bkoganbing My main problem with this musical remake version of The Women is that it was not just confined to The Opposite Sex. When Clare Booth Luce wrote her original work with only female roles it was not just as a gimmick. She wanted her viewers to use their imaginations especially in the roles of the husbands as to what these men were like and whether The Women should let them go or fight for them.That is now lost with the men being flesh and blood now. Leslie Nielsen in the role of Steven Hilliard (formerly Haines) is in an impossible job and he comes off as insipid. One wonders whether June Allyson wants him back for himself or just to reassemble the American family for the sake of her daughter Sandy Descher.Jeff Richards can't compare to the imaginary Buck Winston we have in our minds from the first version. In fact he's more Joe Buck than Buck Winston.Joan Collins in her salad years is just getting into those femme fatal roles she took out a patent on. Of course she's no Joan Crawford, but who is. And Dolores Gray carries right on from where Rosalind Russell left of as Sylvia Fowler.No great songs from writers Nicholas Brodzsky and Sammy Cahn are in this score.It's not a bad film, but in comparison to the original this is like a summer stock production.

ron-fernandez-pittsburgh THE OPPOSITE SEX is a product of the 50's. And it's quite grand. Why so many people dismiss this movie is a mystery to me. No, it's not SINGIN IN THE RAIN; AN AMERICN IN Paris; THE BANDWAGON etc...but it IS entertaining. In fact, it's not really a musical comedy. It's more of comedy with music as no one starts singing or dancing in the middle of a scene. All the musical numbers are in "performance" mode. I think this is more of a realistic aspect than the original THE WOMEN that this film is based and up-dated upon. Who ever heard of a film with no men. In THE WOMEN, the entire cast, including a bartender, a driver etc...are all played by women. Quite odd. Anyway, this loose remake is lot's of fun. Nice color, wide screen and a good cast. JUNE ALLYSON is just fine in her role as is JOAN COLLINS. The real stand outs are AGNES MOOREHEAD (isn't she always?), DOLORES GRAY and ANN SHERIDAN. Just wish SHERIDAN had more to do. Enjoy this for what it's worth. Just a good, fun time, not to be taken very seriously. The fact that LESLIE NEILSEN marries the JOAN COLLINS character is the most implausible aspect of the entire film. He already knows what a B---H she is and he still loves his wife...so the marriage doesn't make sense. But of course if they didn't marry there would be no Act 111. Nice that this movie is now available on DVD thru Warner Archives or by rental from CLASSIC FLIX. See another great film of it's time and era as well...MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS.

dougdoepke No need to compare this stand-alone with the original. MGM's wardrobe department must have worked overtime. The ladies-- and there are many-- get to model all the high fashion of 1956, and some outfits are real doozies. But then this is a tell-all musical remake about sophisticated Manhattan show people from influential author Luce who certainly should know. You may need a scorecard, however, to keep up with the rotating relationships among the high class types. I expect the film sets feminist teeth on edge now with its depiction of women as either maliciously catty (Gray & Collins) or catty as a defensive measure (Allyson, Blondell, & Sheridan). And that's when they're not chasing after men on whom it appears they're emotionally dependent. I imagine that if the movie were made today, key changes would be made.That's not to say this Technicolor candy box isn't entertaining. It is at least campy fun, although the musical numbers are mostly forgettable. Instead, it's the characters that are irresistible, particularly Gray as the queen of acid gossip; Collins as the ruthless husband stealer; and Richards as the dude ranch stud. It's also a well-honed supporting cast, down to a blondined henchwoman Carolyn Jones. Unfortunately, it's also a rather dour June Allyson, a long way from her usual verve and sparkle. But the high-point may well be the biggest no-holds-barred brawl between two women (Miller and Gray) that I've seen. Stand aside John Wayne and the rest of the macho brawlers because this one is worthy of the best smoke-filled bar room. I don't know if stunt doubles filled in, but somebody deserved a fat paycheck. Anyway, if you don't mind seeing women behaving badly 1950's style, this well-upholstered confection deserves a look-see.

wes-connors June Allyson is not naughty enough for her husband, so he goes for Joan Collins, who has a roving eye of her own. They have to decide, in the end, which twosome is preferable. What seems like a million other characters move in and out of the story, all focused around Ms. Allyson. Some of the characters are interesting and recognizable, some are not… all become tiresome, eventually. It does sound, like others have commented, that Doris Day sings one of Allyson's songs (early-ish in the movie). I've been watching TCM's tribute to Allyson, and some of these films are strange indeed! It's nice of TCM to show them, though.Allyson often wears something to match her lipstick. Ms. Collins likes to smoke in her bathtubs. *** The Opposite Sex (10/26/56) David Miller ~ June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan