Death, Where is Thy Sting-a-ling-ling?

Death, Where is Thy Sting-a-ling-ling? is an incomplete 1969 American film. It was also known as The Bells of Hell Go Ting-a-Ling-Ling or The Bells of Hell.^[1]

Death, Where is Thy Sting-a-ling-ling?
Directed by	David Miller
Written by	Roald Dahl
Based on	story by Robert Altman
Produced by	Walter Mirisch
Starring	Gregory Peck
Production company	The Mirisch Company
Distributed by	United Artists
Country	United States
Language	English

Premise

During World War I a plane has to be taken apart and transported through Switzerland so as to not violate neutrality. The plane is needed for a mission.

Cast

• Gregory Peck
• Ian McKellen
• Maria Grazia Buccella

Background

The film was based on a story by Robert Altman called The Chicken and the Hawk which he tried to sell as a pilot for a TV series.^[2] Brian McKay did some work on it. They met Roald Dahl in Honolulu where Dahl's wife Patricia Neal was making a film and asked him to write the script. Dahl agreed. United Artists liked the script but did not want Altman to direct. By this stage Neal had a stroke and Dahl needed the money. He sold the script to UA for $150,000 having to pay Altman $75,000.^[3]

Walter Mirisch was the producer. Cary Grant had been interested in starring. Eventually Gregory Peck agreed to star and David Miller signed to direct. Filming started in Switzerland in 1966 but was held up through poor weather. Eventually head of UA David Picker abandoned the project. Dahl said $2 million had been spent.^[3][4][5]

Walter Mirisch said it "is the only picture in which I have been involved that was started and never finished."^[6]

After the success of MASH, Mirisch approached Altman about reactivating the project, but he refused.^[7]