The Tender Trap (1955)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (screenplay)
Max Shulman (play) ...

Release Date:

4 November 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Add SPICE to your life!

Plot:

Charlie Reader is a successful theater agent. He is also successful with young ladies. One day he is visited by his old friend Joe...

Plot Keywords:

Agent | Love | Theater | Bachelor | Womanizer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Charlie Y. Reader
Debbie Reynolds	...	Julie Gillis
David Wayne	...	Joe McCall
Celeste Holm	...	Sylvia Crewes
Jarma Lewis	...	Jessica Collins
Lola Albright	...	Poppy Masters
Carolyn Jones	...	Helen
Howard St. John	...	Mr. Sayers
Joey Faye	...	Sol Z. Steiner
Tom Helmore	...	Mr. Loughran
Willard Sage	...	Director
Marc Wilder	...	Ballet-Actor
Jack Boyle	...	Audition Dancer
James Drury	...	Eddie

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) | 4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #17672)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "The Tender Trap" by Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith opened at the Longacre Theater on October 13, 1954 and ran for 102 performances. The original cast included Robert Preston and Kim Hunter.

Quotes:

Sylvia Crewes: Joe, do you have any idea what's available to a woman of 33? Married men. Drunks. Pretty boys looking for someone to support them. Lunatics looking for their fifth divorce! It's quite a list, isn't it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Phil Hartman/Gin Blossoms (#21.16)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

(Love Is) The Tender Trap

Bright, breezy but ultimately unsatisfying

A great title tune, attractive cast, mostly sharp dialogue, can't miss, right? Wrong; this is one of the most disappointing misfires of the 1950s, due largely to the lack of chemistry between Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds. The problem is largely due to the Reynold's character, which is so poorly written. Even the perky Reynolds can do nothing with this part. Fortunately she is off camera for most of the film. Unfortunately, that means there is no payoff for the film. If you must watch it, you will enjoy David Wayne and Celeste Holm. Otherwise, don't expect much.