The Opposite Sex (1956)

Shortly after their tenth wedding anniversary, New York theater producer Steven Hilliard and his wife, former popular radio singer Kay Hilliard née Ashley, are getting a Kay-initiated Reno ... See full summary »

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Fay Kanin (screenplay), Michael Kanin (screenplay)

Stars:

June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
June Allyson	...	Kay Ashley Hilliard
Joan Collins	...	Crystal Allen
Dolores Gray	...	Sylvia Fowler
Ann Sheridan	...	Amanda Penrose
Ann Miller	...	Gloria Dahl
Leslie Nielsen	...	Steve Hilliard
Jeff Richards	...	Buck Winston
Agnes Moorehead	...	Countess de 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

Storyline

Shortly after their tenth wedding anniversary, New York theater producer Steven Hilliard and his wife, former popular radio singer Kay Hilliard née Ashley, are getting a Kay-initiated Reno divorce after Kay finds out about a marital indiscretion he had with Crystal Allen, a gold digging chorus girl in one of his shows. News of the indiscretion made its way to Kay indirectly by her catty friend, Sylvia Fowler. In Kay getting the divorce, Kay's best friend, playwright Amanda Penrose believes Kay is playing right into the wants of Crystal, whose main goal is not to be happily married to Steven, but to get what such a marriage can bring to her in material wealth and comfort. Amanda does not believe Steven loves Crystal and that he still really does love Kay. And Kay does proceed with the divorce despite believing theirs was a happy and loving marriage before she learned of the indiscretion, and despite having an adolescent daughter, Debbie, to consider. But when Kay learns some ...

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Plot Keywords:

chorus line | stage show | reno nevada | remake | based on play | 

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Taglines:

LISTEN IN ON THE LOW-DOWN ON DAMES (WITH MUSIC!) (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 1957 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

El sexo opuesto

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,834,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$6,016,800

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Perspecta Stereo (as Perspecta Sound) 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jo Ann Greer provides the singing voice for June Allyson on the ballad "A Perfect Love," possibly the only time in Allyson's career that she was ever dubbed.

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Goofs

When Kay shakes her hands in the air when she says, "I've had a whole year to grow claws, Lexie! Jungle Red!", she's wearing clear nail polish. In the next scene, at the nightclub, she has on red nail polish.

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Quotes

Gloria Dell: You know, Kay, my trouble was I couldn't swim home like you. I barely managed to save my honor, such as it is.
Countess de Brion: How?
Gloria Dell: Well, I told him I was a promised to another man, after my divorce was final, of course.
Kay Hilliard: And that stopped him?
Gloria Dell: Well, he's a westerner, ma'am, and they have their code with holsters and women.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: Manhattan Island ... A body of land consisting of four million square males-completely surrounded by women.

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Connections

Referenced in Designing Woman (1957)

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Soundtracks

A Perfect Love
(uncredited)
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed by June Allyson, dubbed by Jo Ann Greer

User Reviews

"This is 5th Avenue...where women who can't afford to shop here come to watch women who can!"

Remakes are usually a bad idea. Musical remakes are usually a VERY bad idea. Case in point: "The Women," in its original 1939 form, is a certified classic of brittle bitchiness and acidic wit. Moreover, it also happens to be very, very funny. "The Opposite Sex," its 1956 Technicolor incarnation, is witless and brainless, and also happens to be very, very funny--unintentionally. Mistake number one was remaking such a lauded film in the first place; mistake number two was adding men to the cast (the original was entirely female--down to the authors of the books in library scenes); and mistake number three was including ludicrous song and dance numbers. Mistakes number four and five, respectively, are June Allyson and Joan Collins, subbing for Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Allyson's wholesome persona actually isn't too bad for the role, but she can't act her way out of a paper bag. Collins, on the other hand, is glorious to look at, but has none of the bite and venom that Crawford brought to the table (obviously, by the time "Dynasty" came along, Collins had learned her lessons well). Ann Miller pinch hits for Paulette Goddard, and is her usual sassy self; but why is she not dancing in this so-called musical? The divine Dolores Gray comes off best as the catty Sylvia; where Rosalind Russell played her as a shrieking harpy, Dolores prefers a silkier approach. If she doesn't approach the virtuosity of Russell's performance, Gray at least injects some sorely-needed sophisticated bitchery to the proceedings. Finally, there's the ever-dependable Joan Blondell (although the fact that post-menopausal Blondell is supposed to be constantly pregnant tests one's suspension of disbelief) and an incredibly butch-looking Ann Sheridan, several years past her "Tobacco Road" prime. Really, there are two prime reasons to watch this mess: the insanely phallic calypso musical extravaganza, and the gloriously gaudy fashion show that the ladies put on for nearly 2 dizzying hours. Those looking for Clare Booth Luce's marvelous wit, look elsewhere. For those looking for glamorous, campy entertainment with no thought required--pop this baby in.