Boeing Boeing

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By all rights, Boeing Boeing shouldn't be as entertaining as it is. After all, '60s sex comedies tend to date terribly, and their attitudes in terms of male-female relationships can sometimes cause modern audiences to wince. Boeing is undeniably dated, and its attitudes are certainly bothersome, yet somehow Boeing remains an entertaining piece of fluff. Part of the credit is due to Edward Anhalt's adaptation of Marc Camoletti's play. It's been bowdlerized somewhat and lost some punch, but it retains a great deal of the classic farce structure that made the play a huge hit in England and France. The situations that arise can be seen from miles away, but until the climax, they have the taste of inevitability rather than predictability. The climax, however, misses the mark and is quite disappointing; the coda that follows redeems things somewhat, but definitely not entirely. More credit is due the cast, starting with the surprisingly restrained Jerry Lewis. The trademark high-pitched whine is nowhere in evidence, and although there are a couple of body contortions in view, for the most part this is a subdued and surprisingly effective performance. Tony Curtis is also very much on the mark; perhaps because he is kept so incredibly busy throughout; there's no time for the smarminess which often seeps through when he's cast in this kind of role. But, as is often the case, it's wisecracking Thelma Ritter who wins the most plaudits. No one else has a face and delivery that says "I've seen it all and I'm still surprised and a little disgusted" like Ritter, and she's in top form in Boeing Boeing. This silly little sex farce won't make anyone's "ten best" list, but it's frothy and fun. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

• Jerry Lewis : Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 1965
• Thelma Ritter : Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 1965

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