The Petersburg-Cannes Express

There was a major amount of media hype in Palm Springs prior to the world release of The Petersburg-Cannes Express here on March 6, 2003. Much of the hype was due to the fact that Palm Springs is trying to attract more film openings here due to our close proximity to Los Angeles, and our long history as a Hollywood hideaway. Our successful annual International Film Festival is doing much to change the way Palm Springs is viewed as a movie town.

Ten friends and I happily reserved our $50 tickets well in advance to this movie that was to be the directorial debut of long time producer John Daly. With John Daly's history of having produced such films as Falcon and the Snowman, Platoon, and The Last Emperor, there wasn't even a remote possibility in my mind that this wasn't going to be a sensational movie! Set in Petersburg, a period piece, and based upon a fine book; I knew that we were in for a very special cinematic experience. Nevertheless, ten minutes into the film proved my expectations to be wrongly anticipated.

Although the film is beautiful to look at and most of the cast is even quite likable, Daly is inevitably to blame for the films disastrous downfall. Daley's total lack of ability to give direction to his cast in this film leaves the audience with nothing at the end other than relieved that the film is over. But to make matters even worse, Daly just had to go and write the screenplay as well. The book that his screenplay is based upon could not possibly have been as boring as the film turned out being, or surely even Daley could not have originally realized it on film. Daley's screenplay and direction eluded proper and strong character development. Awkward and sometimes infantile dialog once again had us checking our wrist watches to see when this mess was going to be finished.

Mr. Daly, please stick to producing, and leave the very important issues of what actually makes a film work to people with talent and experience.

Hans Koning writes: I am the author of the novels filmed,i.e. A Walk with Love and Death made by John Huston and The Revolutionary made by Paul Williams. Sadly, I cannot but agree with your critics. Huston was sick and had been given the worst non-actor alive, Asaf Dayan (speaking very bad English.) The Revolutionary was made by a student not heard of since. My third novel to be filmed, "Death of a Schoolboy", was made by an Austrian who should have confined himself to waltzes. I don't know why you mention its German title, to please the Austrian? All they say about films from novels is true, although I admittedly had VERY bad luck, 0-4.The fourth film was The Petersburg-Cannes Express, a nice and successful novel slaughtered by John Daly who fled to Albania afterward. (I had a fine script which he refused to read; I write my own scripts, he said. Disaster! Hans Koning

Based on novel by Hans Koning (writer of: 'The Revolutionary' w/John Voight; 'Death of a Schoolboy,' Euro prod.). First producer: agent Peter Rawley(had sub-par script), dropped option. Second producer: Claude Brickell (had good script). John Daly (Hemdale Prods.)wanted rights to story but forced to co-prod. w/Brickell. Daly wanted more sex in script. Daly and Brickell fell out as team and option dropped. Ten years later, Daly re-optioned story, wrote his own script w/sex. Arranged prod. in Russia. Then went to Palm Springs fest. w/finished film, got panned. Went to Cannnes to sell film. Daly never directed before and had no clue how to write or direct... his dream and he blew it. Died of cancer 6 mos. later.

With a script on par with grade school writing and acting that doesn't meet up with a high school drama club, this laughable piece of "film" doesn't deserve to see the light of day.

It does everything wrong.

If you want to learn how not to make a movie, just try to get through this amateurish nightmare.

People got paid for this???