The Facts of Life (1960)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Melvin Frank

Writers:

Melvin Frank (written by)
Norman Panama (written by)

Release Date:

14 November 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

Plot:

Two romantic couples are each married to different people! They really DO love each other. At the beginning Kitty thinks Larry is un-funny...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Fishing | Vacation | Tarmac | Telephone Box

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Bob Hope	...	Larry Gilbert
Lucille Ball	...	Kitty Weaver
Ruth Hussey	...	Mary Gilbert
Don DeFore	...	Jack Weaver
Louis Nye	...	Hamilton Busbee
Philip Ober	...	Doc Mason (as Phillip Ober)
Marianne Stewart	...	Connie Mason
Peter Leeds	...	Thompson, the Dry Cleaner
Hollis Irving	...	Myrtle Busbee
William Lanteau	...	Airline Clerk
Robert F. Simon	...	Motel Clerk
Louise Beavers	...	Gussie (as Louise Beaver)
Mike Mazurki	...	First Husband in Motel Room

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19746) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

HLP

Trivia:

Third of four feature films that Bob Hope and Lucille Ball made together.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kitty and Larry are eating in a restaurant in Pasadena, a waitress comes to their table. A few weeks later when they are at a restaurant in Monterey, the same waitress in the same uniform is their server.

Quotes:

Kitty Weaver: [after Larry criticizes her for buying a rabbit instead of a chicken at the grocery store] IT WAS LYING DOWN!

Soundtrack:

The Facts of Life

Brief encounter in California

This surprising film was shown on TCM recently. Not having seen it, and not having other choice, we decided to take a look, and quite frankly, it was a surprise. The film, directed by Melvin Frank and co-written with his partner, Norman Panama, shows two stars that endeared themselves to the American public at their best.

The story is just a pretext and a vehicle for the stars. The plot kept reminding us of "A Guide for the Married Man", but that's all the comparison, because one has nothing to do with the other. In fact, this is a film made in 1960 when nothing too risky would be tackled for the screen, yet, it presents two straying adults who suddenly find an attraction where dislike existed before.

Bob Hope was the surprise in the movie. He doesn't have a chance for uttering his one liners, as the script doesn't allow it. It was one of the best films in which he appeared, in our humble opinion. Lucille Ball was an excellent comedienne, and she shows it on this film.

The interesting supporting cast makes the best with the material they were given to play. The excellent Ruth Hussey is seen as Bob Hope's wife. Don DeFore, plays Lucille's husband. Louis Nye is also seen in the film.

The film is light and will charm anyone wanting to spend some time in the company of some of America's best comic talent of the past.