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.

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

William Roberts (screenplay), H.E. Bates (novel)

Stars:

Debbie Reynolds, Tony Randall, Paul Douglas

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Debbie Reynolds	...	Mariette Larkin
Tony Randall	...	Lorenzo Charlton
Paul Douglas	...	Pop Larkin
Fred Clark	...	Oliver Kelsey
Una Merkel	...	Ma Larkin
Philip Ober	...	Wendell Burnshaw
Philip Coolidge	...	Rev. Osgood
Charles Lane	...	Inspector General Bigelow
Trevor Bardette	...	Chief Guthrie
William Smith	...	Barney (as Bill Smith)
Addison Powell	...	David DeGroot
Rickey Murray	...	Lee Larkin
Donald Losby	...	Grant Larkin
Cheryl Bailey	...	Victoria Larkin
Caryl Bailey	...	Susan Larkin

Storyline

Tax collector Lorenzo Charlton comes to the Larkins' farm to ask why Pop Larkins hasn't paid his back taxes. Charlton has to stay for a day to try to estimate the income from the farm, but it isn't easy to calculate when the farmer has such a lovely daughter, Mariette...

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Plot Keywords:

farm | tax collector | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

A racy, riotous new comedy hit!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Debbie Reynolds was 27 when this film was made, and Tony Randall was 39 - but his character states that he's 29 in one scene.

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Goofs

When Pop Larkin drives off to return the pig at the beginning of the film, the boom microphone is clearly reflected in the yellow truck's windshield.

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Quotes

Oliver Kelsey: What was that?
Wendell Burnshaw: My pig! Perfectly normal pig, until the Larkin's got ahold of him. Now, he's a nervous wreck!
Oliver Kelsey: What have they done to him?
Wendell Burnshaw: Corrupted him. Turned him into a howling sex maniac. If they can do it to my pig, they can do it your birddog.

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Connections

Features High School Confidential! (1958)

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Soundtracks

I've Got You Under My Skin
Written by Cole Porter
Performed by Tony Randall (uncredited)

User Reviews

Sexy, smart,, and wildly hysterical!

I saw this movie in 1959 when I was 11 years old at a drive-in theater with my family.

Way back then, I thought it was very funny . . . even though I was too young to understand 90% of what makes this marvelous movie such a delight! I saw it again this morning on "Turner South". As I watched it, I was absolutely convulsed with laughter! "The Mating Game" is a unique classic from a by-gone age. If you're too young to have experienced the enchanting period in history that produced this film, I feel very sorry for you. There's no way you can watch movies like this and understand how they can (even today) deliver such a delightful slice of heaven to "old timers" like me.

Having said that, all I can do is respectfully request that younger people refrain from commenting on films like "The Mating Game".

Movies like this were made for the generation that preceded the current group of your people. And as such, these films speak a very different language than any of you can understand.

In other words – if you don't understand the issues the film is addressing, please don't embarrass yourself by offering comments which – frankly – make no sense.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1959 (Austria)

Also Known As:

The Mating Game

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$876,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1