Editing Stuart Whitman (section)

=== 1962 to 1969: Hollywood leading man ===
On June 15, 1962, [[Millard Kaufman]]'s ''[[Convicts 4]]'' premiered, in which Whitman appeared.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/23048|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> On October 11, Whitman appeared in the all-star World War II epic ''[[The Longest Day (film)|The Longest Day]]''. It was directed by several major directors, and opened in [[Los Angeles]] on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23731-THE-LONGEST-DAY?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> Whitman was cast in the role after being asked to deliver a box of cigars to producer [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] at the time of shooting. Zanuck asked him to be part of it and Whitman agreed. Zanuck directed Whitman's segments.<ref name=":322"/><ref name=":422"/><ref name=":522"/><ref name=":622"/> Also that year, Whitman announced that he might do ''Mandrake Root'', ''[[The Victors]]'' (1963), or a film with either [[Marilyn Monroe]] or [[Lewis Milestone]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Special Ending Due for Super Western: Extra Month's Work Charted; Offers Pile Up for Whitman|last=Hopper|first=Hedda|author-link=Hedda Hopper|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 14, 1962|page=C11}}</ref>

However, in 1963, instead of choosing any of these roles, Whitman played an American pilot in the French film ''[[The Day and the Hour]]'', directed by [[René Clément]], shot in [[Paris]] and set during World War II. As described by Whitman, he got the part through [[Alain Delon]], who he bumped into in an elevator at [[the Beverly Hills Hotel]]. Delon invited him to meet the director, and eventually worked out a way to loan him out from his studio contract. During the production of the film, Whitman disagreed with Clément on the direction of a torture scene and swore to Clément that he himself could handle it. After coincidentally sitting on a plane next to [[Sidney Buchman]], who co-wrote ''The Mark,'' they re-wrote the scene together. Whitman directed the scene but did not direct again. He described Clément as one of the finest French directors.<ref name=":322"/><ref name=":422"/><ref name=":522"/><ref name=":622"/> He enjoyed the experience, saying, "I busted through at last and can now get an honest emotion, project it and make it real. You become egocentric when you involve yourself to such an extent in your role; your next problem is in learning how to turn it off and come home and live with society. It took a lot of time and energy to break through, so I could honestly feel and I'm reluctant to turn it off. Now I know why so many actors go to psychiatrists."<ref name="hopper" />

Also that year, Whitman acted in the second episode of the first season of ''[[Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre]]'', called "Killing at Sundial". In it, Whitman plays a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] who became wealthy throughout life and is now seeking to avenge the death of his father, who was lynched years prior.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/bob-hope-presents-the-chrysler-theatre/episode-2-season-1/killing-sundial/200149|title=Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre {{!}} TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com|language=en|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=December 2019}} Also at that time, Whitman was announced as the lead in ''[[The Cardinal (film)|Cardinal]]'' (1963), and he lobbied to play [[Jimmy Hoffa]] in an adaptation of ''[[The Enemy Within (Kennedy book)|The Enemy Within]]'' by [[Robert F. Kennedy]];<ref name="hopper" /> however, the first role was lost to [[Tom Tryon]] and the second film was never made. He then adjusted his contract with Fox to stipulate one film a year for five years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dynasty in Hawaii Finds Going Rough: 'King' Heston Rides for Fall in Movie of 'Diamond Head'|last=Scheuer|first=Philip K.|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|date=February 15, 1963|page=D13}}</ref> After several months off, Whitman announced plans to produce his own film, ''[[My Brother's Keeper (Davenport novel)|My Brother's Keeper]]'', based on a novel about the [[Collyer brothers]]. However, he moved on to do other projects.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C3-m8Ll0HQ0C&q=%22Stuart+Whitman%22+%22+My+Brother's+Keeper%22 |title=Box Office |date=1963 |publisher=RLD Communications |pages=12 |language=en}}</ref>

On February 19, 1964, Whitman acted in ''[[Shock Treatment (1964 film)|Shock Treatment]]'', which opened in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23342-SHOCK-TREATMENT?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> On November 12, [[Gordon Douglas (director)|Gordon Douglas]]' Western ''[[Rio Conchos (film)|Rio Conchos]]'' opened, with Whitman cast as one of its three leads. The other two were [[Richard Boone]] and [[Anthony Franciosa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/22483-RIO-CONCHOS?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> Whitman said that he didn't like the script, but producer Darryl F. Zanuck told him that if he would do it, he would then be cast as a lead in [[Ken Annakin]]'s upcoming film, ''[[Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines]]'' (1965), in a role the studio had initially intended to give [[Dick Van Dyke]]. Whitman went on to have a meeting with actor Boone and director Douglas. He thought highly of them and accepted. Annakin had to accept the studio's wishes, and despite Whitman not being his first choice, Annakin was very happy with Whitman's performance.<ref name=":322"/><ref name=":422"/><ref name=":522"/><ref name=":622"/>

On February 10, 1965, [[George Englund]]'s ''[[Signpost to Murder]]'' premiered, which starred Whitman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/22688-SIGNPOST-TO-MURDER?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref> On May 3, Whitman was confirmed as the main actor for [[Cy Endfield]]'s ''[[Sands of the Kalahari]]''. Whitman became the lead after the production company courted many actors such as [[Richard Burton]], [[Robert Mitchum]], [[Albert Finney]], [[Marlon Brando]] and [[Warren Beatty]]. Eventually, [[George Peppard]] was cast as the lead but abandoned it early into the production, and while [[Alan Bates]] was considered, Whitman was confirmed. Whitman said that he won the role after reading in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' about the departure of Peppard; he went to the Beverly Hills Hotel and bumped into the producer, to whom he jokingly suggested himself for the role. The producers called him that same evening to fly to Africa to star in it. Whitman found the shoot difficult, due to the hot weather and the fact that the [[baboon]]s, with whom he had fight scenes, were not properly trained and lived in decrepit conditions, as well as having no animal control.<ref name=":322"/><ref name=":422"/><ref name=":522"/><ref name=":622"/> The film premiered on November 10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/22910-SANDS-OF-THE-KALAHARI?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref>

June 16, 1965, saw the release of Annakin's ''Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines''. In this [[Cinema of the United Kingdom|British]] [[Period film|period]] [[comedy film]], Whitman is featured amongst an international [[ensemble cast]], including [[Sarah Miles]], [[Robert Morley]], [[Terry-Thomas]], [[James Fox]], [[Red Skelton]], [[Benny Hill]], [[Jean-Pierre Cassel]], [[Gert Fröbe]] and [[Alberto Sordi]]. The film, revolving around the craze of early aviation circa 1910, is about a pompous newspaper magnate (Morley) who is convinced by his daughter (Miles) and fiancée (Fox), a young army officer, to organize an air race from London to Paris. A large sum of money is offered to the winner and it hence attracts a variety of characters who participate. Whitman appears as the American entrant, one of its top participants. The film received positive reviews, in which they said the film was funny, colorful, clever and captured the early enthusiasm for aviation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0DEEDF173BE13ABC4F52DFB066838E679EDE|title=Movie Review: Those Magnificent Men In their Flying Machines (1965)|last=Crowther|first=Bosley|date=June 17, 1965|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1964/film/reviews/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-or-how-i-flew-from-london-to-paris-in-25-hours-11-minutes-1200420712/|title=Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines – Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes|date=January 1, 1965|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/magnificent-men-flying/review/120398|title=Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines{{spaced ndash}}Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes: TV Guide Review|website=TV Guide.com|access-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref> It was treated as a major production, one of only three full-length [[70 mm film|70 mm]] [[Todd-AO]] Fox releases in 1965, with an intermission and musical interlude being part of the original screenings.<ref name="DVD">"Director's Voice-over Commentary". ''Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines'' DVD, 2004.</ref> Because of the Todd-AO process, the film was an exclusive roadshow feature initially shown in deluxe [[Cinerama]] venues, where customers needed reserved seats purchased ahead of time.<ref name="Munn">Munn (1983), p. 161.</ref> The film grossed $31.1 million theatrically and made $29.9 million in home video sales.<ref name="numbers">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1965/0TMMF.php|title=Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Box Office Information|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=February 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv|title=The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M|publisher=L. Stuart|year=1988|page=[https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv/page/324 324]|isbn=9780818404856 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Audiences, both then and now, have been nearly unanimous in assessing the film as one of the "classic" aviation films.<ref>Hardwick & Schnepf (1989), p. 58.</ref>

In 1966, Whitman appeared in [[Robert Gist]]'s ''[[An American Dream (film)|An American Dream]]'', based on a novel by [[Norman Mailer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/22453-AN-AMERICAN-DREAM?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=December 2019}} Around this time, Whitman returned to ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' in the episode "The Highest Fall of All", in which he played a suicidal stuntman who is willing to do an extremely dangerous fall for a director.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835988,00.html|title=Television: Jul. 15, 1966|date=July 15, 1966|magazine=Time|access-date=February 4, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/bob-hope-presents-the-chrysler-theatre/episode-8-season-3/the-highest-fall-of-all/200149|title=Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre {{!}} TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com|language=en|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=December 2019}}

[[File:Stewart Whitman Victoria Shaw Cimarron Strip 1968.JPG|thumb|right|Whitman and [[Victoria Shaw (actress)|Victoria Shaw]] in ''[[Cimarron Strip]]'' (1967)]]Whitman had turned down a number of offers to star on television series over the years, including ''[[Mannix]]'' and ''[[Judd for the Defense]]''. "I wanted more diversity in acting," he said. "I felt I would limit myself."<ref name="strip" /> However, on September 7, 1967, the TV show ''[[Cimarron Strip]]'' premiered, starring Whitman.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 7, 1967|title='Cimarron Strip': Big Western In Premiere|work=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=TV Guide Cover Archive – November 4, 1967|url=http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/archive/suboffer/1960s/1967/19671104_c1.jpg.html|access-date=March 23, 2018|website=tvguidemagazine.com|publisher=TV Guide}}</ref> "A lot of big people told me I was the number one man the networks wanted," said Whitman.<ref name="strip2">{{cite news|last=Gysel|first=Dean|date=September 6, 1967|title=Whitman to Star In 'Cimarron Strip'|page=B11|work=The Washington Post and Times-Herald}}</ref> The show was expensive, costing $350,000–$400,000 per episode with each having a broadcast time of 90 minutes, and was the most expensive drama series made up to that time.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 7, 1967|title='Cimarron Strip' Costly Western|work=The Tennessean}}</ref> The series was produced by Whitman's own company. "I always wanted to play a cop with a heart, a guy who would use every possible means not to kill a man," he said. "TV has needed a superhero... and I think Crown can be the guy."<ref name="don2">{{cite news|last=Page|first=Don|date=October 15, 1967|title=WHITMAN: GOTTA HAVE HEART|page=c6}}</ref> While Whitman received good reviews for his performance, many criticized the show for having thin plots, and it was met with disappointing ratings.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 1, 1967|title=Stuart Whitman is Marshall Crown|work=Independent Star-News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Powers|first=Forrest|date=January 15, 1968|title=TV-Radio Chatter|work=The Minneapolis Star}}</ref> Its time slot had major competition: ''[[Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)|Daniel Boone]]'' came out on top, and while ''[[The Flying Nun]]'' remained, ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' was pushed to another time slot and ''Cimarron Strip'' was cancelled.<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 28, 1968|title=Patricia Blair: Daniel Boone's Faithful Wife|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

In 1969, Whitman acted in ''Sweet Hunters''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sweet Hunters {{!}} TV Guide|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/sweet-hunters/119558|access-date=December 14, 2019|website=TVGuide.com|language=en}}</ref> According to [[John Gregory Dunne]]'s book ''[[The Studio (book)|The Studio]]'' (1969), Whitman was suggested for the title role in ''[[The Boston Strangler (film)|The Boston Strangler]]'' (1968) by John Bottomly, the Massachusetts assistant attorney general who prosecuted [[Albert DeSalvo]]. Instead, the role went to [[Tony Curtis]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}