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For movie goers of the 1950s, "Top Secret Affair" was an entertaining film starring Kirk Douglas and Susan Hayward. As a comedy romance, it's about as far-fetched a plot as many such films are. And, that's where some of the enjoyment comes from. The comedy is fair with a screenplay that has a tough time swinging the leading lady back and forth as a villain, then lover, then villain, then lover.

Susan Hayward's Dottie Peale is a publishing tycoon who first wants to torpedo Maj. Gen. Melville Goodwin (Kirk Douglas) as new head of the Joint Atomic International Commission. The best of the comedy comes in her various failed attempts to get him on tape and film in bad positions. After they have a night's romance, that doesn't last, to her dismay, she goes back to plan one. This happens a couple times

The movie borrowed some from a 1951 novel, "Melville Goodwin," by John Marquand. But that was mostly the names with major revisions in the characters and story. It's mostly fluff, but enjoyable stuff for the stars and their supporting cast.

Solid performances by both Hayward and Douglas and a nice turn by Jim Backus in this battle-of-the-wills comedy. Hayward is head of a Time/Life-style empire that attempts to smear the record of war hero general Douglas. As worthy opponents the sparks are subtle and adult, especially for the time. It avoids politics in an obvious way while showcasing why Kirk Douglas had legions of female fans, and why Susan Hayward was the thinking man's movie fave. Not a knee-slapper, but fairly realistic as a smart comedy. Worth a watch and better than Leonard Maltin thinks it is.

This project was previously designed for Bogie and Bacall, nevertheless the malignat disease is about to win the battle against a hard smoking Bogie, thus the couple decided quit, they were replaced by Susan Hayward & Kirk Douglas, intriguing that Kirk already paved a solid career, but somehow he was casting as second billed, should be Susan enough great than Kirk Douglas??

The plot is engaging and pleasant to watch, with humor oriented through the funny character of the clumsy Col. Gouch (Jim Backus), a tycoon of high profile magazine Dorothy Peale (Susan Hayward) lobbied on backstage to nominee a civil person to Atomic Energy Committee, to her dismay the office went to war hero Major General Melville A. Goodwin (Kirk Douglas) a hard line soldier, over such defeat Dorothy has an insight, inviting Melville for an interview at her house in order to besmirch his reputation vis-à-vis to the public, the outcome is whatsoever foreseeable as Hollywood always did.

Due the poorest votes and reviews this picture seemigly didn't had any impact at its release time, that I recollect never hear a thing over this picture, maybe for a lack of chemistry between them, Hayward seems so prudish, well dressed and behaved, it ain't Kirk's kind of woman, I expected something hot, peppery, sounds a family movie,more suitable to Rock Hudson & Cary Grant (those guys that used to kiss the chins of the actress, sorry sounds a bit offensive) also the storyline is far-fetched, whoever heard an interview which takes ten days to be done, apart these minors flaws it won't bother anyone!!

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First watch: 2021 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

This movie starts out like the kind of romantic comedy that Hollywood often does well. Susan Hayward is a powerful publisher who wants to discredit an army general (Kirk Douglas) in her magazine. For the first part of the movie, while their relationship is more adversarial, the film moves along fine and is both amusing and enjoyable. However, as the relationship changes and the story gets more complicated, the movie starts to run out of steam. This is a strange phenomenon, as one can almost pinpoint the exact moment when the air starts to go out of the balloon.

On the plus side, the film has two top-notch stars and a fine supporting cast including Paul Stewart and Jim Backus. But since, in my opinion, the film gets weaker instead of stronger as it goes along I can only give it a marginal recommendation.

With the powerful energy and sex appeal present in both Kirk Douglas and Susan Hayward, isn't it strange that when they finally made a movie together, it was a comedy? It's an oddball comedy, a supposed battle of the sexes that doesn't really hit the mark of any target, but if you want to see both their energies up on the silver screen together, you've got to rent it.

Kirk is a war hero, a general up for a big promotion. Suzy is a journalist, in charge of a great deal of publicity (good or bad) in the country. She doesn't know him and doesn't like him, and she plans to turn a seemingly harmless interview into a damning reputation crusher. Kirk arrives at her house with his faithful sidekicks, Paul Stewart and Jim Backus, and his precise regime of eating, exercise, bedtime, and moral etiquette immediately irritate Suzy. What does she do when she realizes there's no legitimate dirt to find? She forgets she's a journalist and remembers she's a woman; in other words, she fights dirty.

Even though this is far from a romantic comedy, some naughty bits made it through the censors and amused audiences. In order to be alone with him, Suzy says she gets "inhibited with more than one man in the bedroom," effectively sending Jim and Paul away. When she's particularly mad, Kirk reminds her she can't yet make good on her threat to kill him, because "generals die in bed," and in that scene they're nowhere near a bedroom. There were some funny moments, and some more dramatic moments, but all in all it felt like a waste of their talents. Since we all know they're capable of making better movies, have one of your favorites on hand for next weekend.