That Touch of Mink
Cathy Timberlake is en route to a job interview when a car transporting businessman Philip Shayne covers her in mud. He sends his assistant, Roger, to apologize, but upon meeting Cathy, Roger knows that she would be a suitable match for his boss. Despite their mutual attraction, Cathy and Philip want different things. Philip wants a fling, while Cathy wants a marriage. As they travel to exotic locales, their differing motivations are put to the test.
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- Cast：
- Cary Grant , Doris Day , Gig Young , Audrey Meadows , Alan Hewitt , John Astin , Dick Sargent
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Reviews
Wonderful character development!
Sadly Over-hyped
A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Doris Day and Cary Grant were my parents favorites as well as mine. To see That Touch Of Mink in 2018 is a bit of a cringing exercise. Two mega stars in their, let's say, mature years, specially Grant, behaving like adolescents it's a bit hard to take. Doris's character shares an apartment with Audrey Meadows - who I believe also needs some professional attention - they sleep in little twin beds. So bizarre to see. But and here is were the Doris Day mystery resides. I believed her unbelievable character, one hundred per cent. Doris Day was 39, Cary Grant 58 but everything I saw in Doris Days was true. That's why, I presume, this is a favorite comedy of the Coen brothers. My niece, who is 15, saw the film with me and her comment was that Cary Grant's and Gig Young's characters should be arrested. Yes, 2018 is not 1962 and films are socio-historical documents.
Delbert Mann, director of classic masterpieces Separate Tables, Dear Heart, and Desire Under the Elms was saddled with two silly Doris Day movies in the 1960s: Lover Come Back and That Touch of Mink. He wasn't by any means lousy when directing comedy, but his talents were wasted with the silly fluff pieces.Doris Day is paired with the debonair Cary Grant in this movie, and their differences are only magnified by the film. He's extremely classy yet direct; she's common and frazzled. When paired with other costars, like James Stewart and Clark Gable, Doris comes across as classy, but up against Cary Grant, she doesn't stand a chance. Since I wasn't able to see why he was interested in her, I wasn't really able to root for the romance. Another problem with this dated flick are the so-called scandalous jokes about premarital sex and feminine honor. By that point in her career, audiences expected Doris Day to act like a prim prude, but the movie just doesn't stand the test of time very well. It's supposed to be insulting for Cary Grant to give Doris an indecent proposal, and the mere thought of spending the night in a hotel with a man fills her with anxiety. Attitudes have changed for most people today, so unless you are looking for amusement in a cultural history book, you probably won't really like this movie.
I can't say I've ever been a fan of the bedroom-farce genre from the 50s/60s. So Doris Day is back as the 40 year old virgin and instead of Rock Hudson as the man who falls for her virginal charms we get CARY GRANT!!!! So we have an aging pushing 40 Doris Day still play the virgin saving herself for marriage whose character is supposed to be around 21 and a very aged Cary Grant play a millionaire who wants to bed her.Okay so that's basically the movie. The only laughs I got were from the supporting cast, notably John Astin and Gig Young. But if we were to think that the two leads who at the time literally could/would have been GRANDPARENTS at their ages, it just seems too stupid and silly to see them having such sexual hang ups. A 40 y/o virgin in Doris Day will not get the guy by holding out. The 60 y/o millionaire would have moved right along to a much younger woman since he was only trying to do her a favor in the first place by trying to deflower what is probably a near menopausal wilting flower by that time.I will never understand why Doris Day wanted to keep her virginal image when she is/was pushing middle age. The camera lens was clouded in her up close moments to hide her age. It was kind of funny, but it wasn't intentional.I did make it through, but it was annoying and for the most part unfunny.
This is not my favourite Doris Day film, that's Pillow Talk, but That Touch of Mink is a fun and charming comedy that has its flaws but also has its strengths. That Touch of Mink is not perfect though. The film is a little overlong, and the pacing is rather slow consequently there are a few scenes that drag. And there are parts that are dated compared to now, not in the cinematography but more I agree in men and women swooning over losing their virginity. Flaws aside, the cinematography is lovely, and the gowns are beautiful. The soundtrack is also nostalgic and memorable, the story is charming and the script is amusing and sparkles constantly. The direction is pretty good too, while the acting is fine. Cary Grant is admittedly a little long in the tooth, but he is still the arch, charming and urbane actor I fell in love with, while Doris Day is fabulous with her fresh and endearing approach. Gig Young brings some likability into a somewhat obnoxious character, while John Astin has a lot of smarmy lines and makes the most of them with relish and Audrey Meadows especially is sensational. All in all, That Touch of Mink is flawed, but for fans of Grant and Day and those looking for a charming and fun film this is not a bad way of passing 100 or so minutes. 7/10 Bethany Cox
