Strange Bedfellows (1965)

Carter meets Toni and impulsively marries her to find that they disagree on everything. They separate and seven years later on the eve before their divorce they meet again and spend the night together.

Director:

Melvin Frank

Writers:

Norman Panama (story), Melvin Frank (story)

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Gig Young

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rock Hudson	...	Carter Harrison
Gina Lollobrigida	...	Toni Vincente
Gig Young	...	Richard Bramwell
Edward Judd	...	Harry Jones
Howard St. John	...	Julius L. Stevens
Dave King	...	Toni's Taxi Driver
Peggy Rea	...	Mavis Masters
Joseph Sirola	...	Petracini
Nancy Kulp	...	Aggressive Woman
Lucy Landau	...	Jolly Woman
Bernard Fox	...	Policeman
Edith Atwater	...	Mrs. Stevens
James McCallion	...	Old Man
Hedley Mattingly	...	Bagshott
John Orchard	...	Radio Dispatcher

Storyline

In London, stuffy statesman Carter Harrison meets Toni, a Bohemian artist with a hot Italian temper. The two impulsively marry and then find that they disagree on everything. Shortly afterward they separate. We then meet them seven years later on the eve before their divorce becomes final. After seeing each other again, sparks are reignited and they spend the night together. Reality sets in when morning comes and they begin arguing again. Once again, divorce proceedings are on, until Carter that an important promotion hinges on whether he's married. He schemes to win back Toni and eventually succeeds. But can he keep her from destroying his career by posing as Lady Godiva in a protest movement?

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | artist | protest | bohemian | lighter | 

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Taglines:

It's Love Italian Style...With a Hilarious American Twist!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Quotes

Richard Bramwell: Well you know the mentality of that Board, they're hooked on the idea of corporate image; solid American gentry, family respectability. For their top executives there are not Ten Commandments, only one: thou shalt be married - happily and respectably married...
Carter Harrison: ...Whether you like it or not
Richard Bramwell: That's right!
Carter Harrison: Well I've done just fine, these past seven years, happily and respectably, separated. And I've loved every minute of it
Richard Bramwell: Yeah, well, that's all gonna change. From now on you're going to have a new ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in iZombie: Abra Cadaver (2015)

User Reviews

The cinematic equivalent of pudding

Witless farce from the usually-estimable comedy writer Melvin Frank, who also produced and directed, stars Rock Hudson as an American oil company executive in London, married but estranged from fiery Gina Lollobrigida for the past seven years, who must present a happily-united front for the company's general (why? so it'll "look good"). When Rock first meets Gina, she's an artist painting protest slogans on signs and walls--but the movie is so bashful, her signs are always half-finished so we won't know what she's protesting against. They marry immediately (presumably so they can have sex without guilt), but the next morning find they have nothing in common. Frank, who co-authored the screenplay with Michael Pertwee from a rather old-fashioned story he originated with Norman Panama, substitutes shouting for snap--and Lollobrigida does must of the shouting. Hudson tries to keep up with her, but his colorless brand of acting assures that he'll blend in with the furniture and nothing more. Atrociously shot by cinematographer Leo Tover, with the phony backdrops and scrappy rear-projection upstaging even Gina Lollobrigida in a variety of 'kooky' outfits. * from ****

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Etranges compagnons de lit

Filming Locations:

Little Europe, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fernwood Productions Inc., Franic Production, Panama Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1