The Opposite Sex 1956

     Kay Hilliard is married to New York theater producer Steven Hilliard and they have a young daughter Debbie.  The Hilliard’s have been married ten years and Kay is a popular radio singer.  Steven meets Crystal Allen and she sets out to break up the Hilliard marriage.  Kay is too brokenhearted and disillusioned to fight for her Steven and their marriage.  She goes to Reno to get a quick divorce even though she realizes that Crystal is just a gold digging chorus girl.  Crystal has been in one of Steven’s shows and that is how they met.  Kay’s best friend counsels her that Crystal is not in love with Steven but all she wants is material wealth and comfort.

     This film is dated and there are a lot of singing numbers with June Allyson.  I found it unusual that all of the other women have perfectly styled hair but Allyson has a frumpy style?  Maybe that is the way she likes her hair but I don’t think it was flattering?  I also don’t know why she couldn’t tell her husband that she loves him, their daughter needs him and she doesn’t want a divorce?  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)   

117, Comedy directed by David Miller with June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller, Leslie Nielsen, Jeff Richards, Joan Blondell, Sam Levine.

Note:  Imdb 6.2 out of 10, 20% critic 53% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 100 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 3* out of 4* user reviews 3.93* out 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, 10202 W. Washington Blvd, Culver City, California.  June Allyson slaps Joan Collins and it was a real slap that made Joan’s earrings fly off her ears.  June was told that Joan would pull back from the slap but Joan was told June would not strike her.  Joan Blondell was the second wife of Dick Powell and June Allyson was his third wife.  This caused some tension during filming.  This is a remake of the 1939 non-musical film The Women.  Clare Booth Luce wrote The Women for the stage about New York society of the late 1930’s.