Woman Times Seven (1967)

What makes Woman Times Seven special is the sheer pleasure of watching Shirley MacLaine treat Paris like a seven-ring stage, slipping into wildly different women with the confidence of a great comic actress and the bite of a dramatic one. Vittorio De Sica frames these adultery-tinged miniatures with glossy ’60s sophistication—handsome interiors, chic street life, and a sumptuous score that makes even the naughtiest moments feel like they belong in a champagne dream. Because it’s an anthology, it’s inevitably uneven, but the best segments land like perfectly timed punchlines with a sting underneath, helped along by a starry supporting cast that pops in and out like surprise guests at a too-fabulous party. If you’re allergic to mature sexual humor or prefer one sustained story, it may not be your glass of wine, but if you’re on the fence, come for MacLaine’s virtuoso showcase and stay for the atmosphere and the occasional gem that lingers.

Woman Times Seven is clearly trying to be a chic, Paris-set anthology of adult comedy and relationship satire, using Shirley MacLaine’s range to sketch seven different takes on infidelity and gender games. The problem is the material often feels thin and repetitive, so instead of building to sharp punchlines or meaningful drama, several segments drift, land predictably, or end just as they’re getting interesting. If you’re expecting De Sica at his most inspired or a consistently clever sex comedy, this can feel like a talented cast stuck doing lightweight sketches. Still, MacLaine’s commitment and the occasional flash of sly, era-specific wit make it worth sampling if you enjoy uneven anthology films and don’t mind dated attitudes and lots of “naughty” setups that don’t always pay off.