If a Man Answers (1962)

Director:

Henry Levin

Writers:

Richard Morris (writer)
Winifred Wolfe (novel)

Release Date:

10 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Rich socialite, Sandra Dee meets and marries photographer Bobby Darin and attempts to "train" him to be the perfect husband...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Photographer | Book | Dog | Model

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Sandra Dee	...	Chantal Stacy
Bobby Darin	...	Eugene Wright
Micheline Presle	...	Germaine Stacy
John Lund	...	John Stacy
Cesar Romero	...	Robert Swan / Adam Wright
Stefanie Powers	...	Tina
Christopher Knight	...	Richard
Ted Thorpe	...	Florist
Roger Bacon	...	Messenger
John Bleifer	...	Mr. Riordan, Tobacconist
Pamela Searle	...	Model
Warrene Ott	...	Rita
Dani Lynn	...	Bunny
Charlene Holt	...	Lisa, Model
Gloria Camacho	...	Model
Edmay Van Dyke	...	Model
Rosalee Calvert	...	Model
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Taxicab Driver (uncredited)
Gladys Thornton	...	Boston Maid (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Levin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Morris		writer
Winifred Wolfe		novel

Produced by
Ross Hunter	....	producer

Original Music by
Hans J. Salter

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Milton Carruth

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol

Costume Design by
Jean Louis		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Edward Muhl	....	executive in charge of production
Ernest B. Wehmeyer	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound
Frank H. Wilkinson	....	sound

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Frank Somper	....	furrier
Norman Stuart	....	dialogue coach
David Webb	....	jewels

Production Companies

• Ross Hunter Productions
• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Ross Hunter Productions

Quotes:

Germaine Stacy: Men develop appetites when they are twelve, muscles when they are sixteen, and principles only after they are married.

Movie Connections:

References Flower Drum Song (1961)

Soundtrack:

A True, True Love

Over the top, blatantly contrived silliness didn't work for me.

This movie didn't work for me on any level. The script is blatantly silly, corny, and contrived, with no pretensions of any kind of realism. Because of that you can't take it as a drama, and it's not funny enough for a comedy, so it's just amusing silliness. The overtly contrived, corny ending was just way too silly. Overall, this style of movie is over the top and therefore distasteful. It features explicit sexual references, a refreshing change from the Doris Day style goodie-goodie veneer that's really all sexual innuendo, but still falls flat having long since lost any shock value. Darin doesn't come across well, he just has no sizzle. Dee doesn't appeal to me, neither as cute, beautiful, funny, charming, nor talented. I like the wardrobe and the tiny waist. The chemistry between them didn't work for me. I didn't feel that they really liked or loved each other. Partly that's because of the ludicrous script and situations. The mom might have been OK but I couldn't get over the lame, almost not even there French accent. The script is crude, using obviously contrived devices to move so effortless among the plot points. They fall in love, marry, argue, and connive with the silliest motivations. The foghorn was ineffective and incomprehensible. Even on repeated play of the cartoon opening and pausing it to study and discuss it, I still feel that the meaning of the foghorn was not obvious enough. It might have been OK for then, but it's only good for nostalgia now.