Basis of film Robin Lee Graham (born 1949) set out to sail around the world alone as a teenager in the summer of 1965.
National Geographic Magazine carried the story in three issues from 1966 to 1970, and he co-wrote a book detailing his journey called
Dove. Graham was just 16 when he set out from
Southern California and headed west in his 24-foot
Lapworth sailboat. In Fiji, he married his wife Patti Ratteree, and after almost five years, sailed back into his home port. After he and Patti attended
Stanford University, they moved to
Montana. He collaborated with writer Derek L.T. Gill on
Dove, a book of the journey which became a best seller.
Development Gregory Peck moved into film producing in the early 70s, following his dissatisfaction with some of his late 60s films such as
Marooned and ''
Mackenna's Gold, and the recutting of I Walk the Line. He decided to take time out from acting and work as a producer. His first effort, an adaptation of the play, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine'', had not been a success so he spent six months reading material to find his next project. Peck was told about the series of articles on Graham that were in
National Geographic and that a book was being written about him. Peck read the book
Dove while it was still in galleys. "I was attracted really because of the character of the boy", said Peck. "He was a very odd fella, an eccentric who sailed around the world at 16. Loners make interesting heroes." However Graham said "I insisted that the film be made in such a way that it could be shown without embarrassment to family audiences. There would be no nudity, no provocative sexual scenes, no swearing or blasphemous language." Peck optioned the screen rights for $10,000 of his own money. He knew
Nat Cohen and
Bernard Delfont of
EMI Films from being on the board of
Capitol Records. They gave him $150,000 to purchase the screen rights outright and to write a script. EMI wanted a US partner and
Paramount agreed to come on board. Filming began under the title of
Here There Be Dragons. However, there was concern this would confuse audiences into thinking it was a martial arts film.
Upon a Painted Ocean was considered as a title before selecting
The Dove. The script was originally written by Graham's co author Derek Gill. Eventually four people worked on the script only two of whom got credit. The script was not finished when filming started on 25 May 1973 but Jarrott's contract specified a start date.
Casting Peck says at one time they discussed casting "one or two
rock stars" in the lead roles "but they're kind of practiced and slick and a little too sophisticated. We looked for naturalness, sympathetic personalities and original personalities. We looked for kids who weren't hindered by too much self confidence, people that had chemistry." Actors considered included
David Cassidy,
Richard Thomas and
Edward Albert Jr.
Joseph Bottoms, then best known for the TV movie version of
Winesburg, Ohio, was cast in the lead role. "The whole picture depends on the kid", said Jarrott. "If you're stuck on the other side of the world and he doesn't work out, you can't recast the part." The film is a travelogue of sorts and the producers filmed on location throughout the world over a four-month period with a 32-person crew. Filming locations included:
Suva, Fiji;
Darwin, Northern Territory,
Fremantle, Western Australia;
Cape Town, South Africa;
Lourenço Marques,
Mozambique;
Panama Canal,
Panama;
Ecuador; and Los Angeles. Graham asked for some minor changes to the story including language used which Peck agreed to. ==Reception==