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Designing Woman

Play trailer Poster for Designing Woman Released May 16, 1957 1h 58m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Sports reporter Mike (Gregory Peck) and clothes designer Marilla (Lauren Bacall) meet and fall in love while on vacation. They marry on a whim, only to come to the shocking realization that they have very little in common. Mike is a blue-collar sports fanatic. Marilla is a high-society fashion diva. But when Mike writes a tell-all piece about a boxing promoter (Edward Platt) with mob ties, they have to overcome their differences to save both their relationship and Mike's life.
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Designing Woman

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker There's real chemistry between Bacall and Peck, which Minnelli emphasizes in carefully observed intimacies and brusque banter alike. Jan 18, 2016 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The uproarious "ravioli scene" is the movie's most famous interlude (Peck tribute shows often would employ it to demonstrate the actor's underrated comic chops), but there are plenty of memorable set-pieces in this effervescent effort. Rated: 3/4 Aug 10, 2021 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia This romantic comedy by Minnelli is very pleasant to me. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 Jul 23, 2020 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion A sunny view of artistic self-awareness slicing past gaiety Feb 4, 2010 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Comedy full of Minnelli's creative visual style. Aug 8, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This mildley entertaining comedy is a reworking of the superior Stevens' 1942 "Woman of the Year," with Gregory Peck in the Spencer Tracy role and Lauren Bacall in Katharine Hepburn's. Rated: B- Jul 20, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tom M Definitely a film of its time. The motivations behind some of the characters actions are puzzling. It has its moments but Peck is not a natural comedian and Bacall's voice grates a little. Very funny fight/dance scene at the end,though. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/29/24 Full Review Pat V It’s a delight to watch for the costumes alone. Fabulous 50s couture styles. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review Steve D Unpleasant and fairly toxic. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/08/23 Full Review Bonnie K First time I seen this movie. It was a fun, romantic romp. Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck have lots of chemistry. The 2 characters meet on Vacation in CA. They fall in love and marry in 2 days, go to live at her lavish apt in NYC. MIKE is a sports writer, Marilla is a fashion designer. Thruout the movie the main characters talk to the camera and narrate what they are doing. A funny scene is when Mike has to tell a lady friend he got married. So she dumps cooked ravioli with red sauce on his lap. Mike has to change in a short waiter pants since his pants have wet red sauce all over. Another funny scene when Mike is hiding from the mob, he goes to a hotel room. With him is Mugsy a boxer who got his head hit too many times. So he is like punch drunk! Mike looks at him on the bed so still, with eyes wide open. Mike says he's dead, dead, goes to him, and Mugsy jumps up! Turns out he sleeps with his eyes open. Overall a cute, fun movie! I watched it on HBO MAX. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a bad movie. There is no charm, no wit, no sophisticated banter among the main characters. These actors were incapable of this re-working. No chemistry existed between them and the listless, flat performance from Bacall precluded any emotional involvement. The film doesn't work on any level. This attempt at a "sophisticated" comedy failed miserably -- and was only realized on television, with 1970s shows like Mary Tyler Moore. Check your mood before you see this one. As you watch this humorless, witless production, you will feel worse and worse. I suspect most people grab the remote and switch this one off. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy romance movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Designing Woman

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Cast & Crew

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Vincente Minnelli

Director

Gregory Peck

Mike Hagen

Lauren Bacall

Marilla Brown Hagen

Dolores Gray

Lori Shannon

Sam Levene

Ned Hammerstein

Tom Helmore

Zachary Wilde

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Designing Woman

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sports reporter Mike (Gregory Peck) and clothes designer Marilla (Lauren Bacall) meet and fall in love while on vacation. They marry on a whim, only to come to the shocking realization that they have very little in common. Mike is a blue-collar sports fanatic. Marilla is a high-society fashion diva. But when Mike writes a tell-all piece about a boxing promoter (Edward Platt) with mob ties, they have to overcome their differences to save both their relationship and Mike's life.
Director
Vincente Minnelli
Producer
Dore Schary
Screenwriter
George Wells
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 16, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 58m
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