The Seven Year Itch

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes, Sonny Tufts
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Comedy, Romance
1955

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A married man (Tom Ewell) sends his wife and child to Maine for the summer, to escape the hot New York City weather. While they are gone, be fantasizes about his new neighbor (Marilyn Monroe), as the two strike up a friendship.

Review:

Tim: This is a movie that is famous for delivering one of the most iconic movie images of all time. For that reason, it is instantly recognizable. However, I feel like this movie is just a bit overrated. Make no mistake, this is a good movie. However, one scene or one image doesn't make a great movie. This film does a great deal right, but it could have been better, too. I would say that this is a good movie whose reputation has been helped over the years because of that one famous scene.

The scene I refer to, is, of course, Marilyn Monroe's dress being blown upwards by the passing subway car below her. It is a perfect embodiment of the mid 1950s- it is quite tame by today's standards, but stands out because of its innuendo. It is just sexy enough to get people's minds turning, which is pretty much a summation of Monroe's task in this film. For whatever reason, this scene- and Monroe's dress- has entered the collective conscience, so this movie is worth seeing for that reason alone.

This movie is really about two people- first, Marilyn Monroe, and secondly, TOm Ewell. Ewell is the lens through which we see Monroe in all her sultry glory. He is the everyman we're supposed to relate to- torn between fidelity to his family, and the temptations of a younger woman. Most of the movie's laughs come as a result of Ewell and his crazy, over-the-top fantasies. Ewell is incredibly comfortable in the role, probably a result of his playing this role previously on stage. His comedic timing is perfect, and he does invite us in with his performance. I liked him. Monroe is actually more involved in this film than many of her others. She is expected to do the usual- look amazing and tempt the audience with her charisma. This can be summed up by her character- "The Girl"- she isn't even given a name. That sums up how this film treated her. However, she is also called upon to do more that just be a pretty face. She has a number of lines, and needed to be funny as well. Monroe mostly pulls this off- the chopsticks scene is a great example. While Monroe is enjoyable here, I can't help but believe her looks always come first, and her acting ability a distant second. Still, Ewell and Monroe work very well together.

This film's strength really comes from an interesting story, peppered with Ewell's crazy fantasies about what might happen, could happen, or should happen. While many of these are funny and entertaining, as the movie goes on, they begin to get tired and wear thin. The movie works on many levels, but it also feels as if it's being held together by the thinnest of threads. I kept expecting the film to completely fall apart. It doesn't, but it sure looks like it might.

The Seven Year Itch is a good movie, a entertaining comedy with a touch of immoral romance. I don't believe this is a great movie, partially because it gets tiresome the longer it goes on, partially for Monroe needing to give a more convincing performance, and partially because the scenes are mostly good, but none ever achieve even the faintest bit of greatness. Still, this film has a place in the history of Hollywood, and so, for that reason, this is a must- see.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Some Like it Hot, Let's Make Love, Bus Stop, All About Eve, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes