The film was titled, “Boy On a Dolphin” and was adapted from the novel by David Divine.  The well-known screenwriter Ivan Moffat converted it to the screenplay.

Originally to be set in Mykanos the director, Jean Negulesco, visited but found it “too tourist ridden”.  So instead the main portions of it were filmed on the island of Hydra, with other locations including the Parthenon.

We were living in Athens, Greece, in house on Kalamaki Street; not on the Air Force Base.  It was a blessing to have the opportunity to live with Greek neighbors.  In fact next door was a taverna, a real chance to practice my Greek and get a true flavor for everyday life, and boy did I.

In those days when a military wife was expecting a baby, she along with a few of her friends, would be flown to Turkey to have their babies.  This was because according to Greek law, any male child born in Greece would have Greek citizenship and be required to serve in the military.  Since there was no ultrasound women could not take the chance, thus the necessity for the flights.. 

It was on one of those flights the director of this upcoming film, Jean Negulesco, was a passenger who ended up sitting next to my mother.  They struck up a conversation and the next thing you know mother and several of her girlfriends were all hired to be in the movie. 

We had a Greek maid at the time, Kula, who would watch after us while mom went off to be in the movies.  She spoke only Greek, so we kids leaned to speak it, at least enough to get by.  Also our baby brother only spoke Greek, so I was the interpreter for my mother until he was about five, when he learned to speak English too.  It was fun to have our own private language.

Sophia was a true Italian woman, so did not shave under her arms, nor use deodorant.  Still she was sexy as hell.  I can remember my mother complaining about  her lack of deodorant use at home.  I guess this is why she decided to take matters into her own hands the day she took me with her to the set with her, as a "special day".  During a break in the filming, Sophia was standing on the sidelines where the extras were gathered.  Mother and I were standing next to her when I saw mother lean over and half-whisper to her,  “ You really should try using some deodorant.”  Mom had no shame when it came to saying what was on her mind. I stood back embarrassed and blushing.  I guess Sophia took her seriously though, since she told us a few day later Alan Ladd thanked her personally.

Hard to think of her having body odor in this photo! 

This photo shows her sexuality begging to be acknowledged, her direct look, no fear.  Pure sex.  The director is whispering directions in her ear and she is rolling her eyes as if saying, “I know what to do.”   There is no doubt when you look at her left hand appearing to scratch her leg in lustful expression.  Even her toes were making themselves visible in the soft outlines of her toes transmitting the need to break out.  She was a star with a smoldering presence, slowly now, but like a rocket after this film came out.  Those almond eyes, the wet clingy dress... who could resist?  Her body says, “Yes.”  The audience would heartily agree, and make her a huge star.

Alan Ladd was 5’3” or so, blonde and a movie star.  He had a certain sex appeal, but she stole the picture.  

Alan Ladd looking the star. 

Notice how they shot him from below, making him not seem so diminutive. In Hollywood, movie stars are, for the most part smaller in life.  I remember the first time seeing myself on the big screen...I gasped as how large I looked.  Nobody could tell I was  a petite, small boned slip of a woman.  The same went for Alan, especially with the tricks.

In their scenes together he stood on a box, and she stood in a dirt trench they dug to make them appear “perfectly” matched.  I know the tricks first hand from my days on “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.”   I was a stand in for Blair Brown, who was taller than I, requiring me to stand on what is know in the industry as an “apple crate”.  A stand-in has a long, tough job

Alan Ladd facing the camera and his stand-in.  

The underwater scenes were not shot in Greece, but instead filmed in Rome...where they had the latest underwater cameras.

Mother was one of the lucky ones, getting to be shot in a scene dancing with Alan Ladd.  Mother was only 5’2” in her flats, so with the right angles, and at the distance they were deemed fine together.  If I blinked I would have missed many of her scenes.

In-between scenes mom and the rest of the “extras” sat around until needed.

Mother in her glam-sunglasses. 

This photo shows them at the Acropolis during one of the many long waits.  Of course my mother had on her movie star shades...in white.  Who knew they would be in fashion again now?

I have many slides taken on set, but these photos are from a magazine with an article about the movie, filled with behind the scenes shots.   The magazine is yellowed and falling apart, but I scanned those pages so they will not be lost to the ravages of time.

This was both the beginning and end of my mother’s movie career, yet the biggest bump  to Sophia Loren’s huge career.