Copyright 1957 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 8 November 1957. U.S. release: 10 December 1957. U.K. release: 10 March 1958. Australian release: 19 December 1957. Sydney opening at the Mayfair. 9,213 feet. 102 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Three flown-out Naval combat flyers, Lieutenant Commander Crewson (Cary Grant), Lieutenant McCann (Ray Walston) and Mississip (Larry Blyden), fly into San Francisco from their Pacific war assignments for a brief leave. All highly decorated combat heroes who have been almost constantly in action, they have but one sole object: women, liquor and laughs. Upon arrival in San Francisco, they head for a swank hotel where, with the assistance of a Navy public relations officer, Lieutenant Wallace (Werner Klemperer), they secure the Ambassadorial Suite.
Immediately, Crewson orders cocktails, music, and invites a huge crowd of girls and assorted service men to the suite for a party. Alice Krachner (Jayne Mansfield) shows up at the party and attaches herself to Crewson until he meets Gwenneth Livingston (Suzy Parker), the fiancée of wealthy industrialist Eddie Turnbill (Leif Erickson). Crewson and Gwenneth are immediately drawn to one another and Alice transfers her rather free affections to McCann.
NOTES: Film debut for Suzy Parker.
The stage play opened on Broadway at the Belasco on 20 March 1945 (sic). Running a moderately successful 110 performances, the play featured Judy Holliday in her Broadway debut in the part played by Jayne Mansfield in the movie. Richard Widmark had the Cary Grant role, whilst Dennis King Jr and Richard Davis made up the combat trio. Herman Shumlin directed for producers John Moses and Mark Hanna.
Despite extremely negative reviews, the film performed positively at the box-office, particularly in Australia where it became one of Fox's top money-spinners of 1958.
COMMENT: An atrocious title tune warbled by the McGuire Sisters (whoever they might be) sets the stage for a corny slather of old- fashioned platitudes, leavened by the occasional witty cynicism. A photographed stage play, dully directed by Stanley Donen (an obvious Mr. Nice Guy whom Grant chose to direct his next film, "Indiscreet", as well as "The Grass is Greener" and "Charade") and dully photographed in early grainy DeLuxe color, the film is chiefly memorable for the atrocious parody or caricature of a performance giggled by an inane Jayne Mansfield, which must be one of the most inept pieces of screen-craft ever attempted and even manages to upstage the inexperienced Suzy Parker.
The other players manage to shoot off their lines with professional ease, though considering the triteness of a lot of what they have to say, maybe it would have made a more interesting movie if they had thrown in the sponge.
Despite a brief bit of location filming and lots of extra players milling about, it all looks stage-cramped and small-budget.
SYNOPSIS: Three flown-out Naval combat flyers, Lieutenant Commander Crewson (Cary Grant), Lieutenant McCann (Ray Walston) and Mississip (Larry Blyden), fly into San Francisco from their Pacific war assignments for a brief leave. All highly decorated combat heroes who have been almost constantly in action, they have but one sole object: women, liquor and laughs. Upon arrival in San Francisco, they head for a swank hotel where, with the assistance of a Navy public relations officer, Lieutenant Wallace (Werner Klemperer), they secure the Ambassadorial Suite.
Immediately, Crewson orders cocktails, music, and invites a huge crowd of girls and assorted service men to the suite for a party. Alice Krachner (Jayne Mansfield) shows up at the party and attaches herself to Crewson until he meets Gwenneth Livingston (Suzy Parker), the fiancée of wealthy industrialist Eddie Turnbill (Leif Erickson). Crewson and Gwenneth are immediately drawn to one another and Alice transfers her rather free affections to McCann.
NOTES: Film debut for Suzy Parker.
The stage play opened on Broadway at the Belasco on 20 March 1945 (sic). Running a moderately successful 110 performances, the play featured Judy Holliday in her Broadway debut in the part played by Jayne Mansfield in the movie. Richard Widmark had the Cary Grant role, whilst Dennis King Jr and Richard Davis made up the combat trio. Herman Shumlin directed for producers John Moses and Mark Hanna.
Despite extremely negative reviews, the film performed positively at the box-office, particularly in Australia where it became one of Fox's top money-spinners of 1958.
COMMENT: An atrocious title tune warbled by the McGuire Sisters (whoever they might be) sets the stage for a corny slather of old- fashioned platitudes, leavened by the occasional witty cynicism. A photographed stage play, dully directed by Stanley Donen (an obvious Mr. Nice Guy whom Grant chose to direct his next film, "Indiscreet", as well as "The Grass is Greener" and "Charade") and dully photographed in early grainy DeLuxe color, the film is chiefly memorable for the atrocious parody or caricature of a performance giggled by an inane Jayne Mansfield, which must be one of the most inept pieces of screen-craft ever attempted and even manages to upstage the inexperienced Suzy Parker.
The other players manage to shoot off their lines with professional ease, though considering the triteness of a lot of what they have to say, maybe it would have made a more interesting movie if they had thrown in the sponge.
Despite a brief bit of location filming and lots of extra players milling about, it all looks stage-cramped and small-budget.