The turning point in Billy Wilder's career. Up til then he was on a hot streak - after this he could barely put a foot right. Would it have made a difference had Peter Sellers stayed on? Or if Jack Lemmon had stepped in?
Dean Martin is marvellous playing a version of himself. The film is wonderfully structured. It's very clever. Gorgeously shot. Naughty. I mean Ray Walston has sex with Kim Novak and Felicia Farr has very, very willing sex with Dean Martin... that's adult. Very French. Too much for Americans though. obviously.
It doesn't quite work. I wanted to like Kim Novak and she tries but she felt wrong. Right look, silly deep voice - imagine Marilyn Monroe or Shirley Maclaine in that part. Walston acts his butt off, is full of energy - still, I would've preferred to see Sellers or Lemmon (who wanted to do it if Wilder could delay)... they are stars, Walston isn't, and I would've bought them more easily scoring Felicia Farr, who is gorgeous and fun. I watch it and think "you've got no right to be jealous mate she's that much more hotter than you, you should be grateful for what you've got." Still, I think Novak is more of a debit.
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