OH MEN! OH WOMEN!

US, 1957, 90 minutes, Colour.
David Niven, Ginger Rogers, Tony Randall, Barbara Rush, Dan Dailey, Franklin Pangborn.
Directed by Nunnally Johnson.

Oh Men! Oh Women is a 50s style comedy, focusing on the battle of the sexes and psychoanalysis. It was written for the screen and directed by Nunnally Johnson, veteran of many comedies and dramas of the 40s and 50s. It gives a starring role to Dan Dailey, is one of the last Ginger Rogers's starring roles. David Niven gives one of his typical performances. Tony Randall is introduced and set the tone for a long career playing weak men and hypochondriacs. Barbara Rush also has a starring role.

The film was glossy, filmed in Cinemascope - the type of film in those days meant to entice people away from their television sets.

1. Comedy of the 50s? Romance, battle of the sexes? Psychology?

2. Cinemascope photography, New York affluence? The stars? The glossy style, score?

3. The title, the exclamations, the focus?

4. Allan as Psychologist, his skills, the strict scientist? The David Niven style? His patients and his helping them? Mildred and her stories and dreams? His relationship with Myra, in love - with her, the planned marriage? Her dapperness? His relationship with his secretaries? Appointments, getting ready for the trip? Interactions with Myra? The meeting with Grant, not wanting him as a patient, listening, the discovery about Myra? His being upset? The stories about Arthur and Myra's relationship with him? The bicycle elements, the interactions, knocking on the door and refusals? The further guidance of Mildred? The showdown? Punching Grant? Arthur drunk? The reconciliation with Mildred and Arthur in the rooms? Going to the boat, chasing Grant away? The battle with Myra? The boat sailing - and the reconciliation? His psychoanalyst and the comments about science and emotions?

5. Mildred and Arthur, their marriage, Arthur the successful actor, Mildred and her children growing up, glamorous, drinking, not feeling wanted? Ringing up in the middle of the night? Psychoanalytic sessions, dreams? The clash with Arthur, the reconciliation in the rooms, give and take, the memories, mutual understanding, romantic overtones? Their future?

6. Myra, in the taxi, holding up the traffic, her gift and not being able to find it? The basis for the marriage? The irony of Grant's stories about her? Arthur's? Her having the buff? The psychoanalyst and his advice? Holding aloof, walking off the boat -and the boat sailing? Wanting to be wanted? The reconciliation?

7. Tony Randall's comic style as the hypochondriac, his mental collapse? Obsession with Myra? Manner with the secretary, in the rooms, the interviews? With Arthur? The punch-out? His assertion, on the boat, being chased away? Comic style?

8. Allan's psychoanalyst and his comments? Science, feelings?

9. The battle of the sexes 50 style?