If a Man Answers
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Harry Levin |
| Produced by | Ross Hunter |
| Screenplay by | Richard Morris |
| Story by | Winifred Wolfe (Novel, New York, 1961) |
| Based on | If A Man Answers (Novel) |
| Starring | Sandra Dee Bobby Darin |
| Music by | Bobby Darin Hans J. Salter |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Edited by | Milton Carruth |
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
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Release dates
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Running time
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102 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
If a Man Answers (1962) is a comedy film directed by Henry Levin and starring Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. It was produced by Ross Hunter Productions, Inc, and distributed by Universal Pictures. The screenplay was written by Richard Morris from a novel by Winifred Wolfe.[1][2][3]
Plot summary
Chantal Stacy (Sandra Dee) is the daughter of Germaine Stacy (Micheline Presle), a former French showgirl, and John Stacy (John Lund), a conservative, Boston antiques dealer, who met in Paris. Chantal was the product of their “soufflé-and-beans romance". Her father worries about her French part getting pregnant, before her Boston part gets married; but, a Boston foghorn sounds every time she gets close to a man.
Her father gets a promotion and they move to New York. Chantal gets picked up by Eugene Wright (Bobby Darin) on Fifth Avenue, who invites her to model for him, since he's a photographer.
Her father punches Gene, after seeing the skimpy costume Chantal is modelling; but, with her mother's advice, she marries Gene. He refuses to let Chantal model, now that she’s his wife.
Shortly after their marriage, Chantal’s college friend Tina (Stephanie Powers) arrives in New York. A spoiled rich girl, she goes after Gene, admitting in a drunken stupor that she’s desperately lonely and envious of Chantal’s marriage.
When Chantal is at a loss, her mother gives her a book on “How To Train Man’s Best Friend”, and advises Chantal that many men aren't treated as well as pets. Chantal begins to use the dog training techniques to train her husband. It is only afterwards that Chantal's mother tells her that the book has been really teaching her how to live with her husband, not just training him.
Tina has already stirred up trouble. So, Chantal's mother suggests another trick she used to keep her father interested: taking a lover. Chantal is shocked. But, Germaine says that her lover, "Robert Swan", was only imaginary. She only pretended, by sending herself flowers and having her girlfriends hang up when they called “if a man answers”, as in the title, making her husband jealous.
It seems to work. Gene finally goes to the florist and tracks down Robert Swan (Caesar Romero). He invites him to dinner, and to then move in and share Chantal in a polyandrous relationship. Chantal, in disbelief, telephones her mother about the situation. Shocked, Chantal’s mother and father come over to meet the fantasy man sprung to life. Her father always suspected that Robert Swan was real. After some thought, Chantal realizes Swan is actually Gene's father, play acting. She and her mother decide to play along, turning the tables on the men for a few moments. Then Chantal leaves. But in the end they all reconcile, and, as Chantal's mother suspected, Chantal is pregnant.
Cast
- Sandra Dee as Chantal Stacy
- Bobby Darin as Eugene Wright
- Micheline Presle as Germaine Stacy
- John Lund as John Stacy
- Cesar Romero as Robert Swan/Adam Wright
- Stefanie Powers as Tina
- Christopher Knight as Richard
Awards
This comedy was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Comedy) and Best Supporting Actor (Cesar Romero). It was also nominated for a Golden Laurel for Top Female Comedy Performance (Sandra Dee).
