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IMDbPro

Two for the Seesaw

  • 1962
  • Approved
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Two for the Seesaw (1962)
Jerry Ryan is wandering aimlessly around New York, having given up his law career in Nebraska when his wife asked for a divorce. He meets up with Gittel Mosca, an impoverished dancer from Greenwich Village, and the two try to straighten out their lives together.
Play trailer2:07
1 Video
55 Photos
DramaRomance

Robert Wise directs Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in this spicy and poignant love story about a free-spirited Greenwich Village girl who hooks up with a brooding Nebraska lawyer. In HD... Read allRobert Wise directs Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in this spicy and poignant love story about a free-spirited Greenwich Village girl who hooks up with a brooding Nebraska lawyer. In HD.Robert Wise directs Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in this spicy and poignant love story about a free-spirited Greenwich Village girl who hooks up with a brooding Nebraska lawyer. In HD.

  • Director
    • Robert Wise
  • Writers
    • William Gibson
    • Isobel Lennart
  • Stars
    • Robert Mitchum
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Edmon Ryan
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • William Gibson
      • Isobel Lennart
    • Stars
      • Robert Mitchum
      • Shirley MacLaine
      • Edmon Ryan
    • 34User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:07
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos55

    Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)
    Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine in Two for the Seesaw (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Mitchum
    Robert Mitchum
    • Jerry Ryan
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Gittel Mosca
    Edmon Ryan
    Edmon Ryan
    • Frank Taubman
    Elisabeth Fraser
    Elisabeth Fraser
    • Sophie
    Eddie Firestone
    Eddie Firestone
    • Oscar
    Billy Gray
    • Mr. Jacoby
    Julie Allred
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Ken Berry
    Ken Berry
    • Larry - Mosca's Dance Teacher
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Borzage
    Bill Borzage
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Danny Borzage
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Colin Campbell
    Colin Campbell
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Shirley Cytron
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Cia Dave
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Enserro
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Fong
    • Chinese Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Richard George
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Gould
    Harold Gould
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Ann Morgan Guilbert
    Ann Morgan Guilbert
    • Molly - Dance Student's Mother
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • William Gibson
      • Isobel Lennart
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shirley MacLaine and Robert Mitchum began a love affair that lasted for years during the shooting of this film.
    • Goofs
      Gittle pours milk into a pan so she can make warm milk - but she only leaves it on stove for about five seconds.
    • Quotes

      Jerry Ryan: It's true. Half of me hasn't even been in this town.

      Gittel 'Mosca' Moscawitz: I tried Jake.

      Jerry Ryan: Of course.

      Gittel 'Mosca' Moscawitz: So we're both flops.

      Jerry Ryan: No. Not both of us. Not you. I've tried to make you over so you'd be more like me - like everyone, I guess. Stingy, holding back, guarding what we have because we've got so little. Everything you get, you give back double. No, you're not a flop. You're a gift, infant. Underneath that beautiful face there's a street brawler. But underneath that there's someone... that no one, nothing has ever dirtied. The way people were meant to be. That's what you are.

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      Second Chance
      Music by André Previn

      Lyrics by Dory Previn

      Sung by Jackie Cain (uncredited)

    User reviews34

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Surprisingly Great.
    I call this film surprisingly great not because I was shocked that Mitchum or MacLane delivered fine performances, it's surprisingly good because of everything else this film has... in addition to M&M's delicious performances. I had no idea what to expect before watching this, just the way I like it. Because then I get the 5-10 minute rule to takeover -- either I'm hooked or I'm not.

    Well it started right away. This thing was shot in B&W anamorphic, and shot beautifully. The opening shots drew me in for their wide angles and good framing and nice dramatic lighting(ie what normal people call a good mood setter)... noirish in some respects. And then it sucked me right in.

    Maybe because it started on the stage and the scenes were so long but the dialogue was so well crafted that you just had to pay attention.

    Maybe the fantastic real life portrayals by M&M - not straying nor betraying.

    But I found myself constantly wanting to talk some sense into Jerry and Gittel -- ah thats what cinema is -- the desire to find out how it ends. And what an ending it is... I'll leave it at that.

    I give it a 10 because it maybe is among the very best of this category - the "realistic character dialogue romance featuring two very odd strangers (think Stewart and Novak in Vertigo)". Shot well, acted well... kept me glued to the end. I give it 10 and not 9 because well, without spoiling it -- they didn't go where they could have gone. And I think that most audiences won't understand that final point once they see it. Thats a shame. But those who understand will agree - brilliance all around.

    10 from me. And thats saying a HELLUVA lot.
    helpful•49
    4
    • FlickersRULE
    • Oct 6, 2005

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    FAQ1

    • Elizabeth Taylor---Was She Suppose to Star in "Seesaw"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 24, 1962 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Spiel zu zweit
    • Filming locations
      • 149 W 4th St, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(Peacock Restaurant exterior)
    • Production companies
      • Argyle Productions
      • Seesaw Productions
      • Talbot Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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