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The Seven Year Itch
1955
When his family goes away for the summer, a so far faithful husband is tempted by a beautiful neighbor (Marilyn Monroe). Read more
| Starring | Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes, Sonny Tufts |
|---|---|
| Director | Billy Wilder |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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One of the great moments from this film, when Marilyn Monroe lets the updraft from a subway ventilation shaft lift her skirt, has passed into movie legend; true cineastes will delight in noting that the sequence is divided into two horizontal cuts, since the film was one of Fox's early CinemaScope productions, and director Billy Wilder made it all look so seamless. If you haven't seen it before, you could well wonder what all the fuss was about, but in the more prudish 1950s this film, and the George Axelrod Broadway hit it was based on, were very risqué indeed, the title giving a catch phrase to the nation and a new insight into marriage. The film is still very funny, and beautifully played by Monroe and Tom Ewell (plus veteran Victor Moore as a plumber — don't ask!), but the attitudes have dated. Just make allowances for the period and enjoy yourself.
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An amusing theatrical joke, with dream sequences like revue sketches, is really all at sea on the big screen, especially as the affair remains unconsummated, but direction and performances keep the party going more or less.
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Strong comedy great
The draw of this film to first-time viewers, other than the ever-gorgeous Marilyn Monroe (obviously), should be the still-funny and often very dry humour.
Tom Ewell proves to be a smart casting move as the alone-for-the-summer husband looking for a bit of a tumble with the girl upstairs (Monroe). His attempts at seduction are laughable with the 'suave' act failing wonderfully - see the piano scene and cringe at the wannabe-sophisticated voice.
Marilyn's knack for comedy is often overlooked but is in strong evidence here, her TV-spot confession being a fine example.
Although The Seven Year Itch is not as laugh-out-loud funny as I had expected, it remains a solid classic, far better than most modern well-written comedies. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Very good comedy.
Not the best of Wilder's, though. Unfortunately Marilyn Monroe, despite of being perfect for the role, was never a magnificient actress, while Tom Ewell's good performance is only good, which is not bad, but he is not Jack Lemmon if we were to compare. Always a pleasure to see Marilyn with the underground vents, an icon in the history of cinema.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Adorable Monroe:
This is a great comedy, farce. Marilyn Monroe has an endearing ditzy quality, as the young girl, who unwittingly makes middle aged married man, Tom Ewell fall for her (not relly surprising, she is so damn good looking) Monroe and Ewell have great chemistry together on screen, which makes for many excellent comedy moments. I will admit I hired this film purely to see the classic Monroe over the airvent shot, but it is so much more than that, funny, kooky, sexy. Put it on your list now.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Very good comedy.
Not the best of Wilder's, though. Unfortunately Marilyn Monroe, despite of being perfect for the role, was never a magnificient actress, while Tom Ewell's good performance is only good, which is not bad, but he is not Jack Lemmon if we were to compare. Always a pleasure to see Marilyn with the underground vents, an icon in the history of cinema.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Adorable Monroe:
This is a great comedy, farce. Marilyn Monroe has an endearing ditzy quality, as the young girl, who unwittingly makes middle aged married man, Tom Ewell fall for her (not relly surprising, she is so damn good looking) Monroe and Ewell have great chemistry together on screen, which makes for many excellent comedy moments. I will admit I hired this film purely to see the classic Monroe over the airvent shot, but it is so much more than that, funny, kooky, sexy. Put it on your list now.
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Strong comedy great
The draw of this film to first-time viewers, other than the ever-gorgeous Marilyn Monroe (obviously), should be the still-funny and often very dry humour.
Tom Ewell proves to be a smart casting move as the alone-for-the-summer husband looking for a bit of a tumble with the girl upstairs (Monroe). His attempts at seduction are laughable with the 'suave' act failing wonderfully - see the piano scene and cringe at the wannabe-sophisticated voice.
Marilyn's knack for comedy is often overlooked but is in strong evidence here, her TV-spot confession being a fine example.
Although The Seven Year Itch is not as laugh-out-loud funny as I had expected, it remains a solid classic, far better than most modern well-written comedies. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Very good comedy.
Not the best of Wilder's, though. Unfortunately Marilyn Monroe, despite of being perfect for the role, was never a magnificient actress, while Tom Ewell's good performance is only good, which is not bad, but he is not Jack Lemmon if we were to compare. Always a pleasure to see Marilyn with the underground vents, an icon in the history of cinema.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Adorable Monroe:
This is a great comedy, farce. Marilyn Monroe has an endearing ditzy quality, as the young girl, who unwittingly makes middle aged married man, Tom Ewell fall for her (not relly surprising, she is so damn good looking) Monroe and Ewell have great chemistry together on screen, which makes for many excellent comedy moments. I will admit I hired this film purely to see the classic Monroe over the airvent shot, but it is so much more than that, funny, kooky, sexy. Put it on your list now.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Another of Howard Hawks' screwball style comedies!
First, I'll make it clear that this film is "Monkey Business" and is disc 10 from the fine Monroe collection.
It's not a film full of Marilyn, but she makes a fine performance alongside the wonderful Cary Grant. This is very period stuff and has the hallmarks of the comedic Howard Hawks all over it. Whilst it's no Bringing Up Baby or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, it has its charm, despite its outdated use of chimps in clothes (this is what I mean about being "of the period") and lighthearted attitude to the use of animals in laboratories! But even if the real life version of that is against your politics, if you like the humorous B&W films that Monroe & Grant and others made around this time, you'll be sure to like this.
A lighthearted comedy with funny one-liners, gorgeous clothes and glamorous stars! -
First rate viewing for almost any occasion
An excellent film portraying Monroe’s often underrated comic abilities. A farcical comedy based around a psychological condition known as the seven-year-itch; an affliction that causes men to stray seven years into marriage. Following Monroe moving into the upstairs apartment our hero, played by Tom Ewell, finds his attempts to remain true increasingly difficult. Monroe combines both accomplished acting and dazzling beauty into one of her best performances, second only to the also exemplary ‘Some like it hot’. Highly recommend.
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Lovely Sunday afternoon film
If you're wanting to rent this film, it's probably because you love Marilyn and you won't be disappointed as this film showcases her considerable comic talents.
It's showing it's age a little bit (especially the housewives traipsing off to the coast trusting their husbands to cope on their own) but the gags haven't aged at all and the dialogue is still witty and thought-provoking.
I'll end by saying I watched it with someone who wasn't too fussed about seeing it and they loved it. -
Dull
Based on the other reviews I had high hopes for this movie. I found it very slow and gave up after less than 1/2 hour. My flat mate started reading the paper! Very disappointing.
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Seven Year Itch
I'm a big Marilyn Monroe fan.
As far as I'm concerned, she always worth watching. -
Disappointed
One of my favourite films is Some Like it Hot, so I thought this would be another great Monroe film. But I was disappointed. I think its just that this story has not stood the test of time. It is so out of date and Monroe's character is annoyingly dumb. But for die hard Monroe fans I would give it a go, as she is just so beautiful and that is about the only good thing about this movie!
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i think this film could have been a lot better, marilyn shone but overall it was slightly dull.
Critics' reviews (2)
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One of the great moments from this film, when Marilyn Monroe lets the updraft from a subway ventilation shaft lift her skirt, has passed into movie legend; true cineastes will delight in noting that the sequence is divided into two horizontal cuts, since the film was one of Fox's early CinemaScope productions, and director Billy Wilder made it all look so seamless. If you haven't seen it before, you could well wonder what all the fuss was about, but in the more prudish 1950s this film, and the George Axelrod Broadway hit it was based on, were very risqué indeed, the title giving a catch phrase to the nation and a new insight into marriage. The film is still very funny, and beautifully played by Monroe and Tom Ewell (plus veteran Victor Moore as a plumber — don't ask!), but the attitudes have dated. Just make allowances for the period and enjoy yourself.
-
An amusing theatrical joke, with dream sequences like revue sketches, is really all at sea on the big screen, especially as the affair remains unconsummated, but direction and performances keep the party going more or less.
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
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- The Seven Year Itch
- DVD: £4.93
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When his family goes away for the summer, a so far faithful husband is tempted by a beautiful neighbor (Marilyn Monroe).... -
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