The Seven Year Itch (1955)

Directed by: Billy Wilder | 105 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes, Sonny Tufts, Robert Strauss, Oskar Homolka, Marguerite Chapman, Victor Moore, Dolores Rosedale, Donald MacBride, Carolyn Jones

One of the most iconic images in film history is Marilyn Monroe blowing up her ivory halter dress while standing above a grid of the New York subway. The image comes from the film ‘The Seven Year Itch’, a farcical film that tackled the theme of infidelity in a revolutionary way for the time. This particular scene was filmed as a publicity stunt in the middle of New York, with thousands of curious onlookers all eager to get a glimpse of La Monroe. Among them was Marilyn’s new husband Joe DiMaggio. The conservative baseball legend didn’t like all those guys spying on his wife like that. But Marilyn, who was already a bit lost by then but enjoyed all the attention, kept forgetting her lines and so the scene had to be repeated dozens of times. DiMaggio had had enough of Monroe’s exhibitionism and walked away angrily. The marriage between the two superstars lasted less than nine months.

Welcome to 1950s Manhattan. In those days, it was common for men to send their wives and children on vacation during the summer months and continue their work in the sweltering heat of the big city. There had to be bread on the shelf, didn’t it? Do they then remain very lonely and alone? No, a lot of him couldn’t wait for his wife and children to leave so they could put the flowers outside. Smoking, drinking, gambling and of course flirting with other ladies was the order of the day.

One of these men is Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell), a publisher of mainly pulp novels. At the beginning of the film, he can be seen waving goodbye to his wife and son at the station. Once they are out of sight, Richard begins a fierce battle with his conscience. He doesn’t want to give in to the drink and the cigarettes, but he can’t resist them. When he returns to his apartment, he turns out to have also got a new upstairs neighbor to top it all off. And what a neighbor (Marilyn Monroe!). They drink, flirt and have a great time. Richard could get her into bed if he wanted to. Does he know how to hold back…?

‘The Seven Year Itch’ is based on the successful play of the same name by writer George Axelrod. Director Billy Wilder was eager to adapt the story, but the two had to make sure the most controversial dialogue and themes were written out first, otherwise the film wouldn’t be approved by Hays’ censorship code. It was created to remove violence and lewd behavior from films in order to combat the degradation of society. America was already quite puritan then. Wilder and Axelrod thought it was a shame to cut certain dialogues – because these were the strongest elements of the story – but they had no choice. Logically, the impact the movie version of “The Seven Year Itch” had was much less than that of the stage version. In the original story, Sherman actually cheats on the girl; in the film, his excesses are limited to vivid fantasies.

And fantasies you will no doubt have if Marilyn Monroe is your co-star. The contrast with the dull, somewhat dull Tom Ewell – who was surprisingly preferred over Walter Matthau and Gary Cooper among others – is overwhelming. But that was exactly what director Billy Wilder intended. He wanted her so much for the part of The Girl that he took her diva behavior (it was always a matter of waiting to see if she showed up on set and if she knew her lyrics). But Wilder brings out the best in her, just like in ‘Some Like It Hot’. Even though she plays the type she had had enough of later in her career – the stupid voluptuous blonde – she does a great job and proves to have a lot of comedic talent. It’s just a shame that her character doesn’t go through any development, unlike Ewell’s.

‘The Seven Year Itch’ has become a light-hearted relationship comedy, with a funny joke here and there, with very nice acting from Ewell and Marilyn at her best. Yet as a viewer you keep thinking what the film would have become if the original, much sharper dialogues had been incorporated. Now it’s still a bit obedient, especially by today’s standards. Wilder fans will also find this film a bit bland (it’s known for its biting mockery, just think of ‘The Apartment’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’), but nevertheless ‘The Seven Year Itch’ is definitely worth watching.