The Tender Trap

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The Tender Trap

Released Nov 4, 1955

1h 51m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

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6 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Successful theater agent Charlie Reader (Frank Sinatra) lives a playboy's life in New York City. When his childhood friend, Joe McCall (David Wayne), shows up with a desire to leave his wife, the two are awestruck by each other's lifestyle. While Charlie is busy with his newest girlfriend, marriage-obsessed actress Julie Gillis (Debbie Reynolds), Joe falls in with Sylvia (Celeste Holm), a rebuffed former flame of Charlie's, and the two friends must make different but equally important decisions.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A disappointing dated and flat romantic comedy from the 1950s.

Rated: C

May 15, 2008

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...makes a convenient time capsule for the fifties, and at its best it's an amusing romp.

Rated: 6/10

May 13, 2008

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 1, 2005

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Daniel Eagan

Film Journal International

Would-be-hip look at a swinging single in NYC

Rated: 2/5

Feb 11, 2005

Full Review

Randy Shulman

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

Rated: 3/5

Mar 19, 2004

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Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 3/5

Aug 22, 2003

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Helene K

If you have insomnia I recommend this picture.. all it is is drink, kiss, silly palaver, nothing to wrap your arms around.. definite waste of time

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

Joyce L P

Classic Frank Sinatra, classic Debbie Reynolds. Strong cast ensemble. Girls, girls, girls for Frank. Great movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/07/23

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Audience Member

The best comedy romance movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: the title song!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

I love Debbie Reynolds and Frank Sinatra, but the story of a womanizer and a "silly" woman who's only objective in life is to get married, is a frustrating watch by today's more liberal standards.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

What a strange movie. Always love Frank even though he played a man-whore!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

Great song, morally bankrupt characters. David Wayne's character was fine until the end when he made a pass at Celeste Holm to leave his wife after chastising Frank the whole film. Weird story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Charles Walters

Director

Debbie Reynolds

Julie Gillis

Frank Sinatra

Charlie Y. Reader

David Wayne

Joe McCall

Celeste Holm

Sylvia Crewes

Jarma Lewis

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Synopsis

Successful theater agent Charlie Reader (Frank Sinatra) lives a playboy's life in New York City. When his childhood friend, Joe McCall (David Wayne), shows up with a desire to leave his wife, the two are awestruck by each other's lifestyle. While Charlie is busy with his newest girlfriend, marriage-obsessed actress Julie Gillis (Debbie Reynolds), Joe falls in with Sylvia (Celeste Holm), a rebuffed former flame of Charlie's, and the two friends must make different but equally important decisions.

Director: Charles Walters
Producer: Lawrence Weingarten
Screenwriter: Julius J. Epstein
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 4, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 19, 2015
Runtime: 1h 51m

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