The Opposite Sex (1956)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Clare Boothe Luce (play)
Fay Kanin (writer) ...

Release Date:

29 April 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

M-G-M's FUN-FILLED GIRLIE SHOW -- WITH MUSIC! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Kay Hilliard, a former nightclub singer, married ten years and mother of a young daughter, is informed...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Singer | Nightclub | Affair | Chorus Girl

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

June Allyson	...	Kay Hilliard
Joan Collins	...	Crystal Allen
Dolores Gray	...	Sylvia Fowler
Ann Sheridan	...	Amanda Penrose
Ann Miller	...	Gloria Dell
Leslie Nielsen	...	Steve Hilliard
Jeff Richards	...	Buck Winston
Agnes Moorehead	...	Countess D'Brion
Charlotte Greenwood	...	Lucy
Joan Blondell	...	Edith Potter
Sam Levene	...	Mike Pearl
Bill Goodwin	...	Howard Fowler
Alice Pearce	...	Olga
Barbara Jo Allen	...	Dolly DeHaven
Sandy Descher	...	Debbie Hilliard

Runtime:

USA:117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Perspecta Stereo | 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Although all the singing was intended for June Allyson, Dolores Gray performed the title song over the main credits.

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end where "Kay" says that she has had a year to grow claws, "Jungle Red!" She holds up her hands, but her nails are not red. When she arrives at the nightclub, still no red nails, but later - same evening, same nightclub - her nails are red.

Quotes:

Kay Hilliard: I've had a whole year to grow claws, Lexy... Jungle Red!

Movie Connections:

Version of The New Women (2001)

Soundtrack:

Young Man With a Horn

The opposite effect

Whoever thought a semi-musical remake of the classic George Cukor's film "The Women" was a good idea, didn't' think this misguided attempt was going to stand the passing of time. Alas, "The Opposite Sex" is a sad reminder not to try to do what already has been done, much better.

We had no inkling this was a remake when we watched a clip in the coming attractions shown by TCM recently. This 1956 MGM film, directed by David Miller, based on the screen play by Fay and Michael Kanin, seems to be a bad dream.

It's obvious, from the start, this is a bad adaptation of Clare Boothe Luce's play of the thirties when the voice over tells us there are millions of men in the island of Manhattan surrounded by strong women. Right away we meet Sylvia Fowler, who retained her name from the previous movie, as she is dishing with the manicurist Olga. As the name of Crystal Allen is heard, we knew what we were in for, because that is a classic name for one of the best known gold diggers of the thirties.

While "The Women" is light and fun, this installment, is obvious and heavy. There is also the problem of the men one sees throughout. In the earlier film we didn't get to see any! The story line has been kept, but in a way, it doesn't make much sense, as it shows it hasn't kept as well as the original.

June Allyson is Kay Hilliard. In a way, this woman jumps the gun in getting a divorce instead of fighting for her man, if she loved him at all. Of course, Ms. Luce's play was written that way, otherwise there wouldn't be a reason for the side trip to Reno, and the eventual reconciliation. Ms. Allyson was a bland presence in the films she appeared. She was always the good one who would sacrifice everything.

Dolores Gray is the bitchy Sylvia Fowler, the one that starts things going. Joan Blondell is the sweet Edith, the perennial mother, the only happily married woman of the lot. Ann Sheridan plays the sophisticated Amanda, Kay's true friend. Agnes Moorehead has some good moments as the Countess. Joan Collins as Crystal is not too effective in the film, as she hadn't refined her act as a villainess yet. Ann Miller is good as Gloria.

The supporting roles were fine, but they don't have much to do. A young Leslie Nielsen is Steve Hilliard. Carolyn Jones, Alice Pearce, Sam Levene, Bill Goodwin, Charlotte Greenwood, have good moments.

Our suggestion: Watch the original!