A Vênus de Carne

When the biggest name in Hollywood gets a pivotal role, but is unbilled, there is something unusual happening.

It gives away nothing to mention that the great John Wayne plays John Wayne in a movie within the movie, and his movie is color within the black-and-white "I Married A Woman."

The other surprise, to me, was the ability demonstrated by George Gobel. I had seen some of his TV shows in some of my TV history classes, and never had the slightest suspicion he was a talented actor as well as variety show host. He's also a very nice-looking guy, even if shorter than his leading lady.

In "I Married A Woman" (and what a woman: the gorgeous Diana Dors!), Gobel reminds me a lot of Harry Langdon as the rather hapless and put-upon husband and advertising agency executive.

The Duke shows up rather early when the married couple take in a movie, "Forever and Forever and Forever," which would have been a really interesting role for Wayne.

That marvelous actor Adolphe Menjou is the ad company boss and is, of course, superb, a delight as always.

William Redfield shows strength in a nicely written part of elevator operator and law student. He is so great in this role, I don't understand why he didn't become a big star.

Several other major talents and some recognizable faces round out a very capable cast, few of whom are household names today.

The directing could have been tighter, but there are no major gaffes or holes; the script was well-enough written, as one would expect from Goodman Ace, but probably can't be considered one of the 100 greatest.

Still, "I Married A Woman" is fun and surprising and it has some beauty and warmth. It played on Turner Classic Movies on 18 June 2015. Next time it's presented, I hope you can see it.

Diana dors is hot! But that's all! The writing is so bad, and the lead actor is so annoying, I can't dumb myself down to watch. I did watch the film, but I kept saying aloud, "this is so dumb!" The writing and characters are so weak and dumb. Had potential but I watched and it's so bad.

An alleged comedy starring George Gobel and Diana Dors' cleavage, this TV-style sitcom asks us to believe 1) George would win Diana, 2) they'd live in what looks like a $10 million Manhattan duplex on his salary as a junior ad executive, 3) she would never, never get the chance to tell him she's expecting, which would essentially end the movie, 4) he'd put up with Jessie Royce Landis's endless henpecking (cue the mother-in-law jokes), and 5) the ultimate symbol of screen urbanity, sophistication, and chivalry is… John Wayne. The writing is barely television level, and director Hal Kanter (later a TV mogul, responsible for "Julia" and other notable sitcoms), barely knows where to point the camera. The story's so thin that even at 85 minutes it feels padded. Diana, always good to look at and not an incapable actress, deserved better than this.

Wonderful to see the great Diana Dors in her prime. She really was an actress but was seldom allowed to show it, as in this film. The storyline is similar to romantic comedies of the '30s and '40s. Dors married to Gobel, somewhat reminiscent of the Marylin Monroe characters often matched with male characters thought not to be in her league, are an enjoyable couple. No doubt that this is a piece of fluff, but enjoable to watch both leads at the time their names were part of pop culture.

One of those frustrating comedies in which misunderstandings arise because the characters fail to talk to one another. Stand-up comic George Gobel is an ad exec married to Diana Dors (before weight gain turned her into a plump parody of the sex-bomb she once was), who used to be the model for his agency's leading client. A few bright spots - but not many - and Gobel and Dors come across as a second-rate Ewell and Monroe.