The Tender Trap (1955)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

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

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bette Arlen	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Bill Baldwin	...	TV Host (uncredited) (voice)
Madge Blake	...	Society Reporter (uncredited)
Leonard Bremen	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
John Bromfield	...	Actor in Film on TV (clip from 'Easy to Love') (uncredited) (archive footage)
Herbert Butterfield	...	Minister (voice) (uncredited)
Hal Floyd	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Hugo Haas	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gil Harman	...	TV Announcer (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Extra at Home Show (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Nightclub Table Extra (uncredited)
Michael Kostrick	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Gustave Lax	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Don Lynch	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
George Peters	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Max Power	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Dan Quigg	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Gordon Richards	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Benny Rubin	...	Mr. Wilson (uncredited)
Erin Selwyn	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Reginald Simpson	...	Stage Manager (uncredited)
Frank Sully	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Phil Tead	...	Wendell (voice) (uncredited)
Dave White	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Esther Williams	...	Actress in Film on TV (clip from 'Easy to Love') (uncredited) (archive footage)
Wilson Wood	...	George, Elevator Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Walters

Writing credits
Julius J. Epstein		(screenplay) (as Julius Epstein)
Max Shulman		(play) and
Robert Paul Smith		(play)

Produced by
Lawrence Weingarten	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeff Alexander

Cinematography by
Paul Vogel		(director of photography) (as Paul C. Vogel)

Film Editing by
John D. Dunning		(as John Dunning)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons
Arthur Lonergan

Set Decoration by
Jack D. Moore
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Helen Rose

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Freeman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller	....	recording supervisor (as Dr. Wesley C. Miller)

Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon	....	color consultant

Music Department
Jeff Alexander	....	conductor
Will Beitel	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Clinton Wilder	....	stage presenter

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1980) (USA) (TV) (network premiere) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

USA: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: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:

Joe McCall: Go ahead, punch me in the nose!...
Charlie Reader: Why should I? You'd punch back!

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

(Love Is) The Tender Trap

"You See A Pair of Laughing Eyes........"

When the eyes are Debbie Reynolds and the viewer is Frank Sinatra, you can expect a lot of fun and The Tender Trap delivers that fun.

Frank Sinatra stars in the movie version of a play which had a modest run on Broadway concerning an actor's agent who's got the life we only dream about. Since this was the kind of life Sinatra really had, it sure isn't an acting stretch for him. Still Sinatra plays this thing very well. Of course everyone has beauties like Celeste Holm, Lola Albright, Jarma Lewis, and Carolyn Jones around. They all got a piece of old Blue Eyes.

In steps new client Debbie Reynolds, the 1950s all time good girl and she's not tolerating Frank's wolfish ways. She's got marriage on the mind.

It's an interesting commentary on the times that back in the 1950s, the ultimate goal for a woman was the house with the white picket fence, husband, and three kids. Even for one as obviously talented as Debbie Reynolds.

Sinatra's also got a male guest in the house, childhood friend David Wayne who blew in from Indiana and has announced his intention of getting in on Sinatra's action. He's left his wife, home, and three kids and is having an early midlife crisis. I think you can figure the rest of the plot from here.

One thing the play on Broadway didn't have was that wonderful title tune that James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn wrote. Sinatra opens the film with that song before the title credits and Reynolds later sings it in the film. I remember what a mega-hit it was for Frank back in the day. So perfectly suited for him and his style. All I can say is Ring-a-ding ding ding.

Frank and Debbie do well together, too bad they never made another film together. The following year she made one with her husband Eddie Fisher and the demand for the team was underwhelming.

Everyone, but especially Sinatra aficionados should love this one.