Movie Review: The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Written by Teresita Blanco (The Artsy Sister)
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Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch is a cheeky slice of mid-century Americana that still manages to charm and amuse, even seven decades later. Starring the iconic Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, this 1955 comedy plays with taboo, temptation, and imagination—all set during a hot New York summer when the wives are away and the fantasies come out to play.
The plot is deceptively simple: Richard Sherman (Ewell) sends his wife and son off to the country to escape the city heat. Left to his own devices, he quickly begins daydreaming about bachelor life, martinis, and of course, the beautiful blonde (Monroe) who moves into the apartment upstairs. What follows is a mix of hilarious overthinking, exaggerated fantasies, and awkward flirtations that are equal parts innocent and ridiculous.
Monroe’s character—known only as The Girl—is a symbol more than a person, and the film doesn’t try too hard to pretend otherwise. Yet she brings undeniable charm to the role, with a mix of comedic timing and effortless allure. Her famous subway grate scene has been parodied and referenced endlessly, but seeing it in context still holds cinematic magic.
Tom Ewell delivers a neurotic, internal-monologue-heavy performance that somehow makes his midlife crisis relatable, if not entirely admirable. His spiraling guilt and cartoonish delusions are the beating heart of the film’s satire.
Though tamer than modern sensibilities might expect, The Seven Year Itch remains a clever critique of masculinity, fantasy, and suburban boredom. Wilder’s direction avoids going too far, opting for suggestive humor and visual wit rather than outright scandal—a choice likely born from the constraints of the Hays Code but which gives the film its classic elegance.
Final Verdict:
If you’re in the mood for old Hollywood charm with a side of summer sizzle and cultural commentary, The Seven Year Itch is well worth revisiting. It's more than just that dress—it’s a look at what happens when fantasy and reality blur in the most comical way.
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