Sex and the Single Girl (1964)

Sex and the Single Girl is a fizzy, mid-century romantic comedy that knows exactly how to turn bad behavior into good farce, powered by Tony Curtis at his most charmingly shameless and Natalie Wood with a bright, modern sparkle as the unflappable psychologist he’s trying to outsmart. Director Richard Quine keeps the pace light on its feet, letting the movie glide from sly satire of tabloid culture into a whirl of misunderstandings, disguises, and social comedy that feels like a cocktail party slowly spinning out of control. It’s packed with amusing supporting turns and that classic studio-era polish where every scene seems designed to land a laugh and keep the romance buoyant. Fair warning: the sex talk is very much of its time—more cheeky than graphic—but if you’re in the mood for clever, glamorous escapism with a mischievous grin, this is an easy date-night pick.

Sex and the Single Girl wants to be a glossy, grown-up romantic farce about sexual double standards and media sleaze, with Natalie Wood playing it straight against Tony Curtis’s shameless charm. The problem is the comedy often feels strained and a bit graceless, leaning on impersonation mix-ups and “sex talk” that sounds more coy than clever, so the whole thing can come off sluggish instead of sparkling. It also has that frustrating classic-Hollywood habit of wasting great supporting talent (yes, including Henry Fonda) on material that’s thinner than the cast deserves. If you like breezy ’60s star chemistry and don’t mind a dated, tabloidy premise being treated as cute, you’ll find some fun; if you’re hoping for sharp satire or a genuinely romantic payoff that earns its emotions, this may feel underwhelming.