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The Opposite Sex

  • 19561956
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Leslie Nielsen, June Allyson, Joan Blondell, Joan Collins, Agnes Moorehead, Dolores Gray, Sam Levene, Ann Miller, and Ann Sheridan in The Opposite Sex (1956)
Kay Hilliard (June Allyson), a former nightclub singer, married ten years and mother of a young daughter, is informed that her husband Steven (Leslie Nielsen) is having an affair with chorus girl Crystal Allen (Dame Joan Collins), so she goes to Reno for a divorce. After that, Steven marries Crystal, but Crystal isn't true. When Kay hears about this, she starts fighting to win her ex-husband back.
Play trailer3:43
1 Video
35 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Musical
  • Romance

Shortly after their 10th wedding anniversary, New York City theater producer Steven Hilliard (Leslie Nielsen) and his wife, former popular radio singer Kay Ashley Hilliard (June Allyson), ar... Read allShortly after their 10th wedding anniversary, New York City theater producer Steven Hilliard (Leslie Nielsen) and his wife, former popular radio singer Kay Ashley Hilliard (June Allyson), are getting a Kay-initiated Reno divorce after Kay finds out about a marital indiscretion he... Read allShortly after their 10th wedding anniversary, New York City theater producer Steven Hilliard (Leslie Nielsen) and his wife, former popular radio singer Kay Ashley Hilliard (June Allyson), are getting a Kay-initiated Reno divorce after Kay finds out about a marital indiscretion he had with Crystal Allen (Dame Joan Collins), a gold-digging chorus girl in one of his show... Read all

IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Miller
  • Writers
    • Fay Kanin(screenplay)
    • Michael Kanin(screenplay)
    • Clare Boothe Luce(adapted from a play by)
  • Stars
    • June Allyson
    • Joan Collins
    • Dolores Gray
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Miller
  • Writers
    • Fay Kanin(screenplay)
    • Michael Kanin(screenplay)
    • Clare Boothe Luce(adapted from a play by)
  • Stars
    • June Allyson
    • Joan Collins
    • Dolores Gray
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 60User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 3:43
    Theatrical Trailer

    Photos35

    Joan Collins in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    June Allyson, Joan Collins, Barrie Chase, and Carolyn Jones in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    June Allyson, Jack Dodds, Casse Jaeger, Frank Radcliffe, and Marc Wilder in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    June Allyson and Casse Jaeger in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Jerry Antes, Barrie Chase, Helen Jay, and Ellen Ray in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Alice Pearce in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Sandy Descher in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Dick Shawn in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Dolores Gray and Alice Pearce in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    June Allyson, Agnes Moorehead, Janet Lake, Ann Miller, and Jeff Richards in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Bess Flowers, Mary Alan Hokanson, Hans Moebus, Ann Sheridan, and Murray Pollack in The Opposite Sex (1956)
    Leslie Nielsen, Joan Collins, and Dolores Gray in The Opposite Sex (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    June Allyson
    June Allyson
    • Kay Ashley Hilliardas Kay Ashley Hilliard
    Joan Collins
    Joan Collins
    • Crystal Allenas Crystal Allen
    Dolores Gray
    Dolores Gray
    • Sylvia Fowleras Sylvia Fowler
    Ann Sheridan
    Ann Sheridan
    • Amanda Penroseas Amanda Penrose
    Ann Miller
    Ann Miller
    • Gloria Dahlas Gloria Dahl
    Leslie Nielsen
    Leslie Nielsen
    • Steve Hilliardas Steve Hilliard
    Jeff Richards
    Jeff Richards
    • Buck Winstonas Buck Winston
    Agnes Moorehead
    Agnes Moorehead
    • Countess de Brionas Countess de Brion
    Charlotte Greenwood
    Charlotte Greenwood
    • Lucyas Lucy
    Joan Blondell
    Joan Blondell
    • Edith Potteras Edith Potter
    Sam Levene
    Sam Levene
    • Mike Pearlas Mike Pearl
    Bill Goodwin
    Bill Goodwin
    • Howard Fowleras Howard Fowler
    Alice Pearce
    Alice Pearce
    • Olgaas Olga
    Barbara Jo Allen
    Barbara Jo Allen
    • Dolly DeHavenas Dolly DeHaven
    Sandy Descher
    Sandy Descher
    • Debbie Hilliardas Debbie Hilliard
    Carolyn Jones
    Carolyn Jones
    • Patas Pat
    Jerry Antes
    Jerry Antes
    • Leading Male Dancer - Banana Numberas Leading Male Dancer - Banana Number
    Alan Marshal
    Alan Marshal
    • Tedas Ted
    • Director
      • David Miller
    • Writers
      • Fay Kanin(screenplay)
      • Michael Kanin(screenplay)
      • Clare Boothe Luce(adapted from a play by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Shortly after their 10th wedding anniversary, New York City theater producer Steven Hilliard (Leslie Nielsen) and his wife, former popular radio singer Kay Ashley Hilliard (June Allyson), are getting a Kay-initiated Reno divorce after Kay finds out about a marital indiscretion he had with Crystal Allen (Dame Joan Collins), 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 (Dolores Gray). In getting the divorce, Kay's best friend, playwright Amanda Penrose (Ann Sheridan), 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 her in material wealth and comfort. Amanda does not believe Steven loves Crystal and that he still really loves Kay. Kay proceeds with the divorce despite believing they'd had a happy, loving marriage before she learned of the indiscretion, and despite having adolescent daughter Debbie (Sandy Descher) to consider. But when Kay learns information of the goings-on within her social circle, she decides to take back control of her married status while exacting some revenge. —Huggo
    • chorus line
    • stage show
    • reno nevada
    • remake
    • based on play
    • 37 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • FAST, FRANK, FUNNY! (original print ad - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Musical
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the second Mrs. Dick Powell (Joan Blondell) was no fan of the third Mrs. Powell (June Allyson), she asked her daughter (and Allyson's stepdaughter) Ellen Powell to speak to Allyson about a role in this movie. It was Blondell's return to movies after a five-year absence, and despite the rather difficult history involving the two Mrs. Powells, all went reasonably smoothly.
    • Goofs
      In the 1945 sequences, June Allyson's hairstyle and clothing is strictly 1956.
    • Quotes

      Amanda Penrose: [to Kay] What do you think marriage is anyway? Something safe and comfortable you can take for granted? This is a rough world, Kay, and marriage has to live in it. It has to be won over and over again, as many times as necessary and against all challenges. And anyone who hasn't the guts to fight ought to have learned to live alone and like it a long time ago.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits: Manhattan Island ... A body of land consisting of four million square males-completely surrounded by women.
    • Connections
      Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: Joan Collins (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      The Opposite Sex
      (uncredited)

      Music by Nicholas Brodszky

      Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

      Performed over the opening credits by Dolores Gray

      Performed during "The Psychiatrist" musical sketch with Dick Shawn, Jim Backus,

      Joan Collins and Carolyn Jones

    User reviews60

    Review
    Top review
    "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.
    helpful•76
    15
    • TJBNYC
    • Jul 27, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 29, 1957 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das schwache Geschlecht
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,834,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Leslie Nielsen, June Allyson, Joan Blondell, Joan Collins, Agnes Moorehead, Dolores Gray, Sam Levene, Ann Miller, and Ann Sheridan in The Opposite Sex (1956)
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