The smutty humor of this Billy Wilder farce got it in trouble with critics, the Catholic Legion of Decency, and other self-appointed American censors at the time of its Christmas release in 1964. The story involves a womanizing crooner named Dino (Martin) whose car “breaks down” in Climax, Nevada, where he is at the mercy of piano teacher/unpublished tunesmith (Walston) and his partner (Osmond). Dino might be interested in picking up one of their songs if he can also pick up the piano teacher’s shapely wife – who is being impersonated by the town’s freelance prostitute. Later, one marital infidelity prompts another in order to right the universe. Instead of her usually stolid performances, Novak here reveals a suppleness and grace rarely exhibited in her other films. Undeniably lewd, Kiss Me, Stupid exemplifies the go-go Rat Pack sexual sensibilities that fed the American appetite in the dawn of the sexual revolution. It was one of Wilder’s biggest flops.
This article appears in July 5 • 2002.
