Customer Reviews

The Opposite Sex (1956) [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Opposite Sex, Starring June Allyson, Leslie Nielsen, Agnes Moorhead, Ann Miller, Joan Collins and others make this film a hip flick. A remake from the 1939 film, The Women, starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell, the 1956 version has very noticeable, but positive differences.

First, The Opposite Sex is in color and very vibrant color. The clothes and the sets demand this. Second, there are men in this movie. In the original, you never see any men. The cast was all women. The husband cheater of Norma Shearer (who June Allyson plays) is behind the camera the entire time. This is a unique attribute, but the Opposite Sex is tantalizing for different reasons.

Both The Women and The Opposite Sex are about powerful women, and The Opposite Sex stars the most powerful women in Hollywood at the time. With a look into the high society of women, June plays Kay Hilliard a "retired" singer who is perfectly happy with her theater husband played by Leslie Neilsen. Their marriage seems perfect until she finds out through her "best friends" and some jungle red nail polish that her perfect husband is seeing another woman, an actress in one of his plays. Her mischievous friends hunt down the woman, played by Joan Collins who has plenty in store for Kay because she always gets what she wants. Kay of course is devastated and files for divorce and heads to Reno to wait for it to become finalized. There she meets Ann Miller and Agnes Moorehead who prove to be the best friends she ever had and help her to realize what is important in her life.

Throw in a little music, color and men and this "Jungle Red" movie becomes hip and fun. See these actresses in the latest fashions and hear June Allyson sing "Young Man With a Horn" which is a dedication to Harry James who makes a cameo in the movie. (You can also hear June Allyson sing this song in her younger years in the film "Two Girls and a Sailor") With song, drink and fashion The Opposite Sex was the epitome of the fifties and is a fun film to watch not only for the fun characters but the nostalgia the film brings.

This movie is one of my all time favorites---right from the first scene---"This is 5th Avenue" To the final fabulous scene in the night club. The over the top fifties fashions, the bitchy dialog, and the campy musical numbers---plus the actresses who all try to out-diva each other for Leslie Neilsen no less. I never get tired of watching this one. Yes'Ma'am. If you love colorful eye-candy, 1950's fashion at it's finest, and women dishing each other, this one is for you!

It's my favorite June Allyson movie next to "Little Women". I believe it is in bright Technicolor, which shows off the incredibly elaborate dresses and hairstyles. If you want to find the perfect 50s look for a retro party, then this is the movie to watch. It has great acting with plenty of comedy and original music numbers. It's full of feminine fun! Probably not a guy's movie. It's a very rare movie to buy, but not so diffecult to rent.

For years fans have yearned for a DVD release of "The Opposite Sex" and WB Shop came through earlier in 2010. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand DVD that is part of their Warner Archive collection. It may seem pricey, but your best bet is to check their website daily for One-Day Sales like I did. Persistence does pay off.

In 1956, it was decided to remake 1939's classic "The Women" into a technicolor star-studded musical extravaganza starring June Allyson and a young Joan Collins in the parts originated by Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Not only did this new version contain original songs, but men were allowed, whereas the original had a female-only cast.

While I do appreciate "The Women", I have always found it a chore trying to make out the clipped, lightning-fast dialogue the film is famous for. To me, "The Opposite Sex" is a much easier ride, and as a result, more enjoyable. If nothing else, it's a parade of stars, big and not-so-big, but most all turning in interesting, likeable performances.

Dolores Gray is the gossipy best friend (the Roz Russell part); Joan Blondell is forever fertile; A flame-haired Carolyn Jones ("Morticia Addams") is great playing Collins' fellow hoofer and best pal; a young, dapper, dark-haired Leslie Nielsen is Allyson's philandering hubby; the original Gladys Kravitz of "Bewitched", Alice Pearce, is a gossipy manicurist who gets the whole plot rolling. Speaking of "Bewitched", things pick up in the second half when Allyson's character goes to Reno to get her divorce and meets up with Agnes Moorehead, great in everything, as well as a very charming Ann Miller (who doesn't show off her terpsichorean talents anywhere in the film). There's a delicious catfight between Miller and Dolores Gray that's a definite highlight.

The weak link among the stars is Ann Sheridan, but her character was written as the worldy-wise voice of reason and it didn't offer her any colorful opportunities. Charlotte Greenwood does well in the role of the ranch owner that Marjorie Main essayed so memorably in the original.

The musical numbers all make sense in the context of the script and do not seem out-of-place. Jim Backus and Dick Shawn show up in the title song, and another highlight is June Allyson being carried around by a chorus of male dancers. While they all reek of 1950s, the numbers are almost all too competent to be camp.

Some of the dialogue is stolen from the original word-for-word, like June's climactic exclamation: "I've had a year to grow claws--Jungle Red!!" but I didn't find it off-putting.

The widescreen print looks great; there are no defects are the colors are strong and bright. Like most other MOD releases, there are no bonus features. Anyone who loves old 1950s musicals, Marilyn Monroe pictures, or vintage female-dominated films will enjoy "The Opposite Sex".

I absolutely adore this movie, I'm just waiting for it to come out on DVD....PLEASE.

The Opposite Sex is a color musical version of The Woman that incorporates men into the cast. It stars June Allyson as Mrs. Hilliard, a woman whose husband of ten years is having an affair with a showgirl, the sexy Crystal Allan (Joan Collins). The two have even more connections; their lives are tangled in a web of gossip spread by the catty women of New York in beauty parlors and in powder rooms or anywhere else they can get a moment together.

The cast is outstanding and the music is fun enough, but the film is much too long to hold one's attention thoroughly. There is too much talk and not enough action.

The movie is much different than the original. Although some of the names, scenes, and lines have remained the same the fact that men are seen certainly changes the film. Also, Allyson's victimized wife is much more likable than Norma Shearer's sheepish version. In turn, Collins' Crystal Allan is easier to hate than Joan Crawford's catty gold digger.

While I love the Women, this one holds a dear place in my heart if only for Agnes Moorehead. Please release it on DVD!

I have waited for this movie to come out on DVD, and am SO pleased that it is finally available. Was a bit concerned about it's being a DVD-R, but was okay with making the purchase because Amazon backs it with their regular return policy. The quality is actually really good-I am very pleased with the picture quality and color. I have the movie on VHS, and this is so much better! This is one of my favorite movies-has a star-studded cast and some classic quotes: "Give it (the bill)to the lady, Ralph. She's getting off cheap at that! Even a good look at the Statue of Liberty costs a buck!" Definitely worth the money!

I waited for months to get this on DVD. It's a great classic with wonderful musical numbers and a real plot. The quality of viewing is very good.

For years fans have yearned for a DVD release of "The Opposite Sex" and WB Shop came through earlier in 2010. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand DVD that is part of their Warner Archive collection. It may seem pricey, but your best bet is to check their website daily for One-Day Sales like I did. Persistence does pay off.

In 1956, it was decided to remake 1939's classic "The Women" into a technicolor star-studded musical extravaganza starring June Allyson and a young Joan Collins in the parts originated by Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Not only did this new version contain original songs, but men were allowed, whereas the original had a female-only cast.

While I do appreciate "The Women", I have always found it a chore trying to make out the clipped, lightning-fast dialogue the film is famous for. To me, "The Opposite Sex" is a much easier ride, and as a result, more enjoyable. If nothing else, it's a parade of stars, big and not-so-big, but most all turning in interesting, likeable performances.

Dolores Gray is the gossipy best friend (the Roz Russell part); Joan Blondell is forever fertile; A flame-haired Carolyn Jones ("Morticia Addams") is great playing Collins' fellow hoofer and best pal; a young, dapper, dark-haired Leslie Nielsen is Allyson's philandering hubby; the original Gladys Kravitz of "Bewitched", Alice Pearce, is a gossipy manicurist who gets the whole plot rolling. Speaking of "Bewitched", things pick up in the second half when Allyson's character goes to Reno to get her divorce and meets up with Agnes Moorehead, great in everything, as well as a very charming Ann Miller (who doesn't show off her terpsichorean talents anywhere in the film). There's a delicious catfight between Miller and Dolores Gray that's a definite highlight.

The weak link among the stars is Ann Sheridan, but her character was written as the worldy-wise voice of reason and it didn't offer her any colorful opportunities. Charlotte Greenwood does well in the role of the ranch owner that Marjorie Main essayed so memorably in the original.

The musical numbers all make sense in the context of the script and do not seem out-of-place. Jim Backus and Dick Shawn show up in the title song, and another highlight is June Allyson being carried around by a chorus of male dancers. While they all reek of 1950s, the numbers are almost all too competent to be camp.

Some of the dialogue is stolen from the original word-for-word, like June's climactic exclamation: "I've had a year to grow claws--Jungle Red!!" but I didn't find it off-putting.

The widescreen print looks great; there are no defects are the colors are strong and bright. Like most other MOD releases, there are no bonus features. Anyone who loves old 1950s musicals, Marilyn Monroe pictures, or vintage female-dominated films will enjoy "The Opposite Sex".