The Seven Year Itch

Can you really make an unforgettable movie from one memorable scene? Indeed, from one memorable image? Well, no, of course not. Yet, this film has retained a place in the cultural consciousness simply because of that shot of Marilyn Monroe having her skirt lifted by a subway train’s breeze. That really is the only explanation, because this movie isn’t worth watching but for the presence of Monroe, both her appealing performance and her iconic presence and look. Beyond her contribution, this flick has little to recommend it. The narrative is composed mostly of Tom Ewell’s monologuing, which is tedious in the extreme. He’s a real drip throughout and no match for his co-star’s charisma. The fact that this movie is as uninteresting as it is baffles this viewer, considering it comes from usually reliable director and co-writer Billy Wilder. Honestly, I don’t know what to make of such a disappointment. If you must watch this one in order to ogle Monroe, who looks dazzling throughout, go ahead and scratch that itch. But I could easily go another seven years without looking at this movie.