vincentlynch-moonoi As a huge fan of Dean Martin, this has long been one of my favorite Dino pics. And the pairing of Dean and Stella is just perfect.Dean Martin plays an executive type who is best friends with Eli Wallach, a department store executive. Wallach is having an affair, and Dean advises him to go back to his wife. Dean sets out to prove that the lady Wallach is having an affair with is a pure and simple opportunist. Meanwhile, Dean mistakenly thinks Stella Stevens is the woman Wallach is having an affair with; she works in the department store Wallach owns. Instead, he is having an affair with Anne Jackson, who is every bit the wonderful woman Wallach thinks she is. Through a series of misunderstandings, Wallach comes to believe Dean's advice and dumps Jackson and goes on an ill-fated trip with his wife. Dean and Stella Stevens get wrapped up in a fake affair that starts with Dean trying to prove she is unworthy to be Wallach's mistress. Of course we know that Dean and Stella, and Wallach and Jackson will live happily ever after, but it's a great trip to see how that comes about.While this was written by Stanley Shapiro, who wrote 3 of Doris Day's biggest hit films, I don't see this as a Doris Day/Rock Hudson type picture, although admittedly there are some similarities. Dean had a very different persona than Hudson, and this film required a male lead who could play things tongue in cheek...and Dean does to the max. Doris Day was usually somewhat sophisticated in her films, but Stella Stevens plays her role as an almost simple woman (not dumb, just totally uncomplicated, and rather unsophisticated...but not in a manner-less way); and Stevens plays it brilliantly, perhaps making this one of her best roles.I've never quite decided on whether or not this was a good role for Eli Wallach. It certainly is a different role for him. I wouldn't say he has comedic talent, but perhaps it needed to be played straight. Anne Jackson -- Wallach's real-life wife -- is great as the mistress. Betty Field has some good scenes as an older mistress (now alone) living in the same building. It's nice to see Jack Albertson as something other than the man in "Chico And The Man". Alan Oppenheimer has a very funny stint as a store manager who likes to seduce female sales associates.This is a very cleverly written movie, with nary a non-funny scene throughout! Excellent dialog that leads to tons of misunderstandings. A lesser writer than Shapiro couldn't have come up with such a complicated and thoroughly humorous script without missing a few beats...but no beats are missed here! Most of Dean's movies get a "7" rating from me, but this one is good enough (if you like drawing room comedies) for me to give it an "8".

JasparLamarCrabb A really fun, sadly neglected comedy starring Dean Martin. Martin attempts to help out pal Eli Wallach when he believes Wallach's mistress is cheating on him. Through a case of mistaken identity (and more than one comic blunder by Martin), Martin ends up with resourceful career girl Stella Stevens. It's as frothy as they come and very entertaining. Martin is perfect and has great chemistry with the fetching Stevens. Wallach is priceless as he tries to justify his infidelities. Director Fielder Cook keeps things moving at breakneck speed and the script by Nat Monaster and Stanley Shapiro is full of a lot of great one-liners. A clever comedy with a an unusually strong supporting cast including Anne Jackson, Betty Field, Jack Albertson and George Furth.

jorgeiorio-1 A delicious comedy - that's how HOW TO SAVE A MARRIAGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE must be classified. When HOW TO SAVE A MARRIAGE was released in 1968, I was only a teenager. Today, I regret I had not the opportunity to watch this film by that time, because I always loved that kind of comedy - not necessary to mention Doris Day's ones. Unfortunately, I only had the chance to see it in the late 1970's, firstly at TV broadcasting and afterwards, at my video-cassette home. It might seem strange to some persons, to affirm that all stars on this film have a nice performance - in special the gallant Dean Martin, the sweet Stella Stevens and the versatile Elli Wallach. On the other hand, the critics are generally very rigorous with this kind of comedy because they always expect more sensuality (or more obscenity) on scenes, however, this comedy is very funny just because the absence of malice and the presence of ingredients like a sweet sensuality - a kind of purity which we cannot see neither on today's films nor at real life. The situations are very hilariant - in special that one on which the mother-in-law's grave of a certain man is changed by asking of Carol Corman's (Stella Stevens) to the sunny side of the cemetery, as she believed on that grave was the body of David's wife, and her decision creates a lot of confusion. Stella Stevens is also very fun when she discovers David was never married, and just because of that, she practices to launch darts against David's shirt as if she was launched them over him - her beautiful face express an ingenious and hilarious hate against David, not only because of her beauty but also because of her incredible charm and, of course, her great talent as a comedian. Because of the absolute absence of obscenity at scenes, I think this film deserves to be released on DVD - as this comedy takes some of us for the good times. Special feature to Michel Legrand and to his beautiful song titled "Winds Of Change", and the superb performance by The Ray Conniff Singers at overture and final credits.

Amanda Let me confess from the outset that I'm a huge Dean Martin fan, so I was predisposed to like this film. However, I still wasn't prepared for this film to be so delightfully amusing. I truly don't understand the low rating. My only guess is, the people who gave this movie such low marks just aren't the right viewers for this kind of a film. "How To Save A Marriage" is very much like the Doris Day/Rock Hudson films (Pillow Talk & Lover Come Back). Those films don't appeal to everyone - usually either you love them or you hate them. If you loved those films, you will love this one, as well. Dean Martin plays a man who mistakes Stella Stevens' character for his best friend's mistress. Of course, Dean plays the eternal ladies man and Stella Stevens is the nice, small town girl trying her luck in the big city. Hilarious complications ensue when Dean finds it necessary to romance her himself for the good of his friend's marriage (thus, the title). If you get the opportunity to see this (and it is quite hard to find, which perhaps also explains the low rating), you really should give it a chance. It's a wonderful romantic comedy and, aside from his Rat Pack films, one of my favorite of Dean Martin's solo ventures.