BEFORE: After that brief stop in Hungary, I'm back in NY. It's good to be back. Another classic from the 1950's tonight, and with Marilyn Monroe back in the public consciousness thanks to an Oscar-nominated film and a hit (?) TV show called "Smash", the timing seems right. I can link from Jimmy Stewart, who was also in "How the West Was Won" with Eli Wallach, who was also in "The Misfits" with Marilyn, which is where I last saw her.
Turner Classic Movies is spending the day in the Pacific Ocean, of all places. We never seem to be on the same itinerary, except we were both in NYC over the weekend, while I was watching "Desk Set" and "Bringing Up Baby". Today's line-up includes "The Last Voyage", "They Were Expendable" and one film I've seen, "The Caine Mutiny". Then it's on to Africa (not sure I see the connection...) for "The Nun's Story", "Breaker Morant" and one film that's still on my list, "Casablanca". So I'm not adding anything to the list today, but Friday I need to add several films, and that will negate any progress made today.
THE PLOT: When his family goes away for the summer, a so-far faithful husband is tempted by a beautiful neighbor.
AFTER: Well, since we're on the other side of Valentine's Day now, I might as well deal with the topic of infidelity, or at least temptation, as seen in this film. Every married person has to deal with it at some point or another.
And it's another look at NYC professionals in the 1950's. Is it me, or did all of the New Yorkers in the movies tend to be book editors, or magazine writers, or advertising executives? Guys who head downtown with a briefcase and work in a windowless room with a mousy (yet still kind of hot) secretary. According to this film, all the professional husbands in NYC would stay and work in the hot summer while sending their wives and kids out of town. Really? Because there's no way that situation can possibly go south - it just would give them all a license to cheat, right? The wives, too...
The central character here is a nebbishy sort who's vowed not to drink or smoke or fool around while wifey's out of town. But that's before he gets a glimpse of the new upstairs summer tenant, played by Marilyn. Before you know it, their paths have crossed and his imagination is running wild, and they're sharing cigarettes and champagne. She feels safe with a married man, but she hasn't accounted for the "fact" that men supposedly want to cheat after seven years of marriage. It's awfully convenient that he happens to be editing a book based around this principle, and that he's been married for exactly that period of time.
I think they could have pushed the envelope a lot more, shown us more of what his imagination was really capable of. This was sort of the precursor to shows like "Dream On", which had elaborate fantasy sequences of a man's sexy thoughts. A typical man in New York City probably sees pretty women everywhere (not that I'd notice...). Still, this was probably considered outrageously racy for its time - lots of symbolically erotic imagery like exploding bottles of champagne.
This farce also relies quite heavily on improbable occurences - people who show up at the most inopportune times, or someone tripping at the worst moment. It's most famous for the shot of Marilyn standing atop a subway grate with her white dress blowing up - and that's sort of typical for what takes place here. "Why, goodness! I had no IDEA that would happen!" Sure thing, honey.
It's a wonder that the wife didn't come home unexpectedly to find the husband making toast while the blonde bombshell neighbor was in the shower - man, it's tough to talk your way out of that one, even if there IS a rational explanation. (Again, not that I'd know...)
Also starring Tom Ewell, and a cameo from Oskar Homolka, an actor with one of the best names ever.
RATING: 5 out of 10 tomato plants
It's been a while since I've seen this movie. My memory of specific plot details might be weak. I do remember that my main problem with it was the silliness of this man's dilemma.
ReplyDeleteYou're afraid you're going to cheat on your wife while she's away?
Here's a possible solution: DON'T CHEAT ON YOUR WIFE!!!
And how about DON'T SPEND SO MUCH TIME HANGING OUT WITH THE SEXY NEIGHBOR!!!!!
I mean, yeah, actually shagging the sexy neighbor would be Extremely Bad. But your wife would also probably be upset if she discovered that you chose to make this woman your Special Friend for the summer, yes?!?!?
Seriously, dude. GROW UP.
And that was my reaction to this guy and this story. Why was he agonizing about a situation that he had complete control over?
Surely you've heard that immediately after getting married, a man is more attractive to single females, right? That a wedding ring is like catnip to them, and he has to start beating them off with a stick? Well, that's what sitcoms have told me over the years, anyway.
DeleteThe situation here is completely farcical - but in every joke, there is an element of truth. Speaking as someone who goes on a week-long business trip every year, I'd be lying if I said there was zero temptation to cheat. I choose not to, but a man's mind does go down many different pathways during time away from one's spouse. Spending time in a convention center with women dressed as sci-fi babes may not help.
This man has Marilyn Monroe living upstairs. No greater personification of a blonde bombshell, and she's walking around in a towel. Do you mean to tell me you wouldn't invite her in for a drink, with the wife out of town?
But look, the film is nothing but a parade of sight gags. And every joke needs a premise, whether it's "traveling salesman meets farmer's daughter", or "a guy walks into a bar", or "a man's wife is out of town for the summer".
Besides, he's also led to believe that his wife might be cheating on him as well. She's not, but the evidence leads his mind down that pathway. What this is really about is the separation that some couples have to undergo, and the effect it has on a man's mind.
Temptation is always around, but no one is more aware of it than the married man. A single guy, by definition, can't be tempted to cheat, because that's just called playing the field.
Once you tell a married man he can't have the beautiful women all around him, won't he just want them all the more? Sit in a corner and try NOT to think of a white elephant, and that's sort of the point.
How do you create a character who so knowingly tries to come as close to the adultery as he can, and still make sure that the audience is on his side? What a conundrum...it's a fine line.
ReplyDeleteOn a sitcom like "Everyone Loves Raymond," Raymond is allowed to be jealous of his bachelor brother, but only within boundaries. He sees the hot women who hang out in the condo complex jacuzzi. He's not frustrated that he can't try to have sex with these women...he's frustrated because they represent the freedom that he thinks he's given up by being married. I don't think we'd feel the same way about Raymond if he were being more active about it.
Second comment:
ReplyDeleteIt would be very hard to sit in a corner and NOT think about a white elephant, yes.
It would be very EASY to sit in a corner and not think about boinking the elephant. Because, eww, WHY would it even OCCUR to me to do that?!?