Kiss Them for Me (film)
Encyclopedia
Kiss Them for Me is a 1957
comedy
film
starring Cary Grant
and Jayne Mansfield
, directed by Stanley Donen
. Co-stars included Suzy Parker
, Leif Erickson
, Ray Walston
, and Werner Klemperer
.
The screenplay is an adaptation of Kiss Them for Me
, a 1945 Broadway
play written by Luther Davis
and based on Frederic Wakeman Sr.'s 1944 novel entitled Shore Leave.
Blonde bombshell Alice Kratzner is one of these women, lured to the suite under the false pretense that Crewson has a stash of nylon stockings. Once there, she is naturally attracted to Crewson, but later turns her attention to Lieutenant McCann, a married man who also is in the process of running for a Congressional seat back home in Connecticut
. If he is elected, McCann can leave the Navy immediately and return to civilian life.
Lieutenant Wallace tries to get the three pilots, including "Mississip," to make morale-raising speeches at the plants of shipyard magnate Eddie Turnbill, so that Turnbill will vouch for the men with the Navy and also to grease a popular job for himself upon leaving the service. Crewson and his cohorts, however, are physically and mentally exhausted from the war and simply want to enjoy a few days away from it.
Suffering from combat stress and confronted with a number of reminders of the horrors of war, Crewson tries to amuse himself by making a play for Turnbill's attractive fiancée, Gwinneth Livingston. She resists his advances at first, but ultimately throws her engagement ring in Turnbill's face. Crewson declares his love for her shortly before he and his mates board a plane leaving San Francisco to return to duty.
, who shared over-the-title billing with Grant, even though her role was considerably smaller than his. Kiss Them for Me, was made directly after Mansfield's previous hit film comedy
, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?
. Kiss Them for Me was hoped to bring the same succes for 20th Century Fox and Mansfield as did Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, but proved to be a box-office flop.
Suzy Parker
, a world famous fashion model, made her film debut in this film, and, had a bigger role than Jayne Mansfield. Cary Grant's character begins with feelings for Alice Kratzner (Mansfield), but soon finds he likes Gwinneth Livingston (Parker) better. Most of the film's plot centers around the relationship between Andy Crewson (Grant) and Gwinneth Livingston (Parker).
Today the film historians note Mansfield for having a supporting role
rather than a leading one
. When Kiss Them for Me was released, some critics described it as: "false advertisement"; meaning Mansfield shouldn't have won second billing under Cary Grant, Suzy Parker should have, and, Jayne should had settled for thrid or fourth billing.
1957 in film
The year 1957 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 21 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, opens.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue-Awards:...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
starring Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
and Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
, directed by Stanley Donen
Stanley Donen
Stanley Donen ; is an American film director and choreographer whose most celebrated works are Singin' in the Rain and On the Town, both of which he co-directed with Gene Kelly. His other noteworthy films include Royal Wedding, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Funny Face, Indiscreet, Damn...
. Co-stars included Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
, Leif Erickson
Leif Erickson
Leif Erickson was an American film and television actor.-Background:Leif Erickson was born William Wycliffe Anderson in Alameda, California. His father was commander of a fleet of ships and his mother was a noted newspaperwoman and writer...
, Ray Walston
Ray Walston
Ray Walston was an American stage, television and film actor best known as the title character on the 1960s situation comedy My Favorite Martian. In addition, he is also remembered for his roles as Luther Billis in South Pacific , Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees , J.J...
, and Werner Klemperer
Werner Klemperer
Werner Klemperer was a comedic and dramatic actor, best known for his role as Colonel Klink on the CBS television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes.-Early life:...
.
The screenplay is an adaptation of Kiss Them for Me
Kiss Them for Me (play)
Kiss Them for Me is a 1945 Broadway production based on Frederic Wakeman Sr.'s 1944 novel entitled Shore Leave. The play ran for 110 performances. Opening at the Belasco Theatre on March 20, 1945, it closed at the Fulton Theatre on June 23 of the same year.-Plot:The play, set in The St...
, a 1945 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
play written by Luther Davis
Luther Davis
Luther Davis was an American play- and screenwriter. He attended Culver Academies, received a BA from Yale and rose to the rank of major in the US Air Force...
and based on Frederic Wakeman Sr.'s 1944 novel entitled Shore Leave.
Plot
Three decorated Navy pilots finagle a four-day leave in San Francisco. They land a posh suite at a hotel where Commander Andy Crewson, a master of procurement, arranges to populate it with wine, women and song.Blonde bombshell Alice Kratzner is one of these women, lured to the suite under the false pretense that Crewson has a stash of nylon stockings. Once there, she is naturally attracted to Crewson, but later turns her attention to Lieutenant McCann, a married man who also is in the process of running for a Congressional seat back home in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. If he is elected, McCann can leave the Navy immediately and return to civilian life.
Lieutenant Wallace tries to get the three pilots, including "Mississip," to make morale-raising speeches at the plants of shipyard magnate Eddie Turnbill, so that Turnbill will vouch for the men with the Navy and also to grease a popular job for himself upon leaving the service. Crewson and his cohorts, however, are physically and mentally exhausted from the war and simply want to enjoy a few days away from it.
Suffering from combat stress and confronted with a number of reminders of the horrors of war, Crewson tries to amuse himself by making a play for Turnbill's attractive fiancée, Gwinneth Livingston. She resists his advances at first, but ultimately throws her engagement ring in Turnbill's face. Crewson declares his love for her shortly before he and his mates board a plane leaving San Francisco to return to duty.
The Mansfield & Parker Debate
It proved to be the last starring role in a mainstream Hollywood film for Jayne MansfieldJayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
, who shared over-the-title billing with Grant, even though her role was considerably smaller than his. Kiss Them for Me, was made directly after Mansfield's previous hit film comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? is a 1957 American satiric comedy film starring Jayne Mansfield and Tony Randall, with Betsy Drake, Joan Blondell, John Williams, Henry Jones, Lili Gentle, Mickey Hargitay, and a cameo by Groucho Marx...
. Kiss Them for Me was hoped to bring the same succes for 20th Century Fox and Mansfield as did Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, but proved to be a box-office flop.
Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
, a world famous fashion model, made her film debut in this film, and, had a bigger role than Jayne Mansfield. Cary Grant's character begins with feelings for Alice Kratzner (Mansfield), but soon finds he likes Gwinneth Livingston (Parker) better. Most of the film's plot centers around the relationship between Andy Crewson (Grant) and Gwinneth Livingston (Parker).
Today the film historians note Mansfield for having a supporting role
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
rather than a leading one
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
. When Kiss Them for Me was released, some critics described it as: "false advertisement"; meaning Mansfield shouldn't have won second billing under Cary Grant, Suzy Parker should have, and, Jayne should had settled for thrid or fourth billing.
Cast (in credits order)
- Cary GrantCary GrantArchibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
as Lieutenant Commander Andy Crewson - Jayne MansfieldJayne MansfieldJayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
as Alice Kratzner - Leif EricksonLeif EricksonLeif Erickson was an American film and television actor.-Background:Leif Erickson was born William Wycliffe Anderson in Alameda, California. His father was commander of a fleet of ships and his mother was a noted newspaperwoman and writer...
as Eddie Turnbill - Suzy ParkerSuzy ParkerSuzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
as Gwinneth Livingstone - Ray WalstonRay WalstonRay Walston was an American stage, television and film actor best known as the title character on the 1960s situation comedy My Favorite Martian. In addition, he is also remembered for his roles as Luther Billis in South Pacific , Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees , J.J...
as Lieutenant McCann - Larry BlydenLarry BlydenLarry Blyden was an American actor and game show host, best known for his appearances on Broadway and as the host of the game show What's My Line?-Personal life:...
as Mississip - Nathaniel Frey as Chief Petty Officer Ruddle
- Werner KlempererWerner KlempererWerner Klemperer was a comedic and dramatic actor, best known for his role as Colonel Klink on the CBS television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes.-Early life:...
as Lieutenant Walter Wallace