Designing Woman (1957)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writer:

George Wells (writer)

Release Date:

29 July 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

His world is guys and dolls! Her world is gowns and glamor!

Plot:

When Mike Hagen and Marilla Brown marry after a whirlwind romance on the west coast, they return to...

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Boxing | Sports Writer | Theatrical Producer | Musical Number

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Mike Hagen
Lauren Bacall	...	Marilla Brown Hagen
Dolores Gray	...	Lori Shannon
Sam Levene	...	Ned Hammerstein
Tom Helmore	...	Zachary Wilde
Mickey Shaughnessy	...	Maxie Stultz
Jesse White	...	Charlie Arneg
Chuck Connors	...	Johnnie 'O'
Edward Platt	...	Martin J. Daylor
Alvy Moore	...	Luke Coslow
Carol Veazie	...	Gwen
Jack Cole	...	Randy Owens

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #18350)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows - 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

James Stewart and Grace Kelly were intended to be the co-stars of this movie, but when Kelly became betrothed to Prince Rainier of Monaco, Stewart decided not to do it (a decision he later said he regretted), and the leading roles went to Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In Marilla's office, just after she's accepted the job with the Broadway show, the men's shoes make the sound of shoes on hard flooring, despite the fact that they're actually on a thick shag rug.

Quotes:

Marilla Hagen: We never argue anymore. And when we do, it never lasts more than a week or two.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Conversation with Gregory Peck (1999)

Soundtrack:

Music is better than Words

Guys and dolls

Vincent Minnelli directed this movie with verve. The idea of the movie came from MGM's designer Helen Rose, a woman who knew about fashions. The screen play by George Wells, works well in the beginning of the movie.

The idea of bringing together these two different people had already been done, especially as vehicles for Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. The allure here lies on the stars. Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall made an excellent couple.

Lauren Bacall, at the height of her beauty, comes out best. She was a fine comedy actress who had a sense of style and timing. In portraying Marilla, Ms. Bacall offers a side of her that hadn't been tapped before, having been seen in heavier roles. This movie seems to have been tailor made for her.

As the sports writer, Gregory Peck, plays comedy, which was not his forte. At times, he appears wooden, but it probably was the direction from Mr. Minnelli, who wanted to show the big contrast between the lovers. Mr. Peck's Mike Hagan is completely different from his role in "Roman Holiday", but he carries it off and shows he was having a great time playing this sports reporter.

Dolores Gray, as Lori Shannon, has a few good moments playing the woman that is dumped by her steady boyfriend. There are a lot of familiar faces in the cast. Sam Levene, Tom Helmore, Mickey Shaugnessy, Jesse White, Chuck Connors, Edward Platt and Jack Cole, who plays the part of the Broadway choreographer that makes a statement of not being gay, when everyone can see otherwise!