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IMDbPro

The Mating Game

  • 19591959
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
The Mating Game (1959)
An uptight IRS agent is ordered to investigate a rural family in debt to the government...but the family - including lovely daughter Mariette - help him loosen up.
Play trailer2:26
1 Video
20 Photos
ComedyRomance
An uptight IRS agent is ordered to investigate a rural family in debt to the government...but the family - including lovely daughter Mariette - help him loosen up.An uptight IRS agent is ordered to investigate a rural family in debt to the government...but the family - including lovely daughter Mariette - help him loosen up.An uptight IRS agent is ordered to investigate a rural family in debt to the government...but the family - including lovely daughter Mariette - help him loosen up.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
    • George Marshall
    • William Roberts(screen play by)
    • H.E. Bates(based on the novel "The Darling Buds of May" by)
  • Stars
    • Debbie Reynolds
    • Tony Randall
    • Paul Douglas
    • George Marshall
    • William Roberts(screen play by)
    • H.E. Bates(based on the novel "The Darling Buds of May" by)
  • Stars
    • Debbie Reynolds
    • Tony Randall
    • Paul Douglas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch Trailer

    Photos20

    Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)
    Donald Losby and Rickey Murray in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds, Paul Douglas, and Una Merkel in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds, Paul Douglas, Rickey Murray, and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)
    Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall in The Mating Game (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Debbie Reynolds
    Debbie Reynolds
    • Mariette Larkin
    Tony Randall
    Tony Randall
    • Lorenzo Charlton
    Paul Douglas
    Paul Douglas
    • Pop Larkin
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • Oliver Kelsey
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Ma Larkin
    Philip Ober
    Philip Ober
    • Wendell Burnshaw
    Philip Coolidge
    Philip Coolidge
    • Rev. Osgood
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Inspector General Bigelow
    Trevor Bardette
    Trevor Bardette
    • Chief Guthrie
    William Smith
    William Smith
    • Barney
    • (as Bill Smith)
    Addison Powell
    Addison Powell
    • DeGroot
    Rickey Murray
    • Lee Larkin
    Donald Losby
    • Grant Larkin
    Cheryl Bailey
    • Victoria Larkin
    Caryl Bailey
    • Susan Larkin
    Robert Carson
    Robert Carson
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Gordon Carveth
    Gordon Carveth
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Gene Coogan
    Gene Coogan
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
      • George Marshall
      • William Roberts(screen play by)
      • H.E. Bates(based on the novel "The Darling Buds of May" by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Paul Douglas' last film. He died of a heart attack in 1959, the same year the movie was made. He was born in 1907, making him 52 when he made this film. He had been offered a starring role in Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960), but the role was given to Fred MacMurray after Douglas passed away.
    • Goofs
      During the opening scene and the aerial view of the Larkin Farm, Lorenzo's car is seen in the yard. Lorenzo doesn't arrive until later.
    • Quotes

      Mariette Larkin: You were born suspicious! I'll bet you made the doctor show his license before you let him slap your behind!

    • Connections
      Features High School Confidential! (1958)
    • Soundtracks
      The Mating Game
      Music by Charles Strouse

      Lyrics by Lee Adams

      Performed by Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)

      [Title song performed during the opening titles and credits]

    User reviews31

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Taxes, romance, neighborliness and greed make a fun film
    In the 1950s and 1960s, Americans especially were more concerned about taxes than at any other time. At least, that's what Hollywood might lead one to believe, based on the number of films it turned out in those years with tax-related themes. Of course, we should be concerned about taxes. But, comedies such as "The Mating Game" helped put taxes into perspective. Toss in doses of romance, good-naturedness, neighborliness, friendships, and resentment and greedy wealth, and one has the makings of an entertaining and funny movie.

    This film is an American version of the Larkin family. It's based on a 1958 short novel, "The Darling Buds of May," by British author H.E. (Herbert) Bates. In the book, the Larkins reside in rural Kent, the southeastern most county in England. Canterbury is located there. Yorkshire Television produced a TV series that ran from 1991 through 1993 in England under the original name of the book. This American adaptation made significant changes, mostly to accommodate for the culture differences. So, the setting here is in rural western Maryland. Apparently it was all shot in the MGM studios in California.

    All the cast are excellent in this farcical story. Another reviewer thought Tony Randall was miscast as Lorenzo Charlton, but I agree with others who saw him as the perfect reticent and reluctant object of romance for Debbie Reynolds' Mariette Larkin. The two ogres in this film are played by Fred Clark (as Oliver Kelsey) and Philip Ober (as Wendell Burnshaw). They were a couple of the best character actor villains in those days. The chasing scenes involving Mariette are a lot of fun, and the exchanges with Lorenzo over taxes are very funny. But two actors stand out – Paul Douglas and Una Merkel as Pop and Ma Larkin. They steal every scene in which they appear.

    This was indeed a fine performance by Douglas, who often played tough guy roles or serious parts in films. It was his last film. Douglas died a few months after this film came out. He suffered a heart attack at age 52.

    People who want all the details of movies to make sense or to be realistic may not enjoy this film. But those who love comedy will get many smiles and laughs from "The Mating Game."
    helpful•10
    1
    • SimonJack
    • Dec 1, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 1959 (Finland)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 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

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 36 minutes

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