VividSimon Simply Perfect

Teringer An Exercise In Nonsense

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

a_chinn Charming 1960s generational sex comedy is very much of it's time, but also timeless in it's humor around age and romance. Adapted from a Broadway play by Billy Wilder's longtime co-writer I. A. L. Diamond ("The Apartment," Some Like it Hot," "One, Two, Three," etc.), "Cactus Flower" tells the story of dentist Walter Matthau and his young girlfriend Goldie Hawn. Matthau has told Hawn he's a married man, even though he's really not, and when he tells her he wants to leave his wife, Hawn says she wants to meet Matthau's non-existent wife. Enter Matthau's 50-something spinster receptionist, Ingrid Bergman, who he convinces to pose as his wife so he can seal the deal with Hawn. The film has the same (for it's time) edgy sexy comedy humor that Wilder and Diamond films were known for (and by some reviled for), reminding me somewhat of "Kiss Me, Stupid," except that this film has a more liability factor than "Stupid," which although was funny also had a bit of a creep factor to it. Hawn won an Oscar for her portrayal of a cute young hippie chic, but for me it was Bergman who really shines. Her characters is introduced as a rather stern and austere character, but once she's pulled into Matthau's lies, Bergman's reserved 50-something characters comes to life. The scene where she cuts loose on the dance floor at a go-go club is a joy to watch as such exudes all of her charm and star power in a way that reminds you that not all actors are created equally and some have an innate ability to light up the screen. That scene was intended to create drama for Matthau's character to begin to be torn between the two women, and although Bergman was 54-years old at the time, she is probably one of only a few actresses who could manage to outshine a young Goldie Hawn. On the downside, I would say director Gene Saks has rather flat direction and lacks the sparkle of a Wilder picture, but Diamond's script and dialogue crackles, standing alongside the best of Wilder and Diamond's collaborations. Overall, "Cactus Flower" is a charming sex comedy that's a wonderful showcase for it's wonderful three lead actors and is a must see for film comedy fans.

dougdoepke If it's Hawn, it's got to be quirky. And so this generally delightful comedy is. Hawn and Matthau are tangled in romantic relationships both real and faked, while Bergman is a humdrum middle-age cactus but with flower potential. The hijinks all center around Matthau's dental office where Bergman bustles around as his dourly efficient nurse. At the same time, middle-age Matthau carries on with youthful cutie Hawn, while her half-clothed neighbor drops in and out at bad times. And to further complicate, other colorful characters come and go from both the office and everyone else's life. Getting this all straightened out is the problem, especially after it's all premised on Matthau's fat lie to lover Hawn that he's married. If this sounds congested, it is, but then there's 100+ minutes to fill.In fact I think the movie's impact would improve if 20 or so minutes were shaved, especially from an over-extended last part. Nonetheless, it's a delightful cast, especially the big-eyed Hawn in her first big role. She's like a spunky blonde pixie, fully deserving of her supporting Oscar. At the same time, Bergman does the nurse's dour personality in expert fashion. It's her first in-America production since the '40's (IMDB), but you'd never know it. Then too, snappy dialogue along with smooth direction keep things moving before getting somewhat repetitious. And I especially like chunky Jack Weston and his unlikely choice of girlfriends.All in all, it's a chuckle-filled Goldie Hawn showcase from Columbia Productions that loses little to the decades.

SimonJack "Cactus Flower" was Goldie Hawn's first film with credit and lines, and won her the best supporting actress Oscar for 1969. The new star from Rowan and Martin's TV comedy series, "Laugh-In," joined a very elite group of actors and actresses to earn Oscars in their first major outings. The film is a comedy adapted from a stage play. It begins as a reverse love triangle that grows into a love quadrangle, and finally blossoms into a couple of pairings. It's slow getting started. While it is funny and entertaining, most of the laughs come toward the end. The cast is impressive, with Walter Matthau receiving top billing over Ingrid Bergman. Matthau's role of Dr. Julian Winston is mostly the foil off whom all the others get laughs. Besides Bergman's Stephanie Dickinson and Hawn's Toni Simmons, others get very good laughs at the expense of Winston. Jack Weston is very good as Harvey Greenfield, Rick Lenz is very good as Igor Sullivan, and Vito Scotti is very good as Senor Arturo Sanchez. "Cactus Flower" is amusing and entertaining, but it's short on witty and clever lines. The best dialog for laughs is in the third quarter of the film. Here are some of the best lines from the movie. Miss Dickinson (Stephanie), "Really, Mrs. Durant. Your teeth are more important than your hair. "Mrs. Durant (played by Irene Hervey), "You really believe that don't you? How sad."Harvey Greenfield, "Very Good. Very good. That's such a lousy, dirty, rotten, filthy lie, it has class."Stephanie, to dentist Julian, "I told everyone you had to go to your dentist. That made them happy."Julian, "I'm the first decent man she's ever met?" Stephanie, "Are you quoting her or you?"Harvey, "Shall we dance?" Stephanie, "I'd rather walk on hot coals. I didn't know they made champagne in Idaho." Harvey, "Drink up. It'll make me look better to you." Stephanie, "There isn't that much wine in the world." Harvey, "To our love affair" Stephanie, "God forbid."Mr. Shirley, the record store manager (played by Irwin Charone), "Miss Simmons, would you slip in her for a moment please?" Toni, "Yes, Mr. Shirley." Shirley, "May I ask what's going on here?" Toni,"Uh, this gentleman is looking for a stereo to match the color of his wife's mink." Shirley, "When I think how many nuts are running around loose in this town. Carry on."Igor Sullivan, "That tooth jockey." Toni, "Dirty married bachelor."

JasparLamarCrabb A feather weight sitcom stretched out into a feature film. Walter Matthau is a womanizing dentist who throws his conquests off by claiming to be married. When he finds himself smitten with kooky Goldie Hawn, he recruits his spinsterish nurse (Ingrid Bergman) to play his "wife," in order to convince Hawn he's getting a divorce. Mayhem ensues. There's lots of wisecracks in what is essentially a filmed play (Abe Burrows wrote the play, I.A.L. Diamond did the screenplay). Most of the funniest lines come from Jack Weston, as one of Matthau's less savory patients. Bergman is fun and it's great to see her playing in a comedy. Matthau is Matthau and Hawn (who won an Oscar) brightens up a story that could have been pretty dull stuff. Quincy Jones did the score, but listen for a number of songs from other Columbia products (TO SIR WITH LOVE; THE MONKEES) playing in the discotheque scenes. Directed by Gene Saks.