Film Review: The Seven Year Itch (1955)

The Seven Year Itch, a 1955 romantic comedy directed by Billy Wilder, is a film that boasts the most iconic image in Hollywood history, arguably the most iconic image of the 20th Century. However, despite it, the film itself isn't necessarily anything to write home about.

Based on the popular 1952 Broadway play by George Axelrod, who co-wrote the script with Wilder, the film has its plot set in New York City during summer. The protagonist, played by Tom Ewell, is Jake Sherman, middle-aged publishing executive who has, like so many men at the time, sent his wife Helen (played by Evelyn Keyes) and young son Ricky (played by Tom Nolan), on a vacation while himself staying in the city because of work. Like so many men in similar situation, this leaves Jake with plenty of temptation in form of other women. One of them happens the new neighbour, an attractive television commercial model (played by Marilyn Monroe).

The Seven Year Itch is generally considered to be Marilyn Monroe’s film. This is to the image of her skirt being lifted by an updraft over a subway grate, cementing her status as the ultimate sex symbol of her time. Although Monroe is the central figure in the film, her character is not the protagonist, appearing relatively little and more as a shallow but alluring stereotype of the ideal woman in Jake's eyes.

Tom Ewell, who also starred in the original play, does a commendable job in his role, but he is ultimately hindered by the limitations of the script and production. The film suffers from technical issues as well, as Wilder was forced to work with the Cinemascope format, which was better suited for grand epics or musicals rather than a more intimate chamber piece. This only highlights the theatrical origins of the material and detracts from the film's overall impact.

The film also looks dated from a modern perspective, with its premise based on traditional gender roles in the family being contrary to today's post-feminist notions. Many of the jokes and references to 1950s popular culture may not be comprehensible to audiences unfamiliar with the era, but fans of Mad Men, television show set in New York City a decade later, may appreciate the film's setting and atmosphere.

The infamous MPAA Production Code and the Hays Office's strict censorship standards also had a significant impact on the film. Even the iconic scene was affected, with the film, unlike the posters and promotional materials, showing only Monroe’s legs instead of full figure. In order to adhere to the Code's ban on depicting adultery, the protagonist was not allowed to consummate his fantasy with the attractive neighbour, resulting in an entire film that deals only with fantasy, ultimately becoming "much ado about nothing." Wilder himself later expressed dissatisfaction with the film, feeling as though he was "in a straitjacket" while making it.

For Marilyn Monroe, the film was a bittersweet triumph. It was a box office success and solidified her status as the greatest film star of her time. However, it also perpetuated her stereotypical image and contributed to the breakdown of her marriage to Joe DiMaggio, who was unhappy with her sexuality being used so shamelessly to promote the film. Despite this, Monroe would go on to work with Wilder again on the comedy classic Some Like It Hot four years later.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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