Phffft - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

Phffft 1954 i always cry at divorces

Phffft is a 1954 black-and-white romantic comedy film starring Judy Holliday, Jack Lemmon, and Jack Carson, and features Kim Novak in a small but significant role. The picture was written by George Axelrod and directed by Mark Robson, and was the second film starring Holliday and Lemmon that year, after It Should Happen to You.

Plot

Nina and Robert Tracey (Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon), married for eight years, suffer marital problems and divorce. Robert takes up with his womanizing Navy buddy Charlie Nelson (Jack Carson) while Nina looks to her interfering mother for guidance. Robert spends the night with Janis (Kim Novak), a Marilyn Monroe-type character who finds the dashing Robert "real cute" but he feels uncomfortable with Janis and other girls he dates. Nina also tries to date other men but fails as she is still in love with Robert. Although they try to ignore each other when they accidentally meet, it is obvious that the past is not dead. Then one night, they find themselves in a nightclub, dancing the mambo together.

Cast

Judy Holliday as Nina Tracey (née Chapman)

Jack Lemmon as Robert Tracey

Jack Carson as Charlie Nelson

Kim Novak as Janis

Luella Gear as Mrs. Edith Chapman

Donald Randolph as Dr. Van Kessel

Donald Curtis as Rick Vidal

Arny Freeman as Nina's language teacher

Eddie Searles as Tommy

Merry Anders as Marsha

Mylee Andreason as Robert's dance teacher

Sally Mansfield as Miss Comstock

Joyce Jameson as Secretary

Bess Flowers as Nightclub Dance Extra

Jimmie Dodd as Cab Driver

Shirlee Allard as Secretary

Wendy Howard as Artist's Model

Charlotte Lawrence as Radio actress as Cynthia

Production

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During filming, Jack Lemmon left the set as his first wife, actress/model Cynthia Stone gave birth to their son, Chris Lemmon.

This was the second film in which Jack Lemmon appeared with Judy Holliday. In that same year, Lemmon's debut film It Should Happen to You starred Holliday. This was also Lemmon's third film of his career.

The title "Phffft" comes from Walter Winchell's column which was widely syndicated during the 1950s. When a celebrity couple's marriage broke up, Winchell would describe the break-up as "phffft".

Columbia Pictures approached George Axelrod to produce a film version of his popular play, The Seven Year Itch but the film rights were tied up as long as it was running on Broadway. He instead offered them "Phffft!" - an earlier play of his dealing with a similar subject.