Como salvar un matrimonio y arruinarse la vida

Despite being a 30 year old dyed-in-the-wool film buff when this was released I don't remember hearing about it.That despite being a huge fan of Dean Martin and his "playboy" sensibility at the time. (Still am.) This was approximately the period when the country's sense of humor slowly began to change to that of irony and sarcasm.In less than 10 years it would be David Letterman, the Smothers Brothers, and Saturday Night Live.The humor extant in this film would be relegated to dreary TV sitcoms. Dean holds his own with Eli Wallach (no easy feat) and he really seems to be working a little harder than usual to get the laughs.While I'm not familiar with Stella Stevens' body of work (no pun intended)if this is representative then she bears closer examination(again no pun intended). The best way to put it? This is 1968's version of those great screwball comedies that dominated the 30's and early 40's and it doesn't do too badly by comparison.

A delicious comedy - that's how HOW TO SAVE A MARRIAGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE must be classified. When HOW TO SAVE A MARRIAGE was released in 1968, I was only a teenager. Today, I regret I had not the opportunity to watch this film by that time, because I always loved that kind of comedy - not necessary to mention Doris Day's ones. Unfortunately, I only had the chance to see it in the late 1970's, firstly at TV broadcasting and afterwards, at my video-cassette home. It might seem strange to some persons, to affirm that all stars on this film have a nice performance - in special the gallant Dean Martin, the sweet Stella Stevens and the versatile Elli Wallach. On the other hand, the critics are generally very rigorous with this kind of comedy because they always expect more sensuality (or more obscenity) on scenes, however, this comedy is very funny just because the absence of malice and the presence of ingredients like a sweet sensuality - a kind of purity which we cannot see neither on today's films nor at real life. The situations are very hilariant - in special that one on which the mother-in-law's grave of a certain man is changed by asking of Carol Corman's (Stella Stevens) to the sunny side of the cemetery, as she believed on that grave was the body of David's wife, and her decision creates a lot of confusion. Stella Stevens is also very fun when she discovers David was never married, and just because of that, she practices to launch darts against David's shirt as if she was launched them over him - her beautiful face express an ingenious and hilarious hate against David, not only because of her beauty but also because of her incredible charm and, of course, her great talent as a comedian. Because of the absolute absence of obscenity at scenes, I think this film deserves to be released on DVD - as this comedy takes some of us for the good times. Special feature to Michel Legrand and to his beautiful song titled "Winds Of Change", and the superb performance by The Ray Conniff Singers at overture and final credits.

A film that is, at times, brilliantly funny and, at other times, mean spirited, "How to Save a Marriage" has many things going for it, including:

Tight writing that interweaves complex, comedic misunderstandings.

Strong casting, including the stars Stella Stevens and Dean Martin, and others like Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, and Betty Field ("Picnic").

Some notable fashions that adorn the beautiful Ms. Stevens.

This is a prototypical film of the sixties, a battle of the sexes that helps codify the lines of conflict, though it goes too far. As Dean is dragged deeper and deeper into a quagmire of his own making, we might ask: is he getting what he deserves or is he a victim of his own good intentions? The film never clarifies that issue, seeming to equate his character's values with those of the other male characters, who range from benign to predatory. More subtlety might have been achieved with an actor like Jack Lemmon.

Ms. Stevens, in a role written for Marilyn Monroe, comes close to achieving the naivete cum sensuality that Ms. Monroe brings to her performances.

The ending of the film is awkward, if not a cop out. But I still recommend this film for its genuine depiction of the gender war-with all its confusion-of the sixties.

I found it incredible that fewer than 5 people have voted on this film, as of Oct. 2000. It did reasonably well at the box office and is an enjoyable comedy. This film will appeal to fans of the Rock Hudson and Doris Day comedies of the same era and the plot contains just a pinch more sex dialogue.

The cast is excellent and Dean Martin is as gifted in comedy (please disregard the Jerry Lewis films) as he is a singer. The title song is catchy and worth an extra voting point. The plot concerns bachelor Dean Martin trying to save Eli Wallach's marriage and, of course, creating more problems and confusion. So ditch Rock and watch Dean instead.

May I give a bit of advice to millenials and anyone under 50? Please stop watching films that were made before you were a twinkle in your father's eye. No, really. I am serious. It's good advice.

This film was made 50 years ago. That's half a century ago. In that amount of time things have changed so much you'd think two centuries have passed, not half. Trust me. I went through that change.

Unless you were born ten years before this film was made you could not possibly understand the mentality of the time, much less enjoy the humor.

Unless you are really open-minded andand can therefore make allowances for how things were half a century ago, just stick to films that were made no earlier than the year 2000.

So next time you watch an old film, try to take it in stride, instead of insisting on telling everybody how dated/sexist/un-PC it is.

Of course it is, Dr. Obvious. It was made half a century ago.