Mark Christopher is a 35-year old, award winning screenplay writer who is stuck in Hollywood, only being perceived as a comedy writer, Mark desperately wants to be taken seriously as a drama writer. On Christmas Eve, two police officers stumble into Mark's house with a 17-year-old "delinquent" Susan, whose been picked up for vagrancy and brawling. The cops don't want to see Susan in jail on Christmas and because of Mark's empathy, he decides to let her spend a few days with him. His intentions aren't entirely good natured, as Mark views Susan as source of inspiration for his flailing hollywood career. Mark and Susie share a special bond over the next few days, with Frank eventually coming to the conclusion that the only way to keep Susan out of juvie is through marriage, a decision he immediately regrets. Frank Taslin's Susan Slept Here is a light and fluffy romantic comedy that is a little taboo given the romance involves a 35-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman. Debbie Reynolds is adorable as the title character and Frank Tashlin's signature Techincolor style keeps the film lively and vibrant. Tashlin's film captures Hollywood, where the entire entertainment industry pumps through the city of Los Angeles. The police officers that bring Susan over worked as consultants for one of Mark's films, and every other character works in the film industry in some capacity, whether it be a lawyer, assistant, or writing partner. While the film no doubt speaks to love being timeless, the other aspect of the film is a subtle critique of the shallowness of Hollywood and its accolades. Intentional or not, by the end of the film many of the main characters find happiness by leaving Hollywood, suggesting that there are more important things in life whether it be love or civic duty. Outside of a beautiful surreal dream sequence, Susan Slept Here is not upper-echelon Tashlin, but that doesn't mean it isn't a strong film in its own right
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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