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:

Sex and the Single Girl

Filming Locations:

Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,490

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

Following Audrey Hepburn's success in My Fair Lady (1964), Warner Bros. reportedly tried to sign her to a multi-picture deal that would have included the starring role in this film.

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Goofs

When Frank is released from jail, a black, 1959 Cadallic convertible passes him on the street as he is hailing a cab. Sylvia comes out of the police station seconds later, and as she stands on the same mark Frank was standing on, the same black, '59 Cadallic convertible passes her.

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Quotes

Helen Gurley Brown: I didn't ask them to write this, you know! Did you read what they called me?
Dr. A.L. Chickering: [reading from STOP magazine] "She should be ashamed and millions of women should be ashamed for bringing their intimate problems to someone with all the knowledge and personal experience of a 23 year old - "
Helen Gurley Brown: Stop! Don't you say it. The nerve of them. The gall! To call me - Dr. Helen Gurley Brown - a 23 year old - virgin!
Rudy: Traditionally, Helen, the term is considered a compliment.
Helen Gurley Brown: Well, not by me!

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Connections

Referenced in 3rd Rock from the Sun: Sex and the Sally (1999)

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Soundtracks

Sex And The Single Girl
by Neal Hefti and Richard Quine
Title song sung by Fran Jeffries

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.