UNDER THE YUM YUM TREE
US, 1963, 110 minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Carol Lynley, Dean Jones, Imogene Coca, Edie Adams, Paul Lynde, Robert Lansing
Directed by David Swift
Under the Yum Yum Tree is a light sex comedy of the early '60s. Jack Lemmon is the star, giving once again his star turn performance as a lecherous landlord. Films he made at this period include The Notorious Landlady, Irma la Douce, Good Neighbour Sam, How to Murder Your Wife and The Great Race.
The film is based on a play, focuses on an earnest young woman, Carol Lynley, and her boyfriend, Dean Jones. They plan to live together without sexual relationship in order to test their compatibility and their character. Given the attitudes of the '50s and early '60s, this was a little daring at the time. In retrospect it seems somewhat quaint in comparison with attitudes and their portrayal in popular entertainment. The supporting cast includes Edie Adams as Irene and Paul Lynde as Murph, the assistant caretaker. The film was directed by David Swift and moves at a brisk and lively pace.
Entertaining in its way, a good Jack Lemmon performance - and a perspective on sexual mores in movies from Hollywood in the early '60s.
1. Entertaining sex comedy? Characters? Situations? Values?
2. The Californian locations, the college, the apartment block? The interiors? Restaurants? The musical score and songs?
3. The title, Hogan's explanation of yum yum - and the apartment block like a yum yum tree? The theme song and its lyrics?
4. Robyn and David, going to college, their age and experience, naivety? Robyn and her love for David, the `modern' proposal to live together? Her going to class, Irene and the class topics about sexuality and relationships? Her friends? Her not wanting her mother to know? Reliance on Irene? Hearing that Irene was moving, going to the apartment, meeting Hogan, not explaining that her roommate was male? Oblivious to his advances? Settling in, with David, the unpacking, the sleeping arrangements? Naivety and rationalisation? Hogan's intrusions and giving advice? Irene and her giving advice? Murph and his wife - and her comments? Robyn avoiding Hogan's advances? David and the arguments, his weariness? Temptation? Her going out with Hogan, her going out for the night, being misunderstood, the happy reconciliation with David?
5. Hogan and his apartments, his wealth, his room and all the equipment? The range of tenants and their glamour? The clash with Irene and her leaving? His accepting Robyn for the apartment, anticipation of the roommate? Murph and his supporting him? His wife's criticism? Robyn's arrival, his advances? The meeting with David and the flowers? The misunderstandings? His eavesdropping, falling into the pool? Manipulation, giving advice to David, helping him with his exercise? Taking Robyn out, the advances? Irene and the clash? The morning after the night before? The truth? - His waving them goodbye - and going back to his old ways?
6. David, love for Robyn? Wariness about the plan? His going along with it, the initial clashes with Hogan? The temptations? The advice about the exercise, his weariness? His fight with Robyn, wanting to move out? The misunderstandings - his setting the scene for the seduction, the drinking, talking, his being honourable? The final reconciliation?
7. Irene, her lectures, love for Robyn, giving her advice? The clash with Hogan and her leaving? Her coming back, foiling Hogan? Protecting Robyn? The happy ending?
8. Murph, sharing Hogan's lechery - but always being called back to reality by his wife?
9. Themes of relationships, getting to know one another, premarital sex, public attitudes in the early '60s? Appearances and reality? Relationships and marriage?
