Sex and the Single Girl (1964)

60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(1,119 ratings)

Helen Gurley Brown's self-help best-seller was the nominal source for this Hollywood sex romp, directed by Richard Quine, co-scripted by Joseph Heller and David R. Schwartz, and starring Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood. Tony Curtis plays Bob Weston, a writer for a scandal magazine who is working on an… More Helen Gurley Brown's self-help best-seller was the nominal source for this Hollywood sex romp, directed by Richard Quine, co-scripted by Joseph Heller and David R. Schwartz, and starring Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood. Tony Curtis plays Bob Weston, a writer for a scandal magazine who is working on an article on research psychologist Helen Gurley Brown (Natalie Wood) and her best-selling book Sex and the Single Girl. Bob needs to interview Helen, but she refuses to see him. Bob impersonates one of her neighbors, Frank Broderick (Henry Fonda), as a ruse in order to see her on the pretext of marital counseling. After several meetings, Bob attempts to seduce her, but she resists; then he phones her and claims he's about to commit suicide by jumping off a local pier. Horrified, she rushes out to save him, but the two accidentally fall off the pier together and then head back to Helen's apartment to dry out. Bob plies Helen with martinis. Rip-roaring drunk, Helen confesses her love for Bob. He assures her it's fine, since he's not legally married, but Helen doesn't believe him and asks to meet his wife, Sylvia (Lauren Bacall). This leads to an endless series of complications, capped off by a wild chase to the Los Angeles airport. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Richard Quine
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1964 Wide
On DVD: Feb 3, 2009

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
As usual in this type of farce, male and female leads have fewer comic lines than supporting players. But Curtis registers exceptionally well when detailing supposed marital problems to adviser.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
Spain never looked lovelier, but the banal romances of the lightweight principals in this retooled vehicle make the trip wholly unnecessary.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
In a small role as a production man, note Wayne, who appears as Benjamin Franklin in a superb one-man show around the world. Storch also turns in a neat cameo as a motorcycle cop.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
1964 sexual revolution fodder, with some slapstick for redemption.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Graceless stuff, criminally wasting Bacall and Fonda as a couple with marital problems (they're in love, but constantly quarrelling), and with Quine's moderate flair for comedy nowhere in evidence.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

"I feel just like Jack Lemmon did in that movie where he dressed up like a girl." HAH!! Perhaps it's because Tony Curtis references one of my favorite movies, I do love this movie. (However, in no way does Tony Curtis look like Jack Lemmon...) Anyway, it was weird, it… More
"I feel just like Jack Lemmon did in that movie where he dressed up like a girl." HAH!! Perhaps it's because Tony Curtis references one of my favorite movies, I do love this movie. (However, in no way does Tony Curtis look like Jack Lemmon...) Anyway, it was weird, it was funny, it was sweet, it was strange, it had the best car chase seen ever. I LOVED IT! I'd watch this again in a heart beat.
jay n

silly and very 60's but fun if you're in the mood

Cast

            Tony Curtis as Bob Weston

            Natalie Wood as Dr. Helen Brown

            Henry Fonda as Frank Broderick

            Lauren Bacall as Sylvia Broderick

            Mel Ferrer as Rudy DeMeyer

            Fran Jeffries as Gretchen

            Edward Everett Horton as Chief

            Leslie Parrish as Susan

            Larry Storch as Motorcycle Cop

            Stubby Kaye as Helen's Cabbie

            Howard St. John as George Randall

            Otto Kruger as Dr. Marshall H. Anderson

            Max Showalter as Holmes

            William Lanteau as Sylvester

            Helen Kleeb as Hilda

            Frank Baker as Pretzel Vendor

            Barbara Bouchet as Frannie

            Paul Bryar as Toll Gate Guard

            George E. Carey
            
            Claire Carleton
            
            William Fawcett as Bum

            Phil Garris as Young Man

            Edmund Glover as Dr. Chickering

            Cheerio Meredith as Elderly Woman

            Charles Morton
            
            Burt Mustin as Harvey

            Tom Quine as Board Member

            Fredd Wayne as Production Man

            Sheila Stephenson as Board Member

            Count Basie and His Orchestra as Themselves

            Taggart Casey as Guard

            Jerry Martin
            
            Irving Steinberg
            
See full cast