Phffft (1954)

"I want a divorce!" How many times have these words been spoken in haste and unthinking anger? For divorcing couple Jack Lemmon and Judy Holliday, it's going to be a bitter one, and neither party will be able to get the other one off their mind. They each have flashbacks to happier times, alternating between smiling and scowling as they remember the past and what brought them to this point in their lives. A sudden chance encounter on the mambo dance floor ignites a spark again as they take over the floor with a dance that is both hysterically funny and sexy. There's interference by Lemmon's pal Jack Carson and her mother, with Lemmon distracted by the sultry but over analyzing Kim Novak, only on occasion utilizing that breathy speech pattern that became her trademark. It's a great way to get a film acting career off the ground.Thus is an adult comedy, one I didn't appreciate when I was in my 20's, but years later, seems smart and really on the money when it comes to describing adult relationships. Only four years older than Lemon, Ms. Holliday has a youthful quality that makes her seem ageless. Lemmon is a perfect leading man for her. It is a shame that they only made two films together. There's no "Phffft!" to their pairing.

This is a very good comedy about marriage, divorce and remarriage. Judy Holliday is Nina Tracey (nee Chapman), and Jack Lemmon is her husband Robert. Robert's best friend is Charlie Nelson, played by Jack Carson. They had been officers together in the Navy during WW II. Now they are both attorneys. Kim Novak is Janis, a girl in Charlie's black book whom he lines up with Robert after Robert and Nina get a divorce. The couple had been married eight years but boredom set in and they decided to divorce. This happens early in the film, so that the rest is a nice blend of comedy and romance as Robert and Nina try to adjust and get back in the dating game. Of course, that doesn't work for either one, and romance returns between them. The rest of the small cast are fine in their roles.This isn't a challenging film or top flight comedy with much witty dialog and situations. But, it's a pleasant story with some fun scenes that most should enjoy. The cast for "Phffft" is a first rate list of comedy actors in the 1950s. Jack Lemmon and Judy Holliday played in some of the best sophisticated comedies of the time, although Holliday's career was a short one. Jack Carson for many years was one of Hollywood's best supporting actors, especially for comedies. He co-starred here along with Kim Novak, in just her third film. Novak was very good and won a Golden Globe as most promising female newcomer. Holliday had won an Oscar for the comedy-drama "Born Yesterday" of 1950. She had two more smash comedies after that, including another hit with Lemmon in early 1954 – "It Should Happen to You." Holliday made only 14 movies in her career, but won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for film, and a Tony Award on Broadway. The Tony came in 1956 for the Broadway smash hit, "Bells Are Ringing." Holliday's last film was the movie version of "Bells Are Ringing" in 1960. It's a great comedy-musical with Dean Martin, Jean Stapleton and Eddie Foy Jr. Holliday died at age 43 in 1965 after a five year battle with breast cancer.Jack Lemmon was one of the great actors of the silver screen for nearly five decades. But, he got his start in TV in 1949 and was in several TV series through 1954. Those included dramas and comedies. "Phffft" was just his second movie and followed the smash hit earlier that year with Holliday, "It Should Happen to You." Of course, he would go on to win two Oscars and have six more nominations. He also won four Golden Globes for acting, with another 17 nominations. Lemmon won three BAFTA awards, with four more nominations; and he won two prime time Emmy awards with four more nominations. Lemmon was equally adept at drama and comedy. Some of the funniest and most endearing comedies he made were later in life and his career with long-time friend Walter Matthau.

The four stars make a marvelous quadrangle, and the physical comedy is great. My one disappointment is Richard Quine's direction. Lemmon must've liked him because they did at least 3 movies together, but he always seems to be trying to unexplicably extract pathos out of screwball situations, and this technique quickly wears thin. That aside, still a lot of fun.

I never heard of this movie until I saw it on AMC. It's a funny sex comedy about Oscar-winners Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon realizing they were better off before they divorced. It really hasn't received as much acclaim as Holliday's other comedy, Born Yesterday (winner Best Actress Oscar - 1950) and deserves a video release.