The Perfect Furlough, a slightly amusing romantic comedy, is directed by the young Blake Edwards, and based on Stanley Shapiro’s screenplay.
Grade: B
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theatrical release poster
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A female Army shrink devises the “perfect furlough” for battle-weary men and then convinces the brass to let her try it on selected men stationed at her base. According to her plan, the men should be given three weeks to express their desires.
Corporal Paul Hodges (Tony Curtis), after a long period in an isolated Arctic base, wins a lottery and goes to Paris on a three weeks leave. While there, he is placed under the supervision of psychiatrist lieutenant Vicky Loren (Janet Leigh).
Edwards and Shapiro would reteam the following year to better effects in another service comedy, Operation Petticoat, a hugely commercial feature, co-starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis.
The film also stars Linda Cristal, the Argentine Bombshell, Keenan Wynn, Elaine Stritch, and the young Troy Donahue, just before he became a star (after the 1959 A Summer’s Place).
Credits
Directed by Blake Edwards
Written by Stanley Shapiro
Produced by Robert Arthur
Cinematography Philip Lathrop
Edited by Milton Carruth
Music by Frank Skinner
Production and distribution: Universal-International Pictures
Release dates: November 30, 1958 (US); Jan 21, 1959 (NYC)
Running time: 93 minutes
Box office $2.3 million
