Amor al vuelo

Great writing, cool gowns, and Cary Grant panache only begin to describe the pleasures of this surprisingly refreshing film. Cary Grant is an overly-controlling business executive; Gig Young plays his side-kick, junior, and alter-ego. Doris Day is strong-willed and fun to watch, but Audrey Meadows is sensational in her over-the-top performance as Doris Day's older and wiser roommate. Two scenes stand out: one in the fabled NY quick-meal restaurant, the Automat, the other a computer room scene that has to be seen by anyone who knows what IBM stands for. See this movie. It will surprise you.

While going to receive her unemployment paycheck and to a job interview later, the coat of the naive Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) is splashed with mud by the Rolls Royce of the millionaire businessman Philip Shayne (Cary Grant). Later he sees her going to have lunch from his office and sends his financial adviser Roger (Gig Young) to give some money to Cathy to compensate her loss. Cathy feels offended with the offer and she goes to Philip's office with the intention of throwing the money on his face. However, when she sees the handsome Philip, she immediately falls in love with him. They date and Cathy expects that Philip proposes to marry her, but he does not have this intention.

"That Touch of Mink" is a silly and naive but funny romantic comedy. The premise is dumb and is irritating to see Cathy buying expensive clothing and traveling to Bermudas with a playboy expecting to give nothing in return. But the comedy has many funny situations, like the just married couple in the motel or Roger being mistakenly taken as Philip in Cathy's apartment building. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Carícias de Luxo" ("Caresses of Luxury")

This was probably the fourth or fifth early sixties sexual innuendo comedy that I've caught up on during the 2020, now 2021 pandemic. By caught up, I mean I've been trying to screen one film a night, that I've been meaning to watch for years, from my eight thousand plus video collection. The script was funny, the actors were good and the direction was fine. I just had a couple of problems.

Cary Grant was an entity onto himself in not less than ten brilliant, classic comedies of the late thirties and early forties. He was a suave middle aged leading man in Hitchcock suspense films of the forties and fifties. By the early sixties, while he was still sophisticated and sharp, he didn't quite have it as the romantic comedy Lothario. And Doris Day, at age forty, while still quite beautiful, charming and witty, didn't convince me that she was the nervous, starry eyed young virgin who was living the lifestyle of a twenty two year old, trying to find herself.

The original idea for the Mary Tyler Moore show had Mary Richards newly divorced and starting over in a new city. They decided to change it and have her fresh out of a long term relationship. She was thirty years old and they knew the idea that she was still a naive virgin wouldn't quite fly. If Doris' character in this one was divorced from the only man she'd ever been with, and nervous and anxious with someone new, it would have worked for me. A forty year old woman, living in a tiny apartment with a roommate, working at temp jobs and staying in a room with a man for the first time was less than credible. Yes, women like this exist and I've met them. They're usually not the type that a suave billionaire playboy who looks like Cary Grant would do an immediate backflip over.

Okay, now I sound like a sexist and an ageist. The fact is, a forty year old virgin, male or female, isn't usually the most sought after partner in New York. To leave on a positive note, Audrey Meadows was perfectly cast as the wise and cynical best friend. I wish she had done more films but I guess I should be happy that Alice Kramden is forever a part of my DNA.

This is a movie that I can enjoy watching over and over again, and every time there's something new to notice. It would be a difficult movie to re-make today, morality having changed the way it has, but as a slice of history, it works well. The script is really well-written, with some great one-liners and sharp dialogue, and who can resist Cary Grant? A hot drink, a plate of cookies, and "That Touch of Mink" add up to a very pleasant way to pass an evening.

In N. Y. C and unemployed secretary named Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) is splashed with water and mud by a Rolls Royce on her way . Car owner is Philip , a rich businessman tycoon (Gary Grant) who asks her for apologies . Cathy then is involved on a journey to Bermudas Islands where several antics and mayhem happen in a game of cat and mouse.

This is a sex-comedy in which a sympathetic woman falls in love with a man not interested in marriage. Classic and light romantic comedy of the 60s with two comedy masters : Doris Day and Gary Grant , both of whom exhibiting considerable rapport even when they are arguing. Doris Day was probably the only Hollywood actress by the time who could have handled this brand of bright and simple comedy with kinks in such expert fashion. The film is one of the various starred by Doris Day during the 50s and 60s , such as : ¨Lover come back" , "Send me flowers" , "More over darling" , "Do not disturb", "Glass bottom boat" , "Do not distur¨ among others , with usual partners as Rock Hudson and other big stars as James Garner, Rod Taylor and Gary Grant himself . And appearing likeable secondaries : Gig Young , he's ever better than habitual as the inevitable sidekick of the starring , John Astin also scores as a man with a lugubrious leer and besides Dick Sargent (Bewitched) as a nervous husband justly married. The screenplay gets fun lines and amusing situations , being written by expert Stanley Shapiro (producer too) that enables the actors to make the most of themselves. Furthermore , it displays a colorful cinematography by Russell Metty and and lively musical score by George Duning. The motion picture was well directed by Delbert Mann (Separate tables, Desire under the Elms , Marty) . The flick will appeal to Gary Grant and Doris Day fans.