Movie Review Monday: The Seven Year Itch

That's right folks it is a Marilyn Movie Review Monday today! The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 comedy based off the Broadway play of the same names starring Marilyn Monroe as "The Girl" (yeah she doesn't get a name in the credits) and Tom Ewell as Richard Sherman. The story follows Tom's mild mannered Richard during the height of summer in New York City and his struggle to behave himself while his wife and kids were out of town. It was not uncommon for middle class and upper class wives and kids to be sent away from the city for summer vacation and not come home til it was time for school to start. Richard, having sent his wife and kid's off an adventure reminds himself constantly to be a good boy....no drinking, certainly no smoking, and nooooo hanky panky.

The first look at "the girl". Marilyn is wearing a lovely, fitted polka dot dress with short gloves. This shape reminds me of Sarong or Tiki style dresses of the mid 50's.

Everything is going according to plan when a girl begins watching the apartment upstairs for his neighbor and he loses his cool. Of course this is a typical Marilyn role; bombshell beauty with an innocent charm. Her friendly and open demeanor leads poor Richard's imagination into all sorts of hilarious situations...his nerdy, endearing hallucinations are the height of cheese and fantasy (though they always make me laugh). If you haven't seen this charmer of a film you really need. This is the be all end all of Marilyn's look, and Tom presents the uniform of the married business man of the era.

During one of Richard's fantasies he dresses like Hugh Hefner, red smoking jacket included. He likes to think of himself as irresistible to women; of course Marilyn is painted as a Feme Fetale.

This outfit might look plain here, but it is a stunner on screen. 

Marilyn and Tom on the floor after his piano fantasy doesn't go as planned. In the end these two end up being friends; and just spending time together. 

I COULD NOT do a post without this iconic scene. Firstly, you usually see this scene from the other side, so I liked finding a picture from the other direction. This dress caused all KINDS of problems.

Famously Joe Dimaggio, Monroe's then husband, was furious over the grate scene above and the couple actually filed for divorce during the filming. If you would like more facts about the film The Sever Year Itch you can look here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/76653/16-faithful-facts-about-seven-year-itch

What is your favorite Marilyn Monroe film? Do you have an idea for the next Movie Review Monday?

Vicki
xoxox