''Take Her, She's Mine'' is a 1963 American comedy film starring James Stewart and

Sandra Dee Sandra Dee (born Alexandra Zuck; April 23, 1942 – February 20, 2005) was an American actress. Dee began her career as a child model, working first in commercials, and then film in her teenage years. Best known for her portrayal of ingén ...

based on the 1961 Broadway comedy written by

Henry Ephron Henry Ephron (May 26, 1911 – September 6, 1992) was an American playwright, screenwriter and film producer who often worked with his wife, Phoebe (née Wolkind). He was active as a writer from the early 1940s through the early 1960s. Ea ...

and

Phoebe Ephron Phoebe Ephron (née Wolkind; January 26, 1914 – October 13, 1971) was an American playwright and screenwriter, who often worked with Henry Ephron, her husband, whom she wed in 1934. Ephron was born in New York City to Louis and Kate (née ...

. The film was directed by

Henry Koster Henry Koster (born Hermann Kosterlitz, May 1, 1905 – September 21, 1988) was a German-born film director. He was the husband of actress Peggy Moran. Early life Koster was born to Jewish parents in Berlin, Germany. He was introduced to ci ...

with a screenplay by

Nunnally Johnson Nunnally Hunter Johnson (December 5, 1897 – March 25, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director, producer, and playwright. As a filmmaker, he wrote the screenplays to more than fifty films in a career that spanned from 1927 to 1967. He ...

. It features an early film score by prolific composer

Jerry Goldsmith Jerrald King Goldsmith (February 10, 1929July 21, 2004) was an American composer and conductor known for his work in film and television scoring. He composed scores for five films in the ''Star Trek'' franchise and three in the ''Rambo'' franch ...

. The character of Mollie, played by

Elizabeth Ashley Elizabeth Ann Cole, known professionally as Elizabeth Ashley (born August 30, 1939) is an American actress of theatre, film, and television. She has been nominated for three Tony Awards, winning once in 1962 for '' Take Her, She's Mine''. Ashle ...

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

and in the film by Dee, was based on 22-year-old

Nora Ephron Nora Ephron ( ; May 19, 1941 – June 26, 2012) was an American journalist, writer, and filmmaker. She is best known for her romantic comedy films and was nominated three times for the Writers Guild of America Award and the Academy Award for ...

. The supporting cast features

Robert Morley Robert Adolph Wilton Morley, CBE (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, of ...

John McGiver John Irwin McGiver (November 5, 1913 – September 9, 1975) was an American character actor who made more than a hundred appearances in television and motion pictures over a two-decade span from 1955 to 1975. The owl-faced, portly character ac ...

and

Bob Denver Robert Osbourne Denver (January 9, 1935 – September 2, 2005) was an American comedic actor who portrayed Gilligan on the 1964–1967 television series ''Gilligan's Island'', and beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 series ''The Ma ...

Plot

A Los Angeles attorney is overprotective toward his teenage daughter as she leaves home for college and to study art in Paris. Concerned over the letters that she has written describing her beatnik friends and activist beliefs, he travels to Paris to investigate her living situation.

Cast

* James Stewart as Frank Michaelson *

as Mollie Michaelson *

Audrey Meadows Audrey Meadows ( Cotter, February 8, 1922 – February 3, 1996) was an American actress best known for her role as the deadpan housewife Alice Kramden on the 1950s American television comedy ''The Honeymooners''. She was the younger sister of ...

as Anne Michaelson *

as Mr. Pope-Jones *

as Hector G. Ivor *

as coffeehouse singer * Philippe Forquet as Henri Bonnet * Monica Moran as Linda Lehman *

Cynthia Pepper Cynthia Pepper (born Cynthia Anne Culpepper; September 4, 1940) is an American actress whose principal work was during the early 1960s. She was the star of the 1961–62 television series ''Margie''. She played Midge (a WAC PFC) in Elvis Presley ...

as Adele *

Jenny Maxwell Jennifer Helene Maxwell (September 3, 1941 – June 10, 1981) was an American film and television actress, probably best remembered for her role in the 1961 Elvis Presley film '' Blue Hawaii.'' Early years Maxwell was the daughter of a constr ...

as Sarah * Charla Doherty as Liz Michaelson *

Maurice Marsac Maurice Marsac (23 March 1915 – 6 May 2007) was a French actor who had a long career, with over 150 appearances in American films and television. He was also a nationally ranked croquet player. Born in La Croix-Valmer, France, he was a mem ...

as M. Bonnet *

Marcel Hillaire Marcel Hillaire (born Erwin Ottmar Hiller; April 23, 1908 – January 1, 1988) was a German-born character actor who had a lengthy career, appearing on stage, in films and on television. Hillaire was recognizable by his gaunt appearance and his a ...

as Policeman *

Irene Tsu Irene Tsu (; born November 4, 1945)Cf. Lisanti & Paul (2002), p.293 is a Chinese American actress who made her debut in the film adaptation of ''Flower Drum Song'' in 1961, and has had many subsequent roles in TV and films. She was featured playi ...

as Miss Wu * Charles Robinson as Stanley

Development

The film was based on a popular play with

Art Carney Arthur William Matthew Carney (November 4, 1918 – November 9, 2003) was an American actor and comedian. A recipient of an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and six Primetime Emmy Awards, he was best known for his role as Ed Norton on the si ...

. It was written by

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

and

based on Phoebe's correspondence with their daughter Nora, who was away at college. They wrote the script in six weeks and sent it to their agent. Both Josh Logan and

Hal Prince Harold Smith Prince (born Harold Smith; January 30, 1928 – July 31, 2019), commonly known as Hal Prince, was an American theatre director and producer known for his work in musical theatre. One of the foremost figures in 20th century America ...

wanted to produce the film, but the Ephrons decided on Prince as Logan had wanted big stars.

Production

The film rights were bought by 20th Century-Fox, which hired

to write the script. Johnson submitted a draft, but new studio head

Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl Francis Zanuck (September 5, 1902December 22, 1979) was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. He played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of ...

demanded a rewrite with the last act set in Paris to lend the film more international appeal. Johnson later called the ending "a very lousy third act, all taken on the back lot and the French didn't understand that any more than the Americans either, by that time. But he (Zanuck) insisted on it." After the assassination of

President John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until assassination of Joh ...

, all 350 copies of the film were recalled by 20th Century-Fox to delete references to the slain president.

Reception

According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $6,100,000 in film rentals to break even and made $5 million, resulting in a loss.

References

Bibliography

External links

* * * * * 1963 films 1963 comedy films 20th Century Fox films CinemaScope films American comedy films American coming-of-age films 1960s English-language films Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith American films based on plays Films directed by Henry Koster Films set in Paris Films with screenplays by Nunnally Johnson 1960s American films {{1960s-comedy-film-stub