Press Packet for ‘A Time for Giving,’ 1969

Kim Darby and Pete Duel had to discover each other before they could portray newlyweds in Joseph E. Levine’s presentation of the Frederick Brisson production of A Time for Giving, which opens at the Theatre. Until Brisson and Director George Schaefer brought the two young stars together in the contemporary comedy, they had never met, only knowing of the other by name.

“I want the love scenes to reflect the tenderness of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in Seventh Heaven,” explained Schaefer, who is of a generation that remembers. Kim and Pete, who are of a younger generation, had never seen Miss Gaynor and Farrell, but they listened and understood as Schaefer talked.

Kim is shy, while Pete is outgoing. “It was very awkward at first,” Kim said. “Pete talked and talked and I listened. I liked him at first sight. But it takes time to feel comfortable with somebody you’ve only just met and in the film we had to portray a tremendous togetherness.”

Both young players agreed it was a difficult assignment. “It’s up to us to convince the audience we’re lovers and the only way to succeed at that is to convince ourselves — until the director calls ‘cut’ to the scene.”

Pete portrays an outspoken critic of all that spells Establishment in his mind including his newly acquired father-in-law, played by David Janssen, who had always thought of himself as something of a liberal until he comes up against the youngsters. Kim is the bride who marries when she is nine months pregnant.

The newlyweds intend a “natural” birth of their child in a homemade delivery room in their New York East Village loft, without formal medical assistance and with only the husband in attendance.

Based on the hit Broadway play by William Goodhart, A Time for Giving also stars Carl Reiner and Andrew Prine. Leonard Lightstone is executive producer of the Avco Embassy release, which was filmed in Technicolor.