Irma la Douce (1963)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Alexandre Breffort (play)
Billy Wilder (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A story of passion, bloodshed, desire and death... everything, in fact, that makes life worth living

Plot:

In Paris, an ex-cop falls in love with a prostitute, and tries to get her out of that life by paying for all of her time. Not so easy...

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | Police | Love | Red Light District | Prostitute

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Nestor Patou / Lord X
Shirley MacLaine	...	Irma La Douce
Lou Jacobi	...	Moustache
Bruce Yarnell	...	Hippolyte
Herschel Bernardi	...	Insp. Lefevre
Hope Holiday	...	Lolita
Joan Shawlee	...	Amazon Annie
Grace Lee Whitney	...	Kiki the Cossack
Paul Dubov	...	Andre
Howard McNear	...	Concierge
Cliff Osmond	...	Police sergeant
Diki Lerner	...	Jojo
Herb Jones	...	Casablanca Charlie
Ruth Earl	...	One of the Zebra Twins
Jane Earl	...	One of the Zebra Twins
Tura Satana	...	Suzette Wong
Lou Krugman	...	Customer #1
James Brown	...	Customer from Texas
Bill Bixby	...	Tattooed sailor
John Alvin	...	Customer #2
Susan Woods	...	Poule with balcony
Harriette Young	...	Mimi the MauMau
Sheryl Deauville	...	Carmen
Billy Beck	...	Officer Dupont
Jack Sahakian	...	Jack
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edgar Barrier	...	Gen. Lafayette (uncredited)
James Caan	...	Soldier with radio (uncredited)
Don Diamond	...	Man with Samples (uncredited)
Paul Frees	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Joe Gray	...	Bar Gangster (uncredited)
Louis Jourdan	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Moustache	...	(uncredited)
Doye O'Dell	...	Ticket Seller (uncredited)
Joe Palma	...	Prison guard (uncredited)
Richard Peel	...	Englishman (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Wilder

Writing credits
Alexandre Breffort		(play)
Billy Wilder		(writer) and
I.A.L. Diamond		(writer)

Produced by
Edward L. Alperson	....	producer
I.A.L. Diamond	....	associate producer
Doane Harrison	....	associate producer
Billy Wilder	....	producer
Alexandre Trauner	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
André Previn		(as Andre Previn)

Cinematography by
Joseph LaShelle		(as Joseph La Shelle)

Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Alexandre Trauner		(as Alexander Trauner)

Set Decoration by
Maurice Barnathan
Edward G. Boyle

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly

Makeup Department
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup artist
George Masters	....	hair stylist
Alice Monte	....	hair stylist
Harry Ray	....	makeup artist
Frank Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Allen K. Wood	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hal W. Polaire	....	assistant director (as Hal Polaire)
Christian Ferry	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Frank Agnone	....	property master
Arden Cripe	....	property master
Harold Michelson	....	illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gilbert D. Marchant	....	sound effects editor
Robert Martin	....	sound

Special Effects by
Milt Rice	....	special effects (as Milton Rice)

Camera and Electrical Department
Léo L. Fuchs	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Spicer	....	best boy (uncredited)
Don Stott	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Bob Young	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irene Caine	....	wardrobe
Wesley Jeffries	....	wardrobe (as Wes Jefferies)

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor

Other crew
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (as Marshall Wolins)
Christian Ferry	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Laure Lourie	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mirisch Corporation, The
• Phalanx Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print Technicolor)

Other Companies

• Stalmaster-Lister Co.  casting

Runtime:

147 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #20447) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:18A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn/Warner Hollywood Studios - 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Shirley MacLaine was not happy with the script, and thought even less of the film after it was finished, calling it "crude and clumsy". She was surprised to get a Best Actress Oscar nomination out of it, saying "I would have been nonplussed had I won it."

Quotes:

Moustache: It's a hard way to earn an easy living.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cosby Show: Cliff la Dolce (#6.11)" (1989)

Entertaining lightweight piece.

Although "Irma la Douce" can't quite compare to Wilder's greatest works, it's nonetheless an entertaining lightweight piece with ravishing photography, delightful performances, gorgeous set design, and a top-notch musical score. As a whole the film just isn't remarkable enough to reach the level of "Some Like It Hot" and "The Apartment", and it suffers from being needlessly drawn out. Lou Jacobi almost steals the show from Lemmon and MacLaine.