The Seven Year Itch (1955) * *

Directed by:  Billy Wilder

Starring:  Tom Ewell, Marilyn Monroe,  Sonny Tufts

I saw a local theater version of the Broadway play on which this movie is based.     Now, I've seen the movie.    I don't think it could work in any form.     Aside from minor characters thrown in on occasion to break up the monotony, The Seven Year Itch is a two-person show and we witness all of the pitfalls which go along with staging such a show.

Billy Wilder's movie has one advantage the play does not, which is it can escape the confines of Richard's apartment and we can actually see the street, or where he works.     But, unfortunately, no matter where Richard goes, there he is.    Alas, the problem.     There are times when we could use a break from this knucklehead and he just won't go away.

The Richard of this movie is Richard Sherman (Ewell), a late 30s (ha ha) married man whose wife is away for the summer.    Richard is stuck working in the hot city, but life will soon become more adventurous when a sexy blonde (Monroe) accidentally drops a tomato plant from the balcony above.     Richard sees her and is thunderstruck with lust.     This blonde, seemingly available woman fell into his lap like manna from heaven.    Richard undergoes somewhat of a moral crisis, but not so much so that it stops him from inviting the girl to dinner or back to his place for a drink at midnight.

Richard undergoes quite a battle with his conscience.     Some of this is played out in fantasies or daydreams, while the rest he explains to the audience in endless dialogue.     He is fortunate not many others are around to see him talk to himself so much.     The issue is that the movie feels the need for Richard to fill up every moment with incessant talking as he tries to justify his obvious infatuation.     If much of this dialogue was cut out, the filmmakers would have had barely have enough running time to qualify for a feature film.     Fine by me.

Not much is known about the girl, not even her name.    She is more of a symbol than a person.    She represents an alternative to the dull existence that has become Richard's marriage.     I am of the belief that major characters in a movie should have at least a first name.     When Richard refers to the girl as "Lady" or "Miss", it is inconceivable to think he never once asked her name.     There is a sly reference to Marilyn Monroe herself played as a wink to the audience.     Not many men would be lucky enough to have Marilyn Monroe in his apartment alone.    

The Seven Year Itch is a morality tale with non-stop chatter.   I zoned out for long sections of it.    Dialogue is more memorable in small doses.     One word can have more power than 100 words.     The movie could have had Richard having internal conversations with voice over at its disposal.     This is a distinct advantage over a play.     But, The Seven-Year Itch, aside from a different conclusion and a few more sets, is basically a filmed play.     With of course the addition of the iconic scene in which Marilyn has her skirt blown up while standing over a grate.