That Touch of Mink (1962)

...misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual harassment in the workplace, casual conversation about domestic violence when a women doesn't put out after buying her a mink coat, homosexual innuendo, homophobia, an arranged marriage "to keep the little lady in line"....ah, the early 1960's. Really what more is there to say? This is the 1960's version of Pretty Woman. Rich guy picks up down-on-her-luck girl and buys her fancy clothes and takes her on fancy trips all in the expectation that he's gonna get some. All this goodness is set against the zippy backdrop of old Hollywood Cary Grant/Doris Day style. Really it's like Mad Men only less tongue in cheek. So yeah...go forth and uh...drink your way through this wild ride of setting feminism back about 50 years.

Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) lives in Manhattan and is looking for a job. Its been some weeks. One day, as she is going to an interview, a limo passes her closely, splashing her clothes with puddle water. The driver doesn't stop. Aghast, Cathy goes to the Automat, where her roommate Connie (Audrey Meadows) often slips her free lunch items. Meanwhile, the limo has circled the block looking for a wet damsel but finding none. The extremely wealthy businessman, Philip (Cary Grant) who was sitting in the back seat, feels guilty about the incident. But, since no gal is in sight, he goes to the office nearby. There, his erstwhile assistant, Roger (Gig Young) makes his usual complaint of how Philip lured him away from an academic job by flashing big bucks. Now, looking out the window, Philip sees the muddied Cathy go into the Automat and begs Roger to go find her with offers of dry cleaning. Thus, before Cathy can take one bite of lunch, Roger explains his mission and Cathy says she wants to throw this offer right in Philip's face. Gleeful Roger takes her to his boss' office. What he doesn't count on is that single, attractive Cathy takes one look at Philip and falls in love. Philip is attracted to Cathy, too. Soon Cathy's clothes are being cleaned in the office building's facility and the lovestruck duo are conversing and flirting. They begin "stepping out" together. But, while Cathy is dreaming of marriage, Philip, man of the world, is just looking for romance. So, when Philip suggests a Bermuda vacation for the twosome, without a ring, what will Cathy do? Her only other suitor at the moment is unemployment office worker Mr. Beaaley (John Astin), who gives her the creeps. In his turn, Roger reports the whole affair to his shrink! What doings in the Big Apple! This lovely, funny, vastly entertaining film should be seen by ALL folks across the world. Day has never been better and as one of Grant's last films, it is a flick to savor. Meadows, Astin, Young, and all of the rest are terrific as well. The title is a metaphor for the wealthy's idea of throwing money around and, as Cathy is just a working gal from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, it is a clash of the classes romance! This is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago. The costumes, naturally, are absolutely wonderful, while the sets, fantastic script and polished direction make for a not-to-be-missed movie. Get in the Mink and the Pink with a viewing. No one WILL EVER BE SORRY they sat down to watch this one.

A movie idea that looked good on paper but lost something in its translation to the screen was the 1962 comedy That Touch of Mink.The film starred a glamorously aging Cary Grant as Phillip Shayne, a wealthy businessman whose limo splashes the coat and dress of a woman on a rainy street one day. Shayne has his assistant track the woman down so that he can pay for the dry cleaning. The woman is a working girl named Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) who is attracted to Shayne, but it is soon revealed that Grant wants to have a fling with the woman and she is saving herself for marriage.This return to Pillow Talk territory is not nearly as successful due to the fact that there is NO chemistry between the leads and to Day's unappealing character...it was just a little too hard to swallow Cathy's naivety about what Shayne wanted from her and the idea that every time Cathy comes close to having sex with Shayne she breaks out in hives, was just silly.There is a solid supporting cast including Gig Young as Shayne's assistant and Audrey Meadows as Cathy's best friend, but a comedy like this pins a great deal on the chemistry between the stars and it just wasn't there.

Cathy Timberlake, a country girl looking for a job and Philip Shayne, a rich businessman meet in New York City after his Rolls Royce splashes her with mud.They fall for each other, but the only problem is she wants to get married and he has no interest in such a thing.That Touch of Mink (1962) is directed by Delbert Mann.The leading couple is something grand, for we have Doris Day and Cary Grant.They share some chemistry together.Gig Young does great job as Roger.Audrey Meadows is terrific as Connie Emerson.Alan Hewitt is great as Dr. Gruber.John Astin is quite hilarious as Mr. Everett Beasley.Portraying themselves are Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra.The movie has some fun moments.One of them is when Cathy is waiting for Philip in the hotel room and gets drunk.And the phone call for Beasley makes you chuckle.Roger's visit at the shrink is quite funny.This isn't a classic of romantic comedies, but Cary Grant and Doris Day make it work.