A bedroom farce that was fine for its time

Yes, in light of changing social conventions and mores since 1963, this film comes off as a dated period piece, but it did well at the box office in its initial release, and apparently inspired a later-in-the-decade made-for-T.V. movie.

Unmarried couples living together in western society is no longer considered shocking, and lecherous landlords are hardly considered "harmless", and no tenant would put up with that sort of behavior from their landlord if they could help it.

But this is broad comedy (no pun intended), a modern-for-its-time bedroom farce, and Jack Lemmon does a pretty good job of making his character and his unattractive behavior almost loveable in his inept and pathetic machinations to get between Dean Jones and Carol Lynley. Hogan really is a caricature.

I can understand why some might criticize Jack Lemmon's choices in making this movie, but it was successful even if it hasn't held up well over time, and I'm certain that Lemmon was happy for the opportunity to work, since not working is every actors greatest fear. They can't always pick and choose the parts they want to play, and sometimes just have to take the opportunities as they arise.

Worth watching once if you like Jack Lemmon.