If A Man Answers | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Harry Levin |
Produced by | Ross Hunter |
Screenplay by | Richard Morris |
Based on | 1961 novel by Winifred Wolfe |
Starring |
Sandra Dee Bobby Darin |
Music by |
Bobby Darin Hans J. Salter |
Cinematography | Russell Metty |
Edited by | Milton Carruth |
Production
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Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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102 mins. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
If a Man Answers (1962) is a comedy film directed by Henry Levin and starring real-life husband and wife Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. It was produced by Ross Hunter Productions, Inc, and distributed by Universal Pictures. The screenplay was written by Richard Morris from a novel by Winifred Wolfe.
Chantal Stacy (Sandra Dee) is the daughter of Germaine Stacy (Micheline Presle), a former French showgirl, and John Stacy (John Lund), a conservative Boston antiques dealer, who met in Paris. Chantal was the product of their “soufflé-and-beans romance". Her father worries about her French part getting pregnant, before her Boston part gets married; a foghorn sounds every time she gets close to a man.
Her father gets a promotion and they move to New York City. Chantal gets picked up on Fifth Avenue by Eugene Wright (Bobby Darin), who invites her to model for him, since he's a photographer. Her father punches Gene,after seeing the skimpy costume Chantal is modeling, but, with her mother's advice, she marries Gene. He refuses to let Chantal model, now that she’s his wife.
Shortly after their marriage, Chantal’s college friend Tina (Stefanie Powers) arrives in New York. A spoiled rich girl, she goes after Gene, admitting in a drunken stupor that she’s desperately lonely and envious of Chantal’s marriage.
When Chantal is at a loss, her mother gives her a book on “How To Train Man’s Best Friend” and advises Chantal that many men aren't treated as well as pets. Chantal begins to use the dog-training techniques on her husband. Chantal's mother explains that the book has been teaching her how to live with her husband, not train him.
Tina has already stirred up trouble. Chantal's mother suggests another trick she used to keep her father interested: taking a lover. Chantal is shocked, but Germaine says that her lover, "Robert Swan," was only imaginary. She pretended by sending herself flowers and having her girlfriends hang up when they telephoned “if a man answers,” making her husband jealous.