The Opposite Sex (1956)

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Clare Boothe Luce (play)
Fay Kanin (writer) ...

Release Date:

29 April 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

M-G-M's FUN-FILLED GIRLIE SHOW -- WITH MUSIC! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Kay Hilliard, a former nightclub singer, married ten years and mother of a young daughter, is informed...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Singer | Nightclub | Affair | Chorus Girl

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

June Allyson	...	Kay Hilliard
Joan Collins	...	Crystal Allen
Dolores Gray	...	Sylvia Fowler
Ann Sheridan	...	Amanda Penrose
Ann Miller	...	Gloria Dell
Leslie Nielsen	...	Steve Hilliard
Jeff Richards	...	Buck Winston
Agnes Moorehead	...	Countess D'Brion
Charlotte Greenwood	...	Lucy
Joan Blondell	...	Edith Potter
Sam Levene	...	Mike Pearl
Bill Goodwin	...	Howard Fowler
Alice Pearce	...	Olga
Barbara Jo Allen	...	Dolly DeHaven
Sandy Descher	...	Debbie Hilliard

Runtime:

USA:117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Perspecta Stereo | 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

MGM originally wanted Esther Williams to star in this movie, but she didn't want any part in it.

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end where "Kay" says that she has had a year to grow claws, "Jungle Red!" She holds up her hands, but her nails are not red. When she arrives at the nightclub, still no red nails, but later - same evening, same nightclub - her nails are red.

Quotes:

Gloria Dell: Do you want me to spit in Crystal's eye for you?
Kay Hilliard: Kay nods "No."
Gloria Dell: You're passing up a big chance, 'cause where I spit no grass grows ever.

Movie Connections:

Version of Frauen in New York (1977) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Yellow Gold

You can't improve on perfection and this movie proves it!

"The Women" is one of the true treasures of old black & white movies.There was not one role miscast and the snappy,witty script has not been duplicated in another all female movie and still holds up today!That said this movie is 100% miscast,misdirected and the script is dull & flat even though it includes many lines from the original play & movie.I really felt sorry for Ann Miller,wasted in the Paulette Goddard role who neither gets to sing nor dance in this musical remake! While the tone-deaf, off-key June Allyson(Norma Shearer she ain't) gets to sing a few songs while having no chemistry with Leslie.Another thing, who the heck decided to let the Sylvia Fowler character played here by Delores Gray and in 1939 by Rosalind Russell,hook-up with Buck Winston instead of the Countess played by Agnes Moorehead? Another great actress was wasted in her part along with Joan Blondell and Gray too for that matter.I agree with all previous comments that adding men did nothing and actually helped make a dull film duller if that's possible.Skip this tin horror and go for the 1939 gold medal original.