Review of If a Man Answers

This film, adapted from Winifred Wolfe's novel, has its moments and most of them are given to us by a very rare character in fifties comedies: an irresistibly attractive woman in her forties. Micheline Presle plays Sandra Dee's mother, and the dispenser of some delicious advice: Treat your husband like a dog. Sandy's taken aback, like everyone else, until Mother points out that dogs are treated with affection and respect - husbands often get neither. And then wives are surprised when they don't come home.

Oh, there are other pleasures - Dee and Darin are agreeable, and Stefanie Powers gets to be the bitchy girl friend. But Presle is such a joy, she's worth the price of a ticket.