A Guide for the Married Man (1967)

A man gives his co-worker a series of lessons on how to cheat on one's wife without being caught.

Director:

Gene Kelly

Writers:

Frank Tarloff (book), Frank Tarloff (screenplay)

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Inger Stevens, Sue Ane Langdon

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Matthau	...	Paul Manning
Inger Stevens	...	Ruth Manning
Sue Ane Langdon	...	Mrs. Irma Johnson
Jackie Russell	...	Miss Harris, Manning's Secretary
Robert Morse	...	Edward L. 'Ed' Stander
Aline Towne	...	Mousey Man's Wife
Claire Kelly	...	Harriet Stander
Eve Brent	...	Joe X's Blowsy Blonde
Marvin Brody	...	Taxi Driver
Majel Barrett	...	Mrs. Fred V.
Marian Mason	...	Mrs. Rance G.
Tommy Farrell	...	Rance G.'s Hanger On
Linda Harrison	...	Miss Stardust, Rance's New Girl
Jason Wingreen	...	Harry 'Big Fella' Johnson
Pat Becker	...	Party Guest

Storyline

Ed convinces his best friend Paul that he should fool around with other women in order to preserve his happy marriage. Ed illustrates his point with a series of vignettes acted out by a lot of famous celebrities. The joke of it all is that Paul is married to lovely Ruth!

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | farce | extramarital affair | liar | motel | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 May 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guía para el hombre casado

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The New York Times critic noted in his review of this film on May 27, 1967, that "? of all the witty demonstrations, one of the most amusing..." in the film was when Jayne Mansfield loses her bra in the home of Terry-Thomas. The sex symbol's two-minute cameo was shot under great personal distress, however. Filmed in mid-December, 1966, at the time, Zoltan Hargitay - Mansfield's youngest son with Mickey Hargitay - was recovering from spinal meningitis at Conjeo Valley Community Hospital, after undergoing brain surgery resulting from his being mauled by a lion in a freak accident at the Jungleland Park in Thousand Oaks, CA, on November 26, 1966. Zoltan spent exactly one month in the hospital, returning home to Jayne's "Pink Palace" on that year's Christmas morning. And though several Mansfield films would be released after her untimely death six months later, the scenes in this one were, as an actress, Jayne Mansfield's final moments before the professional movie cameras.

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Quotes

Paul Manning: [to wife] Well if you think I'm going to stick about here just watching you be cheerful you've got another think coming!

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Connections

Featured in Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003)

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Soundtracks

"A Guide For The Married Man"
Performed by The Turtles
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Music by John Williams

User Reviews

Male fantasies

Gene Kelly, who directed this film, was a man that understood clearly timing and movement, as his distinguished career demonstrates. Being behind the camera gives him the opportunity to have his players to put into practice some of his ideas and the result is a film that is a lot of fun and doesn't appear too dated.

What Mr. Kelly accomplished with this film was bringing together two charismatic performers at the top of their form. Walter Matthau had been seen in lots of supporting roles before, but as Paul Manning, the bored husband looking for ways of having fun on the side, he is wonderful. The same could be said about Robert Morse, who had been on the New York stage and in other movies. Mr. Morse makes a fantastic contribution with his take of Ed Stander, the man who knew about how to go after the women he wanted without regard of the consequences.

Ed Stander puts a bug in Paul Manning's brain about how to have fun away from home. The only thing is, Paul is a man with a normal marriage with an adoring wife, who would not even contemplate in reciprocating what he is trying to do if he follows Ed's advice.

The other amazing thing in the film is the different vignettes that are seen throughout the movie. Some of the best and most accomplished actors working in Hollywood have a small part in cameo appearances that illustrate points that Ed would like Paul to put into practice. This way we get to see actors of the caliber of Lucille Ball, Art Carney, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, Louis Nye, Jayne Mansfield, Phil Silvers, and others playing the dream-like sequences.

"A Guide for the Married Man" is a film worthy of our time since it takes us back to a more innocent period. Thanks to Mr. Kelly's inspired direction, the film will always be a favorite of mature fans.