film negative and unfinished cut work print were discovered in Mitchell's parking garage several years after his death. It has been edited and restored by cult film distributor Grindhouse Releasing
Grindhouse Releasing
Grindhouse Releasing is a Hollywood-based cult film distribution company owned by director/actor Sage Stallone and headed up by film editor Bob Murawski...
. Mitchell was said to have been inspired by Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
's The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
.
Release
The American CinemathequeAmerican Cinematheque
The American Cinematheque is an independent, non-profit cultural organization in Los Angeles dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the Moving Image in all its forms. It is considered among the premier organizations of its kind in America....
in Hollywood premiered the film on March 12, 2010 at the Egyptian Theatre
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, is one of the world's most famous movie theatres. Opened in 1922, it was the venue for the first-ever Hollywood premiere.- History :...
. The film is currently screening theatrically at domestic and international film festivals in the United States and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.