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Staring: Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, Goldie Hawn, Jack Weston, Rick Lenz
Director: Gene Saks
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Product Details
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
EAN: 9780767881432
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0767881435
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: 2002-04-23
Running Time: 103
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 1969-12-16

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Editorial Review
Description
Walter Matthau stars as Julian Winston, an easy-going bachelor dentist whose delicately balanced scheme crumbles under some unexpected circumstances. Winston is stringing along his dizzy blonde mistress, Toni (Goldie Hawn), by telling her he has a wife and children. When he learns that Toni has tried to commit suicide over him, however, he promises to marry her. Toni, refusing to be a homewrecker, insists on meeting Winston's wife. He convinces Stephanie (Bergman)--his starched, no-nonsense receptionist--to pose as his wife, and there are unforeseen twists and surprises for everyone.

Customer Reviews

It's a below average romp that gets a major facelift due to some remarkable performances..., 2009-10-23
I looked up this 69 comedy mainly because I wanted to see Goldie Hawn's Oscar winning turn. I'm a fan of the actress and so I thought it might be fun to see where she got her start (not only did she win the Oscar for this, but it was her first film). Add to the heap that this also stars Walter Matthau (my wife and I are pretty big fans, especially of his work alongside Jack Lemmon) and one of my personal favorite actresses EVER, Ingrid Bergman, and you have ample reason to indulge in this lightweight comedy.

I think that's my biggest issue; it's really, really lightweight.

Dr. Julian Winston (tooth doctor) has come up with the perfect dating plan. He keeps ditzy girlfriend Toni at a safe distance by filling her head with the lies that he is married with three children. With a wife in the picture he can have fun with Toni without being tied down by commitment. When Toni decides that she needs that commitment, Julian runs into a problem. How can he keep up the lie that he's married and turn around and marry Toni? He persuades his `prim and proper' secretary, Stephanie, to pose as his wife and he then sets the divorce proceedings in motion. Toni, the caring woman that she is, is insistent that the longsuffering Stephanie get a fair deal, which makes what could have been a smooth transaction a rather bumpy ride.

The film is beyond ridiculous and predictable. We know within the first few minutes how this is going to end and who is going to end up with who. That wouldn't be so bad if the film had actually aged better. The film is rather corny, thanks to the embrace of the era in which it was made. It reminds me a lot of `Austin Powers' in feel and `groovyness' but it lacks impact due to the fact that this is not an intentional spoof.

What the film DOES have going for it are the performances. Goldie Hawn is delightful in all her wide-eyed gushiness. I just wanted to squeeze her. She has this sensual charm that just smothers you. She reminded me a lot of Liza Minnelli here, which is a very good thing. Ingrid Bergman is in TOP form here, funny and witty and even seductive in her old (not really) age. She masters the stripping of layers beautifully.

Without these two women the film would have been a forgettable loss.

Walter Matthau is very good here, and Jack Weston is even better as the odd womanizer Harvey Greenfield. He has some of the funniest lines, and makes the most out of the corn he is given (he even makes the tired `I work for the CIA' routine seem funny and fresh).

In the end I have to give the film as a whole a C+, but the performances (especially from the women) are a surefire A+. It's a film that I would watch again and enjoy, but not one that I would shout praises from the rooftops for. If you see it, you will like it, but if you don't see it you won't be missing anything important.

Cactus Flower reviewed, 2010-02-03
This is the movie version of the Broadway play. Walter Mathau, Goldie Hawn and Ingrid Bergman are great , with Mathau as the dentist, bERGMAN AS HIS NURSE/RECEPTIONIST AND hAWN AS HIS GIRL FRIEND,VERY ENTERTAINING.

Ingrid supra vita, 2009-11-04
As an Ingrid Bergman fan, an unbiassed review is not prossible unless she is inert or motionless throughout the entire picture.

Subtle comedy classic, 2010-01-12
What happens to a cheating husband who oddly happens not to be married?? A charming script featuring a bright blue-eyed Goldie Hawn, an elegant Ingrid Bergman and a surprisingly dashing Walter Matthau. Diamond's screenplay sparkles with wit and keeps the emotional dynamics in constant spin. The small ensemble carried this stage play on screen with confidence and energy. Matthau excels again at dumbfounded facial gynastics while Ingrid holds together the love triangle and blooms in the end. A simple yet sassy affair!

A good flick, 2009-09-18
Goldie Hawn was just an infant when she made this movie. All actors did a great job.

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