The Opposite Sex
The Opposite Sex | |
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![]() Theatrical poster | |
Directed by | David Miller |
Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
Screenplay by |
Fay Kanin Michael Kanin |
Based on |
The Women 1936 play by Clare Boothe Luce |
Starring |
June Allyson Joan Collins Dolores Gray Jeff Richards Ann Sheridan Ann Miller Leslie Nielsen |
Narrated by | Ann Sheridan |
Music by |
Nicholas Brodszky Sammy Cahn Ralph Freed George Stoll |
Cinematography | Robert Brenner |
Edited by | John McSweeney |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 117 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $2,834,000[1] |
Box office | $2,760,000[1][2] |
The Opposite Sex is a 1956 American musical romantic comedy film shot in Metrocolor and CinemaScope.[3][4] The film was directed by David Miller and stars June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller, Leslie Nielsen, Jeff Richards, Agnes Moorehead, Charlotte Greenwood, Joan Blondell, Sam Levene, Dick Shawn, Jim Backus, Bill Goodwin and Harry James.
The Opposite Sex is a remake of the 1939 classic comedy The Women. Both films are based on Clare Boothe Luce's original 1936 play.[5]
Plot
The story concerns Kay Hilliard (June Allyson), a former nightclub singer who discovers her husband Steven (Leslie Nielsen) is having an affair with showgirl Crystal Allen (Joan Collins). Kay is the last to find out among her circle of gossiping girlfriends. Kay travels to Reno to divorce from Steve who then marries Crystal, but when Kay finds out that Crystal isn't true to Steve she starts fighting to win her ex-husband back.
Cast
- June Allyson as Kay Hilliard
- Joan Collins as Crystal Allen
- Dolores Gray as Sylvia Fowler
- Jeff Richards as Buck Winston
- Ann Sheridan as Amanda Penrose
- Ann Miller as Gloria Dell
- Leslie Nielsen as Steven Hilliard
- Agnes Moorehead as Countess Lavaliere
- Charlotte Greenwood as Lucy
- Joan Blondell as Edith Potter
- Sam Levene as Mike Pearl
- Bill Goodwin as Howard Fowler
- Alice Pearce as Olga
- Barbara Jo Allen as Dolly
- Sandy Descher as Debbie Hilliard
- Carolyn Jones as Pat
- Barrie Chase as Specialty Dancer
- Dick Shawn as Psychiatric Patient
- Jim Backus as Psychiatrist
- Alan Marshal as Ted
- Harry James as Himself
- Dean Jones as Backstage Delivery Person
- Leslie Parrish as Leg Model
Production notes
Unlike the 1936 play and the 1939 film adaptation, The Opposite Sex includes musical numbers and features male actors who portray the husbands and boyfriends, whose characters were only referred to in the previous film and stage versions.[6] This alters the structure and tone of the base storyline significantly.
MGM studio head Dore Schary initially envisioned Esther Williams in June Allyson's role. According to her 2000 autobiography, The Million Dollar Mermaid, Williams objected to Schary's casting suggestion, resulting in her suspension from the studio. Shortly after, on agent Lew Wasserman's advice, she left Metro after fourteen years.[7] Eleanor Parker was later cast as Kay Hilliard but was replaced by June Allyson.[8]
Jo Ann Greer dubbed Allyson's ballad "A Perfect Love".
Reception
According to MGM records the film earned $1,735,000 in the US and Canada and $1,025,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $1,513,000.[1]
Award nomination
The film was nominated for a Best Musical or Comedy Picture Golden Globe Award in 1957.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- ↑ Domestic results see "Top Grosses of 1957", Variety, 8 January 1958: 30
- ↑ Variety film review; September 19, 1956, page 6.
- ↑ Harrison's Reports film review; September 22, 1956, page 151.
- ↑ Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2009). Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature. Infobase Publishing. p. 340. ISBN 1-438-10910-5.
- ↑ Kennedy, Matthew (2007). Joan Blondell: A Life Between Takes. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 166. ISBN 1-604-73300-4.
- ↑ Williams, Esther (2000). The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography. Harvest Books. pp. 266–267. ISBN 0-156-01135-2.
- ↑ McClelland, Doug (2001). Eleanor Parker: Woman of a Thousand Faces. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 231. ISBN 0-810-84836-8.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Opposite Sex. |
- The Opposite Sex at the Internet Movie Database
- The Opposite Sex at AllMovie
- The Opposite Sex at the TCM Movie Database
- The Opposite Sex at the American Film Institute Catalog