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Nightmare in the Sun movie storyline. Marsha (Ursula Andress), who lives on a ranch owned by her wealthy, jealous husband, Sam Wilson (Arthur O’Connell), picks up a hitchhiker (John Derek) on the road and brings him back to the ranch to make love. The hitchhiker refuses to take Marsha with him when he leaves, intending to restore his own broken marriage. Sam sees him departing and kills Marsha in a drunken rage.
An unscrupulous sheriff decides to blackmail Sam and arrest the hitchhiker for Marsha’s murder. The hitchhiker is arrested; he escapes and is recaptured, but in the meantime Sam Wilson kills the blackmailing sheriff and confesses to both murders. The hitchhiker is exonerated and allowed to go on his way.
Nightmare in the Sun is a 1965 drama film directed by Marc Lawrence, and written by George Fass and Fanya Foss, about a murderous affair. John Derek starred along with Ursula Andress and Aldo Ray. Smaller roles in the film featured Arthur O’Connell, Sammy Davis Jr, Robert Duvall, Richard Jaeckel, Allyn Joslyn, Keenan Wynn, Chick Chandler and William Challee.
About the Production
Marc Lawrence was best known as an actor, but he had moved into directing television. He helped come up with the original story, and his wife co-wrote the screenplay. The movie was financed by Ricky du Pont, one of the du Pont family. Du Pont wanted on screen credit but Lawrence refused. He said in a later interview, “I said, ‘I can’t. If all these guys knew the money came from a millionaire, they’d cut my throat. If I sell the picture and your name is on it, I won’t get a penny for it’.”
Hedda Hopper announced Du Pont financed the film in her column in September 1963. Sammy Davis Jr. played a cameo and was reportedly going to sing the title track, but it is not in the final film.
Filming started on 13 September 1963. The movie was filmed in and around Calabasas, California over 15 days. Several of the cast agreed to appear for less than their usual fees as a favor to Lawrence. Lawrence made John Derek a co-producer in order that his then-wife Ursula Andress would do a nude scene. He says this would be in the scene at the beginning “when Aldo Ray rapes her” (although in the final film the sex is consensual).
“Derek promised to allow his wife Ursula to do a nude scene with Aldo Ray”, Lawrence later wrote, “but the day before shooting he changed his mind. Years later he did a nude layout of Ursula for Playboy and got $15,000 for his art.” DuPont hindered filming by insisting filming should be dictated by astrology.
After filming was completed, Lawrence assembled a rough cut which Du Pont bought for $50,000. “When I got a $50,000 note to get out of the picture, they put in a nude scene”, claimed Lawrence. He defaulted on his payments and release of the film was held up when Lawrence attempted to reclaim his money or ownership of the film. Lawrence only directed one more film, Daddy’s Deadly Darling.
Nightmare in the Sun (1965)
Directed by: Marc Lawrence
Starring: Ursula Andress, John Derek, Aldo Ray, Arthur O’Connell, Sammy Davis Jr, Robert Duvall, Richard Jaeckel, Allyn Joslyn, Keenan Wynn, Chick Chandler, William Challee
Screenplay by: Ted Thomas, Fanya Lawrence
Production Design by: Jerry A. Baerwitz
Cinematography by: Stanley Cortez
Film Editing by: William Shenberg, Douglas Stewart
Set Decoration by: Raymond Boltz Jr.
Art Direction by: Paul Sylos
Makeup Department: Carmen Dirigo, Harry Thomas
Music by: Paul Glass
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Zodiac Films
Release Date: March 6, 1965
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