The Seven Year Itch (1956) - Wilder

Plot: Based on a  popular Broadway play, when his family goes away for the summer, a middle-aged husband is tempted by his beautiful neighbor.
Stars: Tom Ewell (Richard Sherman), Marilyn Monroe (The Girl)

Famous for the shot of Marilyn Monroe's dress being lifted by the air of the subway, Seven Year Itch is a mildly amusing 50s comedy.  But its NOT a "Marilyn Monroe Movie" - she plays a supporting part and doesn't have significant dialogue till the 25 minute mark.

It is - believe it or not - a "Tom Ewell movie". He played the lead role on Broadway, and he's in 95% of the scenes. We never see Monroe without him. And he's actually not bad.  But the film really comes alive when Monroe is on-screen. She's only 28 years old and at her peak in beauty/comic timing.  And without her the movie would probably be forgotten.  Not because its bad - but because without her, its a slightly above average 50s comedy.

Tom Ewell vs. Walter Matthau
In one of his rare seemingly good casting ideas, Wilder wanted to replace Tom Ewell, with then unknown Walter Matthau.  20th Century Fox turned him down. Wow. Sounds like a real bonehead decision, no?

Actually, no. Matthau, as shown by his screen-test, wasn't a good fit for the part.  Unlike Ewell, he was new to the character "Richard Sherman", and wasn't a physical comedian. Further,  "Sherman" is supposed to be an early Woody Allen type. A wimpy, middle-aged Joe Schmo who imagines he's a great Casanova but bumbles/fumbles around when near a beautiful girl. That's not Walter Matthau, with his hangdog looks, limited vocal range, grumpy demeanor,  and sardonic humor.  Further, "Sherman" speaks directly to the audience - a lot, and Matthau often sounded like he had marbles in his mouth.  No, Tom Ewell was the right choice.  However, Jack Lemmon would've been perfect in the part -  in 1960.

Play vs Movie
Written by George Axelrod in 1952, the play was a box office smash.  However, the adopting the play to film was difficult due to the Production code.  In the play's 3rd act, "Richard Sherman" after committing adultery  has comically paranoid fantasies  and guilt feelings.  Of course, portraying adultery as a "laughing matter" was verboten  in 1955 American film, so Wilder has the film character *imagine* he committed adultery.  Its really six of one half a dozen of the other.

Wilder's Excuses
Later, Wilder would blame the critical failure of the film on the production code and his inability of show the adultery had really occurred - but this is nonsense.   He co-wrote the film with George Axelrod, and most of the jokes from the  play's 3rd act - are in the movie!.  Further, I read the play, and there are no devastatingly witty lines that missed being in the film.

Billy Wilder was a master at shifting the blame to others (he even blamed Gary Cooper for "getting old" after he cast him in Love in the Afternoon).  Dissatisfied with the film, he later bad-mouthed the Production code and Tom Ewell, but the real blame lies with Wilder. He failed to add enough funny characters/dialogue to improve the play.