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 Broderick
Lauren Bacall	...	Sylvia Broderick
Mel Ferrer	...	Rudy De Meyer
Fran Jeffries	...	Gretchen
Leslie Parrish	...	Susan
Edward Everett Horton	...	The Chief
Larry Storch	...	Motorcycle Cop
Stubby Kaye	...	Helen's Cabbie
Howard St. John	...	George 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 | sex comedy | tabloid | psychologist | 

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Taglines:

Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Henry Fonda, Lauren Bacall and Mel Ferrer bring you the world's greatest example of dedicated do-it-yourself!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tollbooth gag got a big laugh from audiences in New York and Chicago, where veteran commuters develop the skill to hit the toll basket while throwing with their left hand and at the maximum speed possible.

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Goofs

None of the cabs have meters in them.

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Quotes

Bob Weston: Gretchen, let me ask you something. If you were as pure as the driven snow...
Gretchen: Honey, I can't remember that far back.

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Connections

Referenced in Archie Bunker's Place: Sex and the Single Parent (1982)

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Soundtracks

Anniversary Song
Music based on "Valurile Dunarii (Danube Waves)" by Iosif Ivanovici
Music adapted by Saul Chaplin
Lyrics by Saul Chaplin and Al Jolson
Sung by Fran Jeffries, with Count Basie and His Orchestra

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.

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