Phffft (1954)

After eight years of marriage, Robert and Nina divorce. He takes up with his womanising Navy buddy Charlie Nelson while she looks to her interfering mother for guidance. Both start dating ... See full summary »

Director:

Mark Robson

Writer:

George Axelrod (story)

Stars:

Judy Holliday, Jack Lemmon, Jack Carson

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Judy Holliday	...	Nina Tracey née Chapman
Jack Lemmon	...	Robert Tracey
Jack Carson	...	Charlie Nelson
Kim Novak	...	Janis
Luella Gear	...	Edith Chapman
Donald Randolph	...	Dr. Van Kessel
Donald Curtis	...	Rick Vidal

Storyline

After eight years of marriage, Robert and Nina divorce. He takes up with his womanising Navy buddy Charlie Nelson while she looks to her interfering mother for guidance. Both start dating other people, but although they try and ignore each other whenever they accidentally meet, it is obvious the past is not dead. Then one night they find themselves in a nightclub doing the mambo together.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | divorce | writer | lawyer | mambo | 

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Taglines:

Don't Say It! See It!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

10 November 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Phffft!

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 88 min (TCM Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Columbia Pictures approached George Axelrod to produce a film version of his very popular play, "The Seven Year Itch," but the film rights were tied up as long as it was running on Broadway. He instead offered them "Phffft!" - - an earlier play of his dealing with a similar subject.

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Goofs

Nina's martini glass moves from one hand to the other several time when she and Charlie are drinking martini's at the bar and again on the sofa

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Connections

Featured in The Lady with the Torch (1999)

User Reviews

Screwball Remarriage, 50's Style

Almost all US sex comedies of the 50's & 60's are dated now by a quaint leering approach to sex & marriage, not to mention the costumes, hair, settings. But the remarriage theme will always be ripe for romantic comedy fun. Here, George Axelrod got his start. He later wrote screenplays for "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter," "Breakfast At Tiffany's," "Goodbye Charlie," and in a dark mood, "The Manchurian Candidate." His style is comparable to Preston Sturges, using wit to slice through the social conventions. Judy Holliday & Jack Lemmon were a wonderful match. Judy could play an "everywoman" to Jack's "everyman" as in "It Should Happen To You." She could surprise & bedevil him with her mix of ditzines & intelligence. Their comic timing together seems effortlessly perfect. This film should be remembered more fondly.