Cactus Flower (1969)

The writing was good for Bergman's comedic dialogs, particularly with Jack Weston; but, her delivery was beyond outstanding. As Weston acts like he is getting carried away with Bergman's feigned cooperation with his feigned advances, he proposes a toast to their love affair to which Bergman comes right back with "God forbid!" with such perfect timing it took the viewer a few moments to get over how great she was. In the few minutes of that exchange between Bergman and Weston the comic repartee was so constant there wasn't enough time to get out the laughs that just kept piling up inside. Throughout the film Bergman's understated but precise, on target delivery of her comic lines was simply joyful to watch. It seemed unfair that she did not get an Oscar for her performance instead of the writer.

If it's Hawn, it's got to be quirky. And so this generally delightful comedy is. Hawn and Matthau are tangled in romantic relationships both real and faked, while Bergman is a humdrum middle-age cactus but with flower potential. The hijinks all center around Matthau's dental office where Bergman bustles around as his dourly efficient nurse. At the same time, middle-age Matthau carries on with youthful cutie Hawn, while her half-clothed neighbor drops in and out at bad times. And to further complicate, other colorful characters come and go from both the office and everyone else's life. Getting this all straightened out is the problem, especially after it's all premised on Matthau's fat lie to lover Hawn that he's married. If this sounds congested, it is, but then there's 100+ minutes to fill.In fact I think the movie's impact would improve if 20 or so minutes were shaved, especially from an over-extended last part. Nonetheless, it's a delightful cast, especially the big-eyed Hawn in her first big role. She's like a spunky blonde pixie, fully deserving of her supporting Oscar. At the same time, Bergman does the nurse's dour personality in expert fashion. It's her first in-America production since the '40's (IMDB), but you'd never know it. Then too, snappy dialogue along with smooth direction keep things moving before getting somewhat repetitious. And I especially like chunky Jack Weston and his unlikely choice of girlfriends.All in all, it's a chuckle-filled Goldie Hawn showcase from Columbia Productions that loses little to the decades.

Womanizing Dr. Julian Winston (Walter Matthau) has told his new girlfriend, Toni (Goldie Hawn) that he is married, to prevent the relationship from getting serious. He decides he does want to marry Toni, and tells her that he will get a divorce, but she insists on meeting his wife first. He persuades his longtime nurse Stephanie (Ingrid Bergman) to pretend to be his wife. Stephanie and Toni meet, but things don't turn out just the way Julian had expected.This romantic comedy is pure fun, with great lines and perfect delivery from the two veteran actors. Goldie Hawn's Oscar winning debut performance is a true delight. The sets and costumes looked wonderful, and the supporting cast of Jack Weston, Rick Lenz, Vito Scotti, and Irene Hervey added greatly to the overall experience. This is a film well worth watching.

Cactus Flower finds Walter Matthau as successful Park Avenue dentist and part time roue who loves chasing the young women. One has to remember this was 1969 the height of the era of free love and many a middle aged man was going into a second bout of puberty. With Matthau though he never left the first one.If people get too interested in a permanent relationship he's invented a fictional wife and 3 kids who just won't let him go. Right now he's seeing Goldie Hawn who is your typical 60s product who works in a record store back when people bought those vinyl 45s and long playing albums. But right in his own office there's loyal and efficient Ingrid Bergman who is his dental assistant. One of those people who just blend into the wallpaper, you just assume their presence. My biggest problem with Cactus Flower is that Bergman seeing what a complete rat Matthau is in his personal life why she wants him is beyond me. But the heart always has its own reasons.In any event when Hawn starts pressing him Matthau has Bergman pretend to be his wife. After that everyone starts making assumptions about everyone else.This was Ingrid Bergman's first film in Hollywood since the notorious scandal with Roberto Rosellini back in 1949. She takes over from fellow movie icon Lauren Bacall who did the Broadway play from 1965 to 1968 with Barry Nelson and Brenda Vaccaro. She turns out to have quite the flair for comedy which was rarely used.Matthau is Matthau. Imagine Whiplash Willie Gingrich in a white dental outfit and you have Walter's character.The real surprise here is Goldie Hawn who certainly did have a flair for comedy as shown by her time on Rowan&Martin's Laugh-In during that period. Her stint there won her the part of the record store clerk and she got an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and the start of a successful big screen career.The acting is great of course. For me I think the story would have worked better if Matthau got some comeuppance. He sure didn't deserve Ingrid and Ingrid deserved better.