Customer Reviews

Kiss Them for Me

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Kiss Them for Me" is a little known (or at least, lesser known), comedy gem from 1957. Stanley Donen works wonders with a reserved approach, allowing the stellar cast to do their thing, which brings alive the comdeic elements while not overshadowing the more serious moments.

Cary Grant is always marvelous, and his performance here is no exception. His Commander Crewson is a fairly typical Grant role of a part-goldbrick, part-devil-may-care military officer, a standard Grant character. But then, we have some magical moments interspersed with the suave Grant comedy that gives him a chance to really go for the dramatic gusto.

Three soldiers, who have made incredible and heroic contributions to the battles of World War II are being set up for a PR tour to promote the war effort. Crewson and his cohorts decide to have some fun in San Francisco instead, and finagle their way into a few days leave. Once there, it's a life of ease, except for the fact that they're not exactly on an approved leave, and the shore patrol is on the lookout for the rogue heroes. Each man wants to just get out of the line of fire, having seen enough of it, and are not interested in promoting anything but their own freedom, if just for a few days.

Two great Grant dramatic moments will stay with you for sure; in the first, Grant tells off a pushy millionaire who wants the men to give a rah-rah speech to his factory workers. In the other, Crewson meets a fellow soldier he knew, a young man who got a bad break in battle.

Ray Walston and Larry Blyden offer excellent support as Crewson's war hero comrades, and Werner Klemperer ("Hogan's Heroes") stands out as a military PR man shepherding the three semi-awol soldiers. Jayne Mansfield plays a typical "dumb blonde" as usual, and Richard Deacon ("The Dick van Dyke Show") appears in a small, but memorable supporting role as a shy paper magnate.

It's too bad this one isn't better known. Perhaps this is beacuse the movie does not touch the lofty heights of comedy met in "Operation Petticoat" or "Father Goose". Instead, the film is a comedy-drama about WWII, and was possibly aimed at a more mature audience, both of which make the movie a bit more tense for the casual viewer. This is especially true in the last third or so, as the focus wanders a bit into more mature and serious areas, then tries to wander out again by the end.

Regardless, the film is well worth viewing at least once, and is an excellent example of a late 50's "grown-up" film.

By 1957 Cary Grant had his screen characterisations down pat and was able to move effortlessly through comic roles like this one in "Kiss Them For Me". Never could "Kiss then For Me", be called his best effort in a decade that saw most of his famous collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock in "To Catch a Thief", and "North by North West", bring him renewed popularity at the Box Office, however he works very effectively with a very different type of director here in Stanley Donen. Grant would enjoy one of his greatest successes under Donen's direction in the early 1960's with the classic "Charade", with Audrey Hepburn and while this is a much lesser effort that great comic timing and style is very evident. At first glance having Jayne Mansfield as his leading lady might not be what you would expect in a Cary Grant movie having become used to the Irene Dunne's and Katherine Hepburn's as his leading ladies in his earlier triumphs however the two make an interesting team. I find this to be one of Mansfield's more pleasing performances where she gets to utilise her vastly underestimated comic abilities which of course are still wrapped up in the screen persona of the luscious blonde bombshell, a la Marilyn Monroe, which she sadly always found herself lumbered with. Cynical comedy is always hard to put over effectively on screen but Grant does his usual fine job as a navy war hero on a four day leave of duty at the end of World War II who along with his mates find themselves the targets of a cynical money making PR campaign promoting the war effort.

Three stars as a movie, but an extra half-star for Cary Grant's remarkable portrayal.

This film doesn't get a lot of airplay and isn't well-known -- it was unsuccessful because of its split personality.

Grant fought to make this movie, as he wanted to bring out into the open the ongoing problem of what we know today as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but the studio wanted another "light-hearted war comedy", and the movie suffers from the tug between the two themes.

Grant's portrayal of a war-weary naval aviator trying to cope with his illness might have garnered him an Oscar nomination in another film, but still rings true even with the studio-required script changes.

It also points out the differences in attitude and perception between combat veterans and both civilians and even those in the military who spend a war safely at home.

Also notable as Ray Walston's first film, playing a fellow aviator running for Congress by long-distance.

Based on a play bearing the same title, 'Kiss them for me' is now completely forgotten, in spite of the names of Cary Grant, Stanley Donen, or Jayne Mansfield.
The original idea could have led to a bitter sweet comedy about bravery, patriotism, cowardice and lies.
But it's too confused. Cary Grant delivers his line with his usual panache, but cannot save a particularly clumsy script.
One can understand why Jayne Mansfield was so thrilled to be his new leading lady, but she finds nothing interesting to do in the film, except being this over-the-top sexy squeaking blonde bimbo who's unable to calm down, a character she would also offer to her audience off-screen. Unfortunately, Donen doesn't manage to use her comic talents as Frank Tashlin did in 'The girl can't help it' and tried instead to focus on the other more controlable leading lady, namely former model Suzy Parker. That was quite a mistake, for her acting remains annoyingly wooden and expressionless throughout the film.
'Kiss them for me' has its funny moments though, (turns out to be be quite bitter and pessimistic), and Jayne Mansfield's enthusiasm saves the whole project from total boredom.
Donen who had previously delivered such gems as 'Funny Face', Singin' in the rain' or 'On the town' obviously seems lost (or not interested). And it's really a shame.

I have to say I am a fan of Cary Grant but his storyline in this film is just so boring! Grant chews the scenery and tries too hard to come off as a clever written playboy in the Navy. In effect he feels more like Lyle Waggoner, than Cary Grant. I did enjoy Jayne as man hungry girl harassing all the boys on a four day leave. I wished they would of made the film more about the swinging Alice character. Grant's part seems very bland and disposable.

When this film came out critics panned Jayne's part for being trashy, in my opinion she's the only redeemable thing about this dated, and predictable movie. It's not any of the actors fault really, the script stinks.

Stanley Donen - Director
Julius Epstein - Writer (screenplay)
Luther Davis - Writer (play "Kiss Them for Me")
Frederic Wakeman - Writer (novel "Shore Leave")
Jerry Wald - Producer
Milton Krasner - Cinematographer
Lionel Newman - Composer
Robert Simpson - Editor

At first glance this play may seem formula and simple. The actors may look like they're walking through their parts. You may also notice other things or the absence of things that make this scene like a so-so film. However all it takes is a couple of viewings and you will mysteriously be hooked on this film and want to purchase a copy.

This is a retrospective movie made in 1957 depicting close to the end of the war in 1944. It's the story of several war heroes who finesse he leave to San Francisco for a few days to escape their positions. What would you do if you had several days leave in San Francisco and you are a war hero in 1944? Yes and that's exactly what they do. This story is about how they do it. During their leave time Cmdr. Andy Crewson (Cary Grant), Lt. (j.g.) McCann (Ray Walston), Mississip (Larry Blyden), and to an extent Lt. Walter Wallace (Werner Klemperer) must reflect on the times and what they really want out of life. To assist them in their endeavor are ship building "Typhoon" Eddie Turnbill (Leif Erickson), Eddie's fiancé Gwinneth Livingston (Suzy Parker), a ditzy girl with some profound thoughts, Alice Kratzner (Jayne Mansfield), and a dead man in a wheelchair.

This is a story about choices. What did they choose in the end? Would you have chosen the same?

Now able to view it on a 42" screen I noticed that they did not over makeup Suzy Parker. You can still see her cute freckles.

South Pacific (Collector's Edition)

I got this movie because I LOVE watching old movies w/Hollywood Bombshells in them like Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Jane Russell etc. & I like Cary Grant. Jayne Mansfield's acting in this film reminds me of the kind of acting one does in highschool -- a far cry from the acting she's done in Rock Hunter & The Girl Can't Help it. Her acting makes her character seem nuttier than a Baby Ruth. Granted Jayne is only in there to be Jayne in the movie -- because she doesn't seem to have anything to do w/the story -- but why couldn't the director bring her acting a bit down to earth a little? & then when she dances with the man who says he'd do anything for her, she gives her signature squeal for 1/2 a minute. If that doesn't cement her looking like a nut, I don't know what does.

I thought I might buy this film until I read some of the reviews and tried to picture the stars in the roles created by Frederic Wakeman in his wonderful novel, "Shore Leave". I will not buy the film and just reread for the upteenth time the novel.

Cary takes alotta lumps from Reviewers in here, I say he was at his best by portraying a combat carrier pilot in the middle of WW2...he injects the inner/wisdom of the stressors of carrier pilots who take off in the largest ocean on this planet, drop bombs on a tenacious enemy afloat and tries to get back to his carrier in one piece, if fortunate enough ...with all these extenuating stressors of combat [dwell on this some]...he exudes all these traits when amongst his own calling, for example in the cocktail lounge high above San Francisco [The Top Of The Mark]...he encounters a younger Navy pilot in a wheelchair in the care of a Navy Chief friendly to Grant...at first Grant doesn't recognize the hero [ MOH] in the wheelchair ...in the flash of a mental/lightening bolt, Grant now recalls this young pilot now looking gravely sick as a result of aerial combat all shot up...at that precise moment, the young pilot is now aloft doing what he loves shooting down Japanese planes, destroying ships so on and so on...Grant is right with him all the way...that is a gift of an accomplished actor is Cary Grant [outside of Cary Grant]...that one scene is the BONDING of combat veterans, the rock-solid camraderie that civilians can't even recognize; let alone feel....but Grant and his comrades eminate this throughout the picture even up to the final fadeout...heading back into the war come hell or high water...heroes, of course, but the unherald types; yet, never ending mortal/combat can be such a gripping elixir to cetain men that many in here just draw a blank expression...whoever wrote this screen/play was a man of such Naval combat ilk and Grant comes through as the excellent actor who knows his character...another heart-tugging scene, when Harry Carey, Jr comes into the hotel party drunker than a skunk and blurts out their carrier was sunk!!...Grant and his buddies sink, too, with guilt as they are on an R&R... had they not...they probably would have died with their shipmates...no, this is not a bummer of a movie; conversely, a well thoughtout film about men at war, tired of killing, but it is still a long war: tomorrow-tomorrow-tomorrow, etc and that's all they know...the long and endless fight to end it, and hopefully, try to get on with a peaceful life thereafter...oh, for the record, Suzy Parker is a 100% dud of an actress, just awful...now that is your bummer!!........SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

Boring. This movie just drags on, and you tend to loose concentration in it. I'm sad to say, but I didn't even finish watching it. I've never done that with a Cary Grant movie before this one.
Cary Grant is probably one of my all-time favorite actors...but this movie is just BORING!