Plot: What’s it about?
Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) is a married man who reads books for a living, for a publishing house. In order to give his family the vacation they deserve, he sends them off to a lush resort, while he remains behind to continue his work. His very pleased with his marriage and loves his family, but he is glad to have some time to himself. This stretch of time by himself sends his memory back to his bachelor days, which makes him feel younger, of course. He starts to appreciate this time alone, but doesn’t even think about acting upon his bachelor thoughts, as he loves his wife and would not want to lose her. But when a gorgeous young woman (Marilyn Monroe) moves in upstairs, he finds pushed to the brink of loyalty, as he thinks about her almost all the time. As he gets bored with his books, Richard’s imagination runs wild about the woman, plus her flirtatious behavior doesn’t help keep him in check either. Can Richard keep his vows in order, or will he be tempted once too often and finally give in?
If you’ve seen the immortal image of Marilyn Monroe trying to push her dress down, then you’ve viewed the most famous scene from The Seven Year Itch. But this film has much more to offer than that one sequence, such as Marilyn’s incredible screen presence and the excellent direction of Billy Wilder. Marilyn is of course, irresistible as ever and really shines here, I think this is my favorite of her performances. She’s never even given a name within the film, but she is as memorable as ever and turns in an immortal performance. I like this movie a lot and while it does seem a little dated at times, that’s be expected from a film of this age, especially one that deals with sexual content. The limits in 1955 were much different than today, so certain issues were skirted and others totally ignored, to keep in line with the standards of the time. But even the dated moments are very funny and in the end, The Seven Year Itch is an excellent movie and very humorous, even after over forty years. You can purchase this title alone, or as part of The Diamond Collection set and whichever option you choose, your money will be well spent.
As I mentioned above, her character is never given a name in the flick, but Marilyn Monroe still makes sure she leaves a memorable performance behind. I hold this to be her most endearing role, but perhaps not her finest turn, in terms of traditional acting. But then again, Monroe was not known for her skills as a thespian, but for her screen presence and incredible good looks. She is able to showcase her talents in The Seven Year Itch to be sure, as she brings her role to life in perfect fashion. I think her charms are turned up a couple notches higher than usual even, which means you simply can’t resist her sweetness, even though she is flirting with a married man. You can also see Monroe in such films as Gentleman Prefer Blondes, All About Eve, The Misfits, The Asphalt Jungle, Bus Stop, and Some Like It Hot. The cast also includes Tom Ewell (Adam’s Rib, State Fair), Sonny Tufts (Serpent Island, Blaze of Noon), Evelyn Keyes (Hell’s Half Acre, A Return To Salem’s Lot), and Oscar Homolka (A Farewell To Arms, Billion Dollar Brain).
Video: How does it look?
The Seven Year Itch is presented in a 2.55:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This transfer reflects a newly restored print and as the included restoration demo illustrates, the process was a massive success. I was very pleased here, as the image looks very clean and sharp, a vast improvement over previous editions. The colors seem more in order and less faded, while flesh tones have a much more natural appearance, very impressive stuff. Just as good is the contrast, which looks dead on thanks to well mixed black levels. I was a little worried about how The Seven Year Itch would look, but Fox has outdone themselves with this restored transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
On this release, you’ll find a 3.0 track and on the whole, I was pleased with the results. Of course, this isn’t the kind of movie to test out your system with, but I think this mix is more than effective. The sound effects and music come through very well, with no harshness of any kind, very clean and clear at all times. This mix is very natural also, so this doesn’t feel hollow, like some films from this time period. The dialogue is sharp and always easy to understand also, no complaints on that end in the least. This disc also includes stereo tracks in English and French, as well as subtitles in Spanish and English.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc has a nice selection of extras also, including the AMC Backstory episode that focused on the flick. This piece runs just over twenty minutes and offers a nice look at the production, as well as the lasting impact it has had on the movies. I am very pleased to see Fox including these Backstory episodes on their discs, so I hope see more present on future releases. You’ll also find two deleted scenes and of course, these add tremendous value to the release. I love deleted scenes and when they’re included on older films such as this, that makes it all the sweeter indeed. This disc also includes a restoration demonstration, a brief Movietone newsreel about the film’s premiere, a theatrical poster gallery, and two theatrical trailers.
