The Seven Year Itch (1955)

This movie is symbolized by the image of Marilyn Monroe having her skirt blown up by a draft from a sidewalk grate, but the actual film does not show that (censorship reasons presumably). But the actual story is a farce where the sensuality is mostly implied.Richard Sherman is a man living in New York City who, like many other husbands there in the 1950's, sends his wife and son out into the countryside for the summer while he has to stay behind and continue working in the stifling heat. Other men, such as the apartment janitor and Sherman's boss, go out and live the bachelor's life in their families' absence, but Sherman has stayed faithful for seven years, and even tries to give up smoking, alcohol, and unhealthy eating.But trouble comes when he meets a ditsy female temporary neighbor who works at making television commercials. She visits him because his apartment has air conditioning and hers doesn't, and Sherman imagines the possibilities. Will he be tempted to have an affair? What will happen if people, including his wife, find out about them? And is Sherman's wife unfaithful? Temptations and doubts plague Sherman throughout the movie, all in a comical way. Joyful farcical fun.

A man tries to resist the charms of his beautiful neighbour while his wife is away. I had never had the faintest desire to watch The Seven Year Itch and so watched it with pretty low expectations. Thankfully it turned out to be far better than I expected. It has a sharp script and is beautifully observed. There are plenty of very funny moments throughout as the hapless Tom Ewell falls quickly under the spell of the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe. Tom Ewell is brilliant as the every man and Marilyn Monroe proves just why she remains such an iconic figure even today, with a mesmerizing performance. This is a charming film and remains as relevant today as it was back in 1955. Highly recommended.

Notable for featuring one of 20th century's most iconic images, Billy Wilder's The Seven Year Itch is forever etched in the annals of cinema for that sequence alone rather than the film itself. And though by no means does it mean that it's not a good film because it's another fine comedy from Wilder that teases with the idea of infidelity but is still no match to his most acclaimed works.The story of The Seven Year Itch concerns a faithful & overly imaginative middle-aged man who after sending his family off during summer holidays tries to live a bachelor's life but finds himself tempted by a beautiful neighbour. The title refers to the declining interest in monogamous relationship after 7 years of marriage or so they say.Directed by Billy Wilder, the film has all the ingredients of a quality story but feels like it needed a push that never came. The imaginary sequences start off nicely but only become less interesting as the story progresses, camera-work is fluid, editing could've trimmed a few more moments and the performances by its cast is excellent as it benefits from Tom Ewell's impressive act & Marylin Monroe's unmatched screen presence.On an overall scale, The Seven Year Itch feels incomplete as there was a lot that could & should have been done with the story but it never comes to that moment. Also, the shot of Marylin Monroe standing on a subway grate as a white dress is blown by a passing train isn't exactly shown in the manner it has become a part of our pop culture. So there's a little disappointment in that as well. Yet, the screenplay packs enough energy & Wilder's direction is brilliant enough to keep the viewers interested for the majority of its runtime.

Only Marilyn Monroe as The Girl brings life and effervescence to this movie; Tom Ewell, playing a summer vacation "bachelor" is dead weight. I agree with another reviewer that the part of Richard Sherman would have been a great vehicle for someone with the talent of Jack Lemmon. Lemmon would have provided the perfect foil for Monroe's brand of little girl naiveté, and disingenuous sexuality; the type of casting that made his pairing with Judy Holliday so successful. Ewell has absolutely no screen charisma. His characterization lacks the required wit, and whimsical nuance. He infuses no verve into his meanders as fantasizer engaging in monologues, which spout the trials and tribulation defining the battle of the sexes, as culturally accepted in 1950s America. When his character's frustrations morph into physical animation, he's a charmless bumbler and you find your eyes wandering to the set decor—the furniture, a lamp, even a flowerpot. The movie is all Marilyn. The viewer gets her screen persona in full bloom and with a fun, over-the-top bang. The movie is worth watching for her performance alone. Monroe at her iconic peak is the main attraction.