This is an outstanding comedy starring Gregory Peck as Mike Hagan and Lauren Bacall as Marilla Hagan. They are an odd couple, since Peck is a sports writer who loves boxing, poker games and horseracing; and Bacall is a fashion designer totally devoted to her profession, and they have nothing in common. This screwball slapstick was directed by Vincent Minnelli for MGM; the director is a master of musicals. His career includes making successful movies such as, "Meet me in St Louis," "An American in Paris,' and "Gigi." This movie cleverly sneaks musical sequences into the story with Marilla as a designer of a Broadway show. Helen Rose, MGM's fashion designer, suggested this idea for the movie that was supposed to include Grace Kelly and James Stewart. Grace Kelly had to leave show business when she got married to the prince of Monaco, and Stewart declined the offer of the role of Mike Hagan.
The Movie starts with the Mike and Marilla meeting at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA; they fall in love and get married and return to New York City where they live and work. She lives in a fashionable apartment with friends in high places and he lives in a simple apartment with working friends playing poker. The story has two interesting parts; Marilla struggles to find who Mike's sweetheart was, before her marriage; and Mike risks his life trying to do an investigative story for his newspaper about a mafia boss who rigs boxing matches. Lauren Bacall offers a brilliant comedic performance and Gregory Peck plays the role of a husband who would go to an extraordinary length to lie about his relationship with his previous girlfriend so that his wife Marilla never gets hurt. Dolores Gray, playing as the ex girlfriend of Mike is wonderful and gracious to Marilla when she confides to her that Mike was the kind of man she was looking for.
The best dialogue appears to that of the odd couple; here are some of the witty conversations:
Marilla Hagen: "We never argue anymore. And when we do, it never lasts more than a week or two."
Mike Hagen: "Why is it that you can't stand the sight of blood on anyone but me?"
Mike Hagen: "Liquor, I've found, makes me very smart sometimes."
Mike Hagen: "So, what's for dinner?"
Marilla Hagen: "Lori Shannon."
Mike Hagen: "For dinner?"
Mike Hagen: "I'm going into the men's room now to change into the bus boy's green pants."
Marilla Hagen: [Seeing the mess in Mike's lap] "What's that?"
Mike Hagen: "Ravioli."
Marilla Hagen: "Didn't you care for it?"
Mike Hagen: "Oh, no. It's very good"
Reference: Designing Woman (DVD) Starring Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall
The Movie starts with the Mike and Marilla meeting at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA; they fall in love and get married and return to New York City where they live and work. She lives in a fashionable apartment with friends in high places and he lives in a simple apartment with working friends playing poker. The story has two interesting parts; Marilla struggles to find who Mike's sweetheart was, before her marriage; and Mike risks his life trying to do an investigative story for his newspaper about a mafia boss who rigs boxing matches. Lauren Bacall offers a brilliant comedic performance and Gregory Peck plays the role of a husband who would go to an extraordinary length to lie about his relationship with his previous girlfriend so that his wife Marilla never gets hurt. Dolores Gray, playing as the ex girlfriend of Mike is wonderful and gracious to Marilla when she confides to her that Mike was the kind of man she was looking for.
The best dialogue appears to that of the odd couple; here are some of the witty conversations:
Marilla Hagen: "We never argue anymore. And when we do, it never lasts more than a week or two."
Mike Hagen: "Why is it that you can't stand the sight of blood on anyone but me?"
Mike Hagen: "Liquor, I've found, makes me very smart sometimes."
Mike Hagen: "So, what's for dinner?"
Marilla Hagen: "Lori Shannon."
Mike Hagen: "For dinner?"
Mike Hagen: "I'm going into the men's room now to change into the bus boy's green pants."
Marilla Hagen: [Seeing the mess in Mike's lap] "What's that?"
Mike Hagen: "Ravioli."
Marilla Hagen: "Didn't you care for it?"
Mike Hagen: "Oh, no. It's very good"
Reference: Designing Woman (DVD) Starring Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall
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