Janet Freedom

As a dedicated cinemaphile I wish I could get a bit more enthusiastic about this 1957 comedy starring two performers not generally noted for their light touch. While watching Bacall and Peck try hard (maybe a bit too hard) to carry off their lines I couldn't help but think longingly of other performers originally sought for the roles, including Grace Kelly, Cary Grant and James Stewart. Grant purportedly turned the part down because the character was shown drinking too much! But come on Cary. That's how u know he's a sophisticated New Yorker. As for the plot I think we have problems from the beginning when hung-over N.Y. sports writer Peck thinks that Bacall, the chic, well spoken woman who's just approached him, is some sort of hooker. Sure. Actually, she's a very successful high fashion designer. They have the proverbial whirl-wind courtship and marry without knowing virtually anything about one another. From then on it's one situation comedy misunderstanding and deception after another. Peck concocts an insane plan to keep Bacall from finding out that he had an affair with musical comedy star Delores Gray. Also, Peck wants to punch suave Broadway producer Tom Helmore who had the nerve to propose to Bacall before Peck was even on the scene. At least Peck and Bacall are matched in emotional maturity. To be fair the film has it's good points. The clothes by Helen Rose are awesome and there are a lot of familiar faces including Edward Platt, Chuck Conners, Alvy Moore and Richard Deacon. Sam Levene is fine as Peck's irate editor (movie editors are always irate) and Jesse White is welcome as one of Peck's cronies always out for a buck. However, Aldo Ray is allowed to really ham up his part as a punch drunk former boxer always hoping for a comeback. More sad than funny. Most interesting is Jack Cole playing the choreographer of Gray's Broadway show. Cole studied ballet and worked night cubs, eventually developing his trademark ballet-ethnic-jazz dance style. He choreographed Marilyn Monroe's iconic Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend number. Gwen Verdon,,his assistant for 7 years, wrote, "Jack influenced all the choreographers in the theater from Jerome Robbins, Michael Kidd, Bob Fosse down to Michael Bennett and Ron Field today. When you see dancing on television, that's Jack Cole."