Written by george axelrod and billy wilder, based on axelrods play. The film was cowritten and directed by billy wilder, and stars marilyn monroe and tom ewell, reprising his broadway role from the play. Eric tsang was an actor who had a successful hollywood career. When his family goes away for the summer, a hitherto faithful husband with an overactive imagination is tempted by a beautiful neighbor. Wilder, who was nominated for 21 oscars and won six, was the first man to win three for one film sunset boulevard, added the irving thalberg award for lifetime achievement, and when he was honored at a special academy gala in 1999, beamed down on the assembled crowd and sighed, these things are so boring. Watching with 60 years worth of hindsight, its clear that the seven year itch is about the sin of boredom, not lust. Reviewed in the united kingdom on february 17, 2012. Jun 03, 2015 this week marks the 60th anniversary of the seven year itch, billy wilders film adaptation of george axelrods play about a middleaged husbandleft alone for the summer while his wife and. An introverted businessman who doesnt get out much, willie ng raymond wong recently celebrated his seventh anniversary, but his marriage seems to be hitting a slump. Nonton film seven years itch 1987 comedy, hong kong. Fox would not accede on her new contract demands and insisted she return to start work on productions she considered inappropriate, such as the girl in pink tights which was never filmed, the.
It contains one of the most notable images of the 20th century monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress is blown. Hong kong after raymonds wife incorrectly suspects that hes having an affair with a singaporean jewel thief, she decides to have an affair herselfaccepting a gentleman admirers proposal for marriage. The seven year itch is a 1955 american romantic comedy film based on a threeact play with the same name by george axelrod. The seven year itch is a 1955 american romantic comedy film based on a 1952 threeact play with the same name by george axelrod. A huge stage hit in its day, the sevenyear itch is indelibly associated not with broadway but with marilyn monroe, who starred in the film version. The seven year itch is a nice featurette i am assuming aired on the amc cable channel. Tom ewell won the 1953 best actor tony for george axelrods comedy, the seven year itch.
Cinema style filemarilyn monroe in 1955s style essential. The seven year itch 1955 in summertime in manhattan, the plain and average richard sherman tom ewell sends his wife and son for vacation in the country. The seven year itch film locations beyond the office door. It is not the screenplay or directing that keep people watching this film. May 29, 2012 sadly, seven year itch is the only time that bass worked with director billy wilder. Reviews of the seven year itch the american century theater. Marilyn steps on a subway grate to cool down and her white skirt billows famously to her waist, giving her blissful costar tom ewell and the rest of us a glimpse of her. Unlike the movie, broadway audiences heard the inner thoughts of both ewell and the girl. The seven year itch is very much a product of 1950s hollywood. The seven year itch refers to the urge to be unfaithful after seven years of matrimony, with a desire to satisfy ones sexual urges itches. Interestingly, being made almost smack in the middle of the decade, the seven year itch appears to strike an aesthetic and ideological balance between the more traditional early years of the decade and the hipness of its later years.
The seven year itch may be famous for turning marilyn monroe into an icon as she posed over a subway grating, but as the new dvd release reveals, we. Even years ago this week, my first vows column appeared among the wedding announcements in the styles section. Nov 30, 2016 the seven year old who tried to kill his mother the oprah winfrey show oprah winfrey network duration. Tsangs early acting career consisted of roles in various films, such as the perfect wife 1983, women 1985 with cora miao and the comedy seven years itch 1987 with sylvia chang. Watching the movie, which was adapted from a broadway play, feels very much like watching a play with its static camera and sets that rarely venture out of the apartment.
I loved the seven year itch a great film marvellous performance from marilyn and the rest of the cast. Today, the expression invariably refers to the wish for a. I frequently discuss the importance of costume design and style to the longevity of classic film and the seven year itch is a prime example. The seven year itch like many other manhattan husbands, richard sherman sends his wife and son to the country for the summer, while he stays behind and revels in temporary bachelor freedom, a lifestyle that often causes him to overactive, overvivid his imagination. Together lemaire and particularly travilla accomplished something extraordinary in seven year itch. The seven year itch 1955 is a delightful, sophisticated and witty farce, using to the fullest extent the mordant humor of director billy wilder on the subject of sex.
One such use was for poison ivy, in the belief that the rash would recur every year for seven years. Choose just about any frame of this film, and youre looking at them undiluted. Toned down from its broadway origins thanks to the hollywood production code, the seven year itch 1955 still manages to be a good comedy, largely due to marilyn. Well, you know the rest, especially when marilyn monroe is the upstairs neighbor. Although hes always been faithful to his wife, the temptation of monroes blonde bombshell only known. Overview of seven years itch, 1987, directed by johnnie to, with sylvia chang, li chi, eric tsang, at turner classic movies. Jul 18, 2010 the seven year itch, which was initially considered impossible to film due to the subject nature, was rewritten by wilder and axelrod, and became a film about adulterated adultery. After completing work on the seven year itch in early 1955, she broke her contract and fled hollywood to study acting at the actors studio in new york. This is one of screen legend marilyn monroes most famous films. Cowritten and directed by billy wilder, this film starred actor tom ewell and one of the 20th centurys most famous sex symbols, model, actress and singer marylin monroe.
Through the relationship of pulp novelette executive, richard sherman tom ewell, and his voluptuous upstairs neighbor, who is referred to only as the girl marilyn monroe, wilders light hearted. When marilyn monroe leaves the screen, so does our interest. The 1955 comedy, the seven year itch, directed by billy wilder, is one of the most amusing sex farces ever filmed. Definition of the seven year itch in the idioms dictionary. Seven year itch is a series of retrospective essays that look at films released seven years ago to the month.
She plays the gorgeous upstairs neighbour of richard sherman, a hardworking publisher whose wife and son are away for the summer. Nonton drama serial entourage 2016 comedy, drama serial korea, korea. It has a glitzy opening and features clips from the film in addition to interviews, old clips and narration on how the film. The seven year itch may be famous for turning marilyn monroe into an icon as she posed over a subway grating, but as the new dvd release reveals, we only got a tiny glimpse of what we could have.
New york film locations from the movie the seven year itch starring marilyn monroe. The businessman in this film has been in a committed relationship with a woman for over seven years, and in all that time he hasnt dallied with anyone else. Also, centuries ago itch was a slang word for sexual desire. The seven year itch is a 1955 film about a so far faithful husband who is tempted by a beautiful neighbor when his family goes away for the summer. Billy wilders the seven year itch, a jazzy love song about the goofily lusty nearmiddleaged man, is a colorful and frothy midcentury treat. Living together for 7 years, raymond raymond wong has been faithful to sylvia sylvia cheng. The seven year itch film by wilder 1955 britannica.
The stripper film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Reprising his broadway role, tom ewell played richard sherman, a middleaged book editor whose wife and. Billy wilders 1955 film, the seven year itch, manages to capture a nation on the brink of a sexual revolution, a cultural uprising in consumerism, and the state of mainstream entertainment. The seven year itch letterboxd social film discovery. This page was last edited on 26 august 2019, at 22. Women werent given great roles, and so the prototypical dumb blonde gig that monroe gets here isnt all that surprising. The seven year itch 1955 in the midst of a summer heat wave, new yorker richard sherman tom ewell ships his wife, helen evelyn keyes, and their son off to maine for vacation. Seven years itch 1987 a business trip to singapore sets the stage for a married mans flirtation with a comely jewel thief. Marilyn monroe the seven year itch movie 8x10 picture. But he is eager to having an affair after being teased by his colleagues. Despite recent paranoia about becoming unfaithful he is reading a book his company is going to publish about a 7year itch.
The seven year itch appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2. With marilyn monroe, tom ewell, evelyn keyes, sonny tufts. And its not only thanks to her apotheosisofsexappeallook and to that particular scene thats become one of the most famous in film history marilyn standing. He also appeared in the karl maka comedy adventure the thirty million rush 1987. Directed by 1 writing credits 3 cast 33 produced by 3 music by 1 cinematography by 1 film editing by 1 art direction by 2 set decoration by 2 costume design by 1 makeup department 5 production management. Starring marilyn monroe in full, iconic glory, the comedy examines, with a wink and a smile, those things that threaten marriage or inadvertently make it stronger. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto. Starring tom ewell and marilyn monroe, and based on george axelrods play, the film takes a humorous look at the problems of a typical middleaged married man. The idea was, and still is, to tell the story behind one wedding each week, to report on everything from how the couple met to their first kiss to the exact shade of the brides dress which has occasionally been difficult to capture. As with the rest of the movies in the diamond collection, this one provided a strong viewing experience, with only a few minor concerns along the way. Movie buffs loved it wilder interviews roger ebert. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Willie himself is also eager for some action to break the monotony. Because of the social taboos of the time, everything has to be in the guys imagination. Hong kong after raymonds wife incorrectly suspects that hes having an affair with a singaporean jewel thief, she decides to have an affair herselfaccepting a gentleman admirers. Jul 20, 2015 chinese song from movie seven years itch. Left alone, the husband might do something he regrets, but under the. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The seven year itch is a cute, comedic romp but justifiably occupies a lower position in the canons of both billy wilder and marilyn monroe. On his business trip to singapore, he is being used by a charming girl, siu hung li chi to smuggle some stolen jewelry. The seven year itch, american comedy film, released in 1955, that was an adaptation of a hit broadway show of the same name and featured a memorable performance by marilyn monroe. Reprising his broadway role, tom ewell played richard sherman, a middleaged book editor whose wife and son are leaving. The seven year itch is a 1955 film based on a play written by george axelrod.
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