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Product Details
In 1964 director Billy Wilder was at the top of his game. Following a string of hits that had begun in 1959 with Some Like It Hot, he now intended to direct a bawdy boudoir farce in the grand tradition of the French theater. The contorted plot involves one Orville J. Spooner, an aspiring song writer (originally to be played by Peter Sellers, but replaced by Ray Walston after Sellers suffered a heart attack, which he partly blamed on Wilder), and his crazed lyricist, buddy Barney Milsap. Together they toil away in the town of Climax, Nevada, Orville working as a piano teacher and Barney pumping gas across the street. Along comes Dean Martin, playing a thinly veiled caricature of himself, who just wants to fill up his tank. Instead, the songwriting duo rig his car so he's forced to spend the night at Orville's, giving the dolts a chance to pitch their songs. But Dino also wants Orville's wife. No problem! They hire Polly the Pistol (Kim Novak), the local prostitute, to masquerade as her. Thus begin the high jinks. The film plays like an extended dirty joke that could have been told around the office water cooler in 1960. It was a colossal failure both critically and commercially, and was banned by the Catholic League of Decency, to boot. Nonetheless, the film has aged well and was ahead of its time (think of it as the grandfather of Caddyshack and the great-grandfather of There's Something About Mary). Wilder eventually renounced the film and moved on. --Kristian St. Clair
Product Reviews
 (4 stars) - Soooo funny!
This is a REALLY funny movie, from the very beginning! Kim Novak is awesome, as usual, and Ray Walston is absolutely hilarious! Seems a little ahead of it's time, a surprising twist, totally enjoyable!
 (5 stars) - "If it weren't for Venetian blinds, it'd be curtains for us..."
Billy Wilder's most notorious flop, KISS ME STUPID (1964) was one of the first mainstream Hollywood movies to deal with the risque subject of partner-swapping. Dean Martin is the top-billed star (his character is very much a supporting one); but the film belongs to the sublime comic talents of Ray Walston and a surprisingly mellow, downbeat Kim Novak.
In the small town of Climax, Nevada, struggling songwriter Orville Spooner (Ray Walston) and his friend Barney (Cliff Osmond) attempt to trap visiting singer Dino (Dean Martin) into covering one of their pop songs. To sweeten the deal, Orville sidelines his wife Zelda (Felicia Farr) and substitutes local good-time gal Polly "The Pistol" (Kim Novak). Complications arise when Orville and Polly start taking their married couple act a little too seriously; and a drunken Zelda accidentally spends the night with Dino!
Wilder injects the story with equal parts hilarity and heartache. Kim Novak in particular will haunt you with her downbeat performance as the local floozy aching to enjoy the kind of stable, loving life which Orville's wife takes for granted. Novak's chemistry with Ray Walston is delightful, and their performances really cement this as one of the best romantic comedies of the 60's. As one would also expect from Wilder, the ending is very bittersweet but appropriate for the characters. I suspect this was another reason why the movie flopped with audiences during it's original release.
The DVD is sadly devoid of extra features. KISS ME STUPID is a brightly-written, intelligent romantic comedy (remember them?), and is highly-recommended from this corner.
 (2 stars) - strains to be funny...
The one and only reason to see this is the gorgeous Kim Novak. Novak has charisma to spare. Makes her
character, Polly the Pistol, fun, lovely, and--absolutely believable.
Walston seems miscast. Martin not very good at all. Writing is contrived & doesn't work.
Some claim Wilder was a genius... Seems, to me, he was far better as a director, than a writer.
(2 stars) - Poor Mr Martin
A rather unfunny film that has dated badly. Some moments but really misses the mark. Avoid.
(4 stars) - Crude ,vulgar and vigorous
Billy Wilder's crude and lewd sex comedy was roundly condemned on its original release by various religious and social groups-unsuprisingly so.It does take a satirical and sarcastic look at marriage,small town life and values ,not to mention the music business and the media.Yet ,if you look beneath the surface you will find a sensitive and ironic fable of love ,fidelity and jealousy.The screenplay ,by Wilder and frequent collaborator A I L Diamond ,is based on a play L'Ora Della Fanatsia by Anna Bonacci and Americanises the setiing and tone .It takes place in a small town named Climax where a famous crooner Dino (Dean Martin in entertainingly self -parodic mode )stops for gas en route to Vegas .He is deliberately delayed by a garage attendant Braney Millsap (Cliff Osmond )and piano teacher Orville J Spooner (Ray Walston -deputising for the originally cast Peter Sellars who withdrew for health resons).They are intent on getting him to use some of their songs (actually minor Gershwin numbers)and knowing of his reputation as a "swinger"provide him with the services of a lady of the night Polly the Pistol (Kim Novak) the hostess at a local dive named TheBelly Button.They first ensure that Sponner's wife Zelda (Felicia Farr)is safely out of the way -partly to protect her from Dino's advances .
There is a sting in the tale in this satire on personal ambition and what it does to people and their values .The movie revolves around sexual manipulation and the movie while smart and slick is not going to be enjoyed by died in the wool feminists or family values capaigners .The movie has a lot to say and says it wittily and candidly.Provided you do not object to a less than whole hearted endorsement of the joys of hearth and home then it will entertain you .Moral Conservatives please avoid it -its not your bag
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