That Touch of Mink **** (1962, Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young, Audrey Meadows, John Astin, Dick Sargent, John Fielder, Richard Deacon) – Classic Movie Review 851

Director Delbert Mann’s pleasing 1962 romantic comedy That Touch of Mink teams Cary Grant with Doris Day, who recalled: ‘Cary was maybe the most professional, exacting actor I ever worked with and even got involved in helping to choose the kind of mink I was slated to wear in the film.’

Cary Grant and Doris Day are well cast in tailor-made roles as the rich Manhattan playboy businessman Philip Shayne and the demure, work-seeking secretary called Cathy Timberlake he’s in the business of chasing.

They first meet when his Rolls Royce splashes her with mud on her way to a job interview. Wolfish old smoothie Grant likes Day’s old-fashioned country-girl values and her honest heart, but he only wants to enjoy an affair with her, while she is of course the perennial virgin who is only interested in marriage.

But suddenly she is on a trip to Bermuda with a new mink coat and still no wedding ring, in director Delbert Mann’s generally very pleasing 1962 romantic comedy romp. The fun is ensured with a solid basis in Stanley Shapiro and Nate Monaster’s amusing Oscar-nominated script that was considered rather saucy in its day.

The vintage stars are both cast exactly to their screen images, and they are seen near their best and show flashes of their famous magic. As is the way with these old-style star vehicles, they have most of the show to themselves. But all the while around them there is scene-stealing support from wisecracking Gig Young as Grant’s neurotic assistant, Audrey Meadows as Day’s chirpy roommate, John Astin as her wolfish suitor, Dick Sargent, John Fielder and Richard Deacon.

Baseball greats Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra appear as themselves.

Also in the cast are Alan Hewitt, Joey Faye, Laurie Mitchell, Willard Sage, Jack Livesey, Russ Bender, Jan Burrell, June Ericson, Fred Essler, Kathryn Givney, William Gleason, William Lanteau, Ralph Manza, Billy M Greene, Tyler McVey, Jack Rice, Nelson Olmsted, Leola Wendorff, Jon Silo, John Morely, Cathie Merchant, John McKee, Doris Lynn, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra.

Doris Day recalled: ‘Of all the people I performed with, I got to know Cary Grant least of all. He is a completely private person, totally reserved, and there is no way into him. Our relationship on That Touch of Mink was amicable but devoid of give-and-take. Not that he wasn’t friendly and polite – he certainly was. But distant. Very distant. But very professional – maybe the most professional, exacting actor I ever worked with. In the scenes we played, he concerned himself with every little detail: clothes, sets, production values, the works. Cary even got involved in helping to choose the kind of mink I was slated to wear in the film.’

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 851

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