Final motel scene


I always thought that the final motel room scene with Walter Mathau and Elaine Devry (the rich divorcee) is one of the finest examples of the "more is less" approach to shooting a potentially very erotiuc scene. Devry removes hers clothes and reveals a very sexy black bustier, looks absolutely irresistable and shows no more skin than a one piece bathing suit! The genius of the scene is that Mathau then still comes back to his devotion to his wife in spite of all the temptation right in front of him. The last straw is when he sees his mentor and neighbor lady being discovered in the room across the way. A great scene and I thing highly charged for the times.

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I agree about Elaine's scene but the whole film is filmed with the glamor and style of the 1960's.

A great visual record of a time long gone.

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I have two things to say: (1) I agree about what you said about the scenes! and (2) If you had to go (I mean make love with a volumptuous woman like Sue Ane Langdon, I like her name and her), that's the way to do it!

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If you had to pick between Sue Ane Langdon or Elaine Devry, which would be your choice?

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Definitely, Sue Ann Langdon. She was gorgeous. She always played the scatter brained but beautiful blonde.

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Interesting. I agree Sue Ane is gorgeous and had a derriere for the ages, but my choice would be Elaine Devry. Smoldering sexuality in that black lace corset and a very sensual voice as well.

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Why choose when you can have them both at the Cheyenne Social Club!

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Your post brings up the most silly and ironic things about this whole movie. Robert Morse spends this entire film schooling Matthau on how to cheat on his wife and his wife is played by the gorgeous Inger Stevens. Who in their right minds in the mid 1960's would have been married to Inger Stevens and cheated on her? She was not only gorgeous but she was the sweetest woman in the world and a devoted wife.

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Point well taken! Why would he cheat on a wife like that and doesn't! Even when offered the totally hot Elaine Devry? Did you notice Morse's, subtle ulterior motive for coaching Mathau? Morse was planning an assault of his own on Inger Stevens. Tragic end to her life, a suicide.

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Elaine Devry was totally hot. I still remember watching the news and hearing about Inger Stevens' suicide. I was just a kid but I remember it vividly for some reason.

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Elaine has a very sultry voice and demeanor. Sue Ane is pretty and a very nice lady in person (I've met her several times here in L.A.) but Elaine has a more smoldering sexuality. A very classy lady, I always where she is now. I see she did a movie in 1999 but i have not seen it. I bet she still looks good for being 74...

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This movie is a comedy, so it was essential that Matthau's wife be gorgeous and adorable (which Inger Stevens was). Had his wife been homely, or a shrew, it would have ruined the joke.

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"Did you notice Morse's, subtle ulterior motive for coaching Mathau? Morse was planning an assault of his own on Inger Stevens"

Good gosh, hadn't thought of that, the sly fox.

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I am always amazed that people relate infidelity to the physical appearance of the adulterer's partner...look at the tribulations of Halle Berry and other BEAUTIFUL women. This movie captured adultery PERFECTLY in that it has nothing to do with what the wife looks like...somtimes, you just need a little on the side!

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Or youre just a scuzz ball.

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Was surprised it was as long ago as 1967. This was more emblematic of the "Me Generation" Seventies, although the sexual revolution (not to mention Vietnam protests and the Worst of the race riots Not in the movie) were exploding at that very time.

OK there was no "honest" swinging and swapping. So the scuzzy lawyer got caught by a Husband, or the wife's Detective??

Dude here but pretty dang sexist with one of his clients discovering a husband cheating with his secretary (she was all-knowing b/c SHE was a Bimbo secretary who snagged him away from his First Wife)...and all the revealing clothing on the ladies.

you always KNEW Walter's character would remain Pure.

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Your post brings up the most silly and ironic things about this whole movie. Robert Morse spends this entire film schooling Matthau on how to cheat on his wife and his wife is played by the gorgeous Inger Stevens. Who in their right minds in the mid 1960's would have been married to Inger Stevens and cheated on her? She was not only gorgeous but she was the sweetest woman in the world and a devoted wife.


The other part of the joke is that the men are not nearly on the same level as any of the women looks-wise.

No blah, blah, blah!

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You're absolutely right!

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