Classic Film Guide

Bachelor in Paradise (1961) - full review!

Although this Bob Hope-Lana Turner sex farce comedy will remind many viewers of 1960's era (now syndicated) sitcoms - it features scenes that became staples of such like grocery store accidents ("cleanup on aisle 13!"), laundry machines so filled with soap that they overflow with bubbles, and food burning in the oven - one has to remember that this may have been the first movie to feature such domestic household shenanigans (save Lucille Ball's television programs, of course). Hope fans will be adequately entertained even though there aren't really any laugh out loud moments contained within it. It's not a great comedy by any means, but it is pleasant and, surprisingly, not entirely dated either. Directed by Jack Arnold (With These Hands (1950)), it features a screenplay by Valentine Davies (Miracle on 34th Street (1947)) and Hal Kanter that was based on a story by Vera Caspary. The title song, by Henry Mancini and Mack David, was nominated for an Academy Award.

Hope plays a confirmed bachelor, who's the notorious author (A.J. Niles) of a series of books about the sexual mores in various countries, that has to return to the United States after 14 years abroad because his accountant absconded with much of his earnings and never filed a return for him; hence, he has a back taxes problem with the IRS. So, his publisher (John McGiver) sets him up in a San Fernando Valley suburb called Paradise where, incognito, he can do the research necessary to write a book about "Sex in America" in order to pay his tax bill. Turner, whose character is decidedly single because of a failed relationship in her past, plays the subdivision's property manager whose home he rents while working on the book. Janis Paige, Paula Prentiss (whose husband is played by Jim Hutton, naturally), and Virginia Grey play three of the housewives Hope's undercover character Tommy Randolph gets to know while doing his research (an uncredited Mary Treen plays another). In fact, Randolph ends up hosting cocktail parties for the women as he imparts "how to please your husband" tips while their kids are in school during the day. Ironically, this actually displeases their staid husbands which eventually leads to a petition calling for his eviction, that Turner's character (because she's become interested in the author) refuses to deliver, and then divorce court. Don Porter plays Paradise's developer, who's married to Paige's character but openly pursues Turner's; as one of the husbands, he issues the ultimatum to Randolph. Agnes Moorehead plays the divorce court judge. Florence Sundstrom plays the busybody neighbor who testifies against Randolph, now known to be Niles - there were lots of after hours (and bedroom) situations which could easily be misinterpreted, especially by one going out of their way to be nosy. A predictable ending involving the film's stars, and the only two single characters, is a given.

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