Sex and the Single Girl (1964)

A womanizing reporter for a sleazy tabloid magazine impersonates his hen-pecked neighbor in order to get an expose on renowned psychologist Helen Gurley Brown.

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

Helen Gurley Brown (book), Joseph Heller (screenplay)

Stars:

Lauren Bacall, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Curtis	...	Bob Weston
Natalie Wood	...	Helen Brown
Henry Fonda	...	Frank
Lauren Bacall	...	Sylvia
Mel Ferrer	...	Rudy
Fran Jeffries	...	Gretchen
Leslie Parrish	...	Susan
Edward Everett Horton	...	The Chief
Larry Storch	...	Motorcycle Cop
Stubby Kaye	...	Helen's Cabbie
Howard St. John	...	Randall
Otto Kruger	...	Dr. Anderson
Max Showalter	...	Holmes
William Lanteau	...	Sylvester
Helen Kleeb	...	Hilda

Storyline

Using Helen Gurley Brown's book as a jump off point, we follow the adventures of a supermarket tabloid editor as he tries to parlay an interview with the author of the book into headlines and sales. Of course, a romantic entanglement ensues.

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Plot Keywords:

extramarital affair | f rated | tabloid | psychologist | jealous wife | 

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Taglines:

She wrote the book on love!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

...und ledige Mädchen

Filming Locations:

Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fernwood Productions Inc., Reynard

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 114 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Character actress Cheerio Meredith, who played the old lady in the antique car driven by Burt Mustin, died the day of the film's premiere.

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Goofs

When everyone arrives at the airport, the green taxi pulls in behind Henry Fonds's convertible, which pulls up to the front of the yellow taxi. Moments later, the taxi driver arrives on the motorcycle. He hits the back of the taxi and flies over it, but the other cars are not there.

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Quotes

Bob Weston: I've got an idea for a follow-up on that kid, that Dr. Helen Brown, that'll blast every other magazine right off the news stands! It's a personal exposé right from her own lips! Does she or doesn't she? Either way it's a crummy story.

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Connections

Referenced in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Hex and the Single Guy (1993)

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Soundtracks

What Is This Thing Called Love?
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung by Fran Jeffries, with Count Basie and His Orchestra
Briefly reprised by Lauren Bacall

User Reviews

One of the great comedies of the 60's

Like it's literary namesake, this film is a campy relic from the dawn of the sexual revolution. However unlike the aforementioned book, this film is a whole lot of fun! Natalie Wood manages to hit her stride, squeezing the maximum humor from a deadpan delivery. Tony Curtis is smarmy, smug and loving it. Henry Fonda is having a ball, and Lauren Becall is the undisputed queen of droll comedy.

These performances are the highlights of a sophisticated romp, early 60's LA style. Mel Fererr's martini dance should be an inspiration to lounge swingers everywhere. From the cartoon credits, to the Sexy Sox showroom, to the hilarious freeway chase scene, it's all winking nodding blur of couches, crewcuts and cocktails. Great fun viewing for single girls and guys.