DESIGNING WOMAN

US, 1957, 118 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Gray.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.

A very pleasant and entertaining comedy of the battle of the sexes the type of screen play popular with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. The director is Vincente Minnelli who had made by this time many musicals like An American in Paris and The Band Wagon and melodramas like The Bad and the Beautiful and Tea and Sympathy.

The next year he was to win the Oscar for Gigi. Casting is rather unusual for this kind of romantic comedy but it works quite well: Gregory Peck taking time off from seriousness and Lauren Bacall using some of her comedy talent. Musical comedy star Dolores Gray gives good support. The production is lavish M.G.M. presentation.

The screenplay has the entertaining device of having the characters narrate the plot and their actions and motivations, often contrasting with what they really do. The wit and the presentation are pleasant, funny and smooth. Popular entertainment of the fifties which still has the capacity to entertain today.

1. How entertaining and pleasant a comedy romance?

2. The style of the fifties, the perennial appeal of such comedy romance: froth, wit, the battle of the sexes? The sophisticated American atmosphere, style?

3. Contribution of colour, Cinemascope photography, the Andre Previn score, the style of the stars?

4. The importance of the structure for audience involvement and interest: the basic flashback technique, the narrative and the stars talking to the audience, the tone of the narrative, the voiceover techniques, the contrast of the various characters narrating the situations and their points of view, the humour of voiceover narration contradicting action, the interplay of narrative and action for example with Maxie?

5. The title, its focus on Marilla, the tone? The battle of the sexes indicated in the ambiguity?

6. Mike Hagen and Gregory Peck's style, his flair for comedy, narration? his view of things at the beginning? His behaviour at the party, the hangover, his anxiety about his article, his career as a sports writer and his skill, his exposing criminals? The infatuation with Marilla, the build-up to marrying her? His taking her home to the apartment and his apartment showing his untidiness? The arrival at the office, the gifts? His sudden memory of Laurie Shannon? His outing with her, the explanation of his timidity, the ravioli? The humour of this taken up later when he met her socially?

7. The world of Mike Hagen - boxing, poker games, Maxie, criminal threats, criminals arriving to intimidate him at home, his articles, the hide-out? His being roughed up etc.? The contrast with Marilla's world?


8. Mike and Laurie, the photo, the ravioli incident, the fashion show, the eating and his fear of the tea on his lap, the apartment, his visit to Laurie, the final story?

9. Lauren Bacall's style as Marilla? Out in the West, her narration, her seeming ordinary, her changing clothes in the plane, her fashion design work, her way with her staff, the invitation to design for the musical comedy, her presence at rehearsals, jealousy of Laurie, her coping with the card games at home while the production was being rehearsed?

10. Marilla and her jealousy, continued questions, the visit to Laurie, the discovery of the truth? Her fear for Mike and being knocked out at the end?

11. Laurie and the musical comedy type, the song and dance routines, her relationship with Mike and the ravioli, the later meetings? The encounter with Marilla and the truth? Zachary Wilde and his friendship with Marilla, the production, the rehearsals, the proposal to Laurie and his statements to Marilla?

12. Maxie and humour at the expense of the punch-drunk boxer, comedy routines, his protecting of Mike, his hitting indiscriminately at the end?

13. The humorous counterpoint of the two worlds - reaching a climax in the poker game and the rehearsals at the same time? The irony of Andy’s skill for the final fight-out?

14. The overtones of Damon Runyon - crooks, toughs, papers, types like Charlie giving and selling information etc.?

15. The theatre world, musical comedy for television, Randy and his choreography?

16. The perennial humour of the battle of the sexes, humorous insight into marriage and love? Themes of truth, honesty? Careers?