For Love or Money (1963 film)

For Love or Money is a 1963 romantic comedy film distributed by Universal International, produced by Robert Arthur, directed by Michael Gordon, and starring Kirk Douglas, Mitzi Gaynor, and Gig Young. It was written by Larry Markes and Michael Morris, and released on August 7, 1963. The supporting cast features Thelma Ritter, Julie Newmar and William Bendix.

For Love or Money
Directed byMichael Gordon
Produced byRobert Arthur
Written byLarry Markes
Michael Morris
StarringKirk Douglas
Mitzi Gaynor
Gig Young
Thelma Ritter
Music byFrank De Vol
CinematographyClifford Stine
Edited byAlma Macrorie
Distributed byUniversal-International
Release date
  • August 7, 1963 (1963-08-07)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,750,000 (US/ Canada)[1]

To date, this remains the last film starring Gaynor before her retirement from acting.

Plot

Lawyer Donald Kenneth "Deke" Gentry (Kirk Douglas) is given the task of playing matchmaker for the three daughters of his wealthy client Chloe Brasher (Thelma Ritter).

Cast

Trivia

This film is noteworthy for a few reasons. After appearing in a variety of films such as westerns and historical epics, Kirk Douglas was starring in a romantic comedy film, a genre that many people were not used to seeing him in.

Also, Mitzi Gaynor had not appeared in any other film after For Love or Money. She stated that she was "too ordinary for films" and that she would be better off entertaining audiences through different ventures.[2]

Prolific supporting actor William Bendix, extremely popular in the 1940s, only appeared in three more theatrical films after this one.

Douglas' car in this movie is a red 1962 Chrysler 300 Sport Convertible.

Reception

Leslie Parrish was nominated for a Golden Globe as "Most Promising Newcomer - Female" for her performance in this film.[3]

Many people noted that this film was similar to romantic comedies made famous by the classic comedy team of Rock Hudson and Doris Day. Supporting actors like Thelma Ritter and Gig Young, who, starred with Hudson and Day in other films, make an appearance here.[4] Some were fairly critical of Douglas' performance in a romantic comedy film[5] while others were pleasantly surprised by the actor's versatility.[6]

Home media availability

Universal released this film in 2013 as a stand-alone DVD from the print-on-demand Universal Vault Series. In 2016, it was re-released as part of the Kirk Douglas Centennial Collection, a five-disc set featuring seven other films (Spartacus, Man Without a Star, The Last Sunset, Lonely Are the Brave, The List of Adrian Messenger, The War Wagon, and A Lovely Way to Die). Prior to these official releases by Universal, it was common to find this film in a DVD-r format.

References
  1. "Top Rental Features of 1963", Variety, 8 January 1964 p 71. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
  2. Eileen Prose (8 June 2017). "Mitzi Gaynor: "I quit film because I was ordinary in them."" – via YouTube.
  3. "For Love or Money (1963)" – via www.filmaffinity.com.
  4. Rick29. "For Love or Money: When Kirk and Mitzi Played Rock and Doris".
  5. "Kirk Douglas Attempts Comedy in 'For Love or Money'". 8 August 1963 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. "For Love or Money (1963)" – via letterboxd.com.
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