The Lady Says No

The Lady Says No
The Lady Says No (1951) movie poster
Directed by	Frank Ross
Produced by	Frank Ross John Stillman Jr.
Written by	Robert Russell
Starring	See below
Music by	Arthur Lange Emil Newman
Cinematography	James Wong Howe
Edited by	George Amy
Production company	Ross-Stillman Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	December 14, 1951 (1951-12-14) (Los Angelss, California) January 6, 1952 (1952-01-06) (United States)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Lady Says No is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Frank Ross with sequences filmed at Fort Ord, Pebble Beach and Carmel, California.

Bill Shelby (David Niven) is a globe-trotting author and photographer on assignment from LIFE magazine to do a photo story on Dorinda Hatch, best-selling author of the title book, "The Lady Says 'No'" (Joan Caulfield). Rather than finding a dour spinster, as he expects, she is a young, attractive blonde, who finds her published theories against love and men set on their head.

The unbidden thoughts and impulses even invade her subconscious, in a fascinating dream sequence.

It is a battle of the sexes, and the Id and Ego, as the two clash. Bill tries to show her that her book is "all rot"; Dorinda tries to prove her theories that love is just an autonomic function, which isn't really worth it.

They find that they all have a lot to learn, and forgive. It looks like sometimes the answer is "no", and sometimes "yes".

Mayhem follows, when her errant uncle returns, and they get pulled into the lives of the colorful local characters. It all ends in a barroom brawl, with the police, army, and General trying to restore order.

The New York Times critic agreed with David Niven's "trenchant observation [in the film], 'This went out with silent pictures!' Yes, indeed." But, it's still fun.

Among supporting roles are James Robertson Justice as her Irish uncle, Henry Jones as a charming army sergeant, and Lenore Lonergan as his wife, caught up in all the confusion.