| The Opposite Sex | |
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VHS Cover |
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| Directed by | David Miller |
| Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
| Written by | Michael Kanin Fay Kanin |
| Starring | June Allyson Joan Collins Dolores Gray Jeff Richards Ann Sheridan Ann Miller Leslie Nielsen |
| Music by | Nicholas Brodszky Sammy Cahn Ralph Freed George Stoll |
| Cinematography | Robert J. Bronner (as Robert Brenner) |
| Editing by | John McSweeney |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (original release) Warner Bros. (current owners) |
| Release date(s) | October 26, 1956 |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Opposite Sex is a 1956 musical film.[1][2]
It is a remake of the 1939 classic comedy The Women. Both films are based on Claire Boothe Luce's original play. The 1956 musical was directed by David Miller and stars June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller, Leslie Nielsen, Jeff Richards, Agnes Moorehead, Charlotte Greenwood, Joan Blondell, Sam Levene, Dick Shawn, Jim Backus, Bill Goodwin and Harry James.
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The story concerns Kay Hilliard (played by June Allyson), a former nightclub singer who discovers her husband Steven (played by Leslie Nielsen) is having an affair with showgirl Crystal Allen (played by Joan Collins). Kay is the last to find out among her circle of gossiping girlfriends. Kay travels to Reno to divorce from Steve who then marries Crystal, but when Kay finds out that Crystal isn't true to Steve she starts fighting to win her ex-husband back.
Unlike its predecessor, the cast includes male actors to play husbands and boyfriends, whose characters were only referred to in the previous film and stage versions. This alters the structure and tone of the base storyline significantly.
Dick Shawn and Jim Backus appear in a stage number singing the title song.
Harry James and his band are seen and heard in a flashback musical number "Young Man and His Horn."
June Allyson : Kay Hilliard
Joan Collins : Crystal Allen
Dolores Gray : Sylvia Fowler
Jeff Richards : Buck Winston
Ann Sheridan : Amanda Penrose
Ann Miller : Gloria Dell
Leslie Nielsen : Steven Hilliard
Agnes Moorehead : Countess Lavaliere
Charlotte Greenwood : Lucy
Joan Blondell : Edith Potter
Sam Levene : Mike Pearl
Bill Goodwin : Howard Fowler
Alice Pearce : Olga
Barbara Jo Allen : Dolly
Sandy Descher : Debbie Hilliard
Carolyn Jones : Pat
Barrie Chase : Specialty Dancer
Dick Shawn : Psychiatric Patient
Jim Backus : Psychiatrist
Harry James : Himself
Originally, MGM studio head Dore Schary envisioned Esther Williams in June Allyson's role. According to her 2000 autobiography, The Million Dollar Mermaid, she objected to Schary's casting suggestion, resulting in her suspension from the studio. Shortly after, on agent Lew Wasserman's advice, she left Metro after fourteen years. Jo Ann Greer dubbed Allyson's ballad "A Perfect Love" and ironically also sang for Williams in her last MGM musical, Jupiter's Darling (film).
The film was nominated for a Golden Globe.
France : Le Sexe Opposé
Belgium : Het Andere Geslacht
Finland : Heikompi sukupuoli
Sweden : Oss kvinnor emellan
Germany : Das Schwache Geschlecht
Italy : Sesso debole?
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