The Facts of Life (film)
| The Facts of Life | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by |
Melvin Frank Norman Panama (uncredited) |
| Produced by |
Melvin Frank Norman Panama |
| Written by |
Melvin Frank Norman Panama |
| Starring |
Bob Hope Lucille Ball |
| Music by |
Leigh Harline Johnny Mercer |
| Cinematography | Charles Lang |
| Edited by | Frank Bracht |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 103 min. |
| Language | English |
The Facts of Life is a 1960 romantic comedy starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball as married people who have an affair. Written, directed, and produced by the longtime Hope associates Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, it was more serious than many other contemporary Hope vehicles.
The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Costume Design (for Edith Head and Edward Stevenson). For her performance, Lucille Ball was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Comedy. The film features an opening animated title sequence created by Saul Bass.
Thirteen years later, Frank directed and co-wrote A Touch of Class, which likewise dealt with a middle-aged couple trying to have an affair, centering on a disaster-laden trip to a place where they wouldn't be recognized. However, it has never been considered an outright remake.
Plot
As the yearly vacation of six neighbors, the Gilberts, Masons, and Weavers, approaches, Kitty Weaver (Lucille Ball) and Larry Gilbert (Bob Hope) find themselves frustrated with the routine. When both their spouses (Ruth Hussey and Don DeFore) are kept away from the vacation, Kitty and Larry find themselves alone in Acapulco, with the Masons (Philip Ober and Marianne Stewart) bedridden with illness. Forced together, Kitty and Larry fall in love. Once the vacation is over, however, they have difficulties in either abandoning or continuing their romance.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Bob Hope | Larry Gilbert |
| Lucille Ball | Kitty Weaver |
| Ruth Hussey | Mary Gilbert |
| Don DeFore | Jack Weaver |
| Louis Nye | Charles Busbee |
| Philip Ober | Doc Mason |
| Marianne Stewart | Connie Mason |
| Hollis Irving | Myrtle Busbee |
Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Won: [1]
Nominated:
- Best Art Direction, Black and White (J. McMillan Johnson, Kenneth A. Reid, and Ross Dowd)
- Best Cinematography, Black and White (Charles Lang)
- Best Original Song (Johnny Mercer for "The Facts of Life")
- Best Original Screenplay (Melvin Frank and Norman Panama)
Golden Globe Awards
Nominated:
References
- ↑ "NY Times: The Facts of Life". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
External links
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