On This Day...Kiss Them For Me (1957)

 Released today back in 1957, Kiss Them For Me was Cary Grant's 63rd full length feature film.

Summary:

On obtaining 4-day leave in San Francisco, three decorated Navy pilots acquire a posh suite at a hotel and Commander Crewson (Cary Grant) arranges to populate it with party people. Lieutenant Wallace (Werner Klemperer) is trying to get the pilots to make speeches to rally the homefront at shipyard magnate Eddie Turnbill(Leif Erickson)'s plants, but they're tired of the war and just want to have fun. While Crewson begins falling in love with Turnbill's fiancée Gwinneth Livingston (Suzy Parker), he tries to ignore the distant call of war.

Cast:

Cary Grant...Cmdr. Andy Crewson

Jayne Mansfield...Alice Kratzner

Leif Erickson...Eddie Turnbill

Suzy Parker...Gwinneth Livingston

Ray Walston...Lt. (j.g.) McCann

Larry Blyden...Mississip

Nathaniel Frey...CPO Ruddle

Werner Klemperer...Lt. Walter Wallace

Jack Mullaney ...Ens. Albert Lewis

Did You Know?

Director Stanley Donen had no say in casting decisions and did not like the script for the film. He reportedly agreed to stay attached to the film because "you don't turn down Cary Grant."

The song "Rum and Coca Cola" can be heard playing on the jukebox in the hotel room. "Rum and Coca-Cola" was a hit in 1945, and this movie is set in 1944.

Although set in 1944, when Andy Crewson and Gwinneth Livingston are on the cable car, you can see vehicles in the background through the window which are obvious early '50s models. When the cable car stops to allow passengers to disembark, there is a 1952 Pontiac on screen throughout the stop.

Quotes:

Gwinneth Livingston: Crewson, I love you very much.

Cmdr. Andy Crewson: That's the only way to love a person, otherwise it isn't worth all the trouble. I love you very much too.

Gwinneth Livingston: And that, Mr. Crewson, is why I'm engaged to Mr. Turnbill. He's alive now, and he'll still be alive at the end of the war. He's filthy rich now, and he'll be even filthier rich then.

Cmdr. Andy Crewson: That's the stuff. True love almost always fades, but money stays green forever.

Lobby Cards and Posters:

Directed by Stanley Donen.

Distributed by 20th Century-Fox.

Running time: 103 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.