User Reviews

This is a charming little film, which like many of it's kind, derives it's charm from the circumstances involved rather than the actual dialogue.

Glenn Ford (as always) shines through in a great comedic performance as the penniless Air Force officer, married after just one day to gold-digging showgirl Debbie Reynolds.

After the one initial wedding night of passion and a life changing move to Spain, the two quickly realise that apart from the strong sexual attraction they feel for each other they have nothing at all in common.

However when she decides to give their marriage a go, it is on the understanding that it for one month trial period only and sex is most definitely not on the cards.

Ford is also falling foul to his new $40,000 Lincoln Futura Concept Car (the future Batmobile) which he wins in a raffle the same night he meets his new wife.

The car is bringing him unwanted attention from the Air Force, who see it as a vulgar display of American wealth and is bringing suspicions of corruption and embezzlement etc. It is also putting him in the 80-90% tax bracket and as penniless as he is he now faces a tax bill of over $17,000. Not the kind of money you should be owing when your wife is the kind of person who spends over a $1,000 on one shopping trip.

Even when he tries to sell it it brings him misfortune as selling so much as a cigarette or a pair of stockings to the natives is punishable by court martial, so you can imagine that a $17,500 transaction practically has the firing squad polishing their rifles.

His potential purchaser is also causing him problems as he is a disgustingly handsome Bull-fighting Spanish nobleman, who's interest in the car has lead to a stronger interest in Ford's wife, made worse by the fact that a rich jet-set lifestyle is being offered and is what she has sought for so long.

With Ford's sexual frustration rising and jealousy in his love rival mounting, coupled with Reynolds' materialistic attitude and flirtatious behaviour around the enamoured Spaniard serving to drive the wedge deeper between the two, it seems that their whirlwind relationship is destined to end.

But can whatever love and attraction that threw these two love birds together in the first place, shine through and keep them together?

Not the best example of this genre of film, but due to the watchable performances by it's principles and the enjoyable plot line, it is certainly a fine one.

Pile one improbability on top of another, and then another, and yet another, and what have you got? The plot for "It Started with a Kiss." And improbabilities are okay for comedy, because it is comedy. Well, at least to the point that there is comedy. This film has some, but I think the plot had much greater potential. As it is, it's a so-so comedy romance.

Clearly the weakness is in the screenplay. While it has a few good quips and funny lines, it could have had so much more. Because, with all of these improbabilities, the plot screams for some hilarity. A futuristic car won by an NCO in a raffle, getting delivered to him at his duty station in Spain, and then the allure that gets him and his wife invited into the highest of society - all of that should have produced some riotously funny situations and dialog.

Then, Maggie's insistence that she and Joe go one month without making love, to see if they really get along, is another wild improbability. That in itself can be the gist of an entire movie plot - as it was in "This Thing Called Love" of 1940 with Melvyn Douglas and Rosalind Russell. With all of the running around Sgt. Joe and Maggie do, in the high society circles of famous and wealthy Spanish dignitaries and generals and visiting congressmen, this movie begged for much more humor.

The film runs 104 minutes and seems to drag in places. It should have jettisoned the marital abstinence segment entirely. It just seems to disappear as an issue, but it takes up precious time that might better have been filled with much more humor as Sgt. Joe and Maggie mingled among the brass and high society. Debbie Reynolds' Maggie Putnam is a character that the writers couldn't seem to get straight, one way or another. First she comes across as a ditzy redhead. Her big surprise in the mail to Joe is taken by everyone else but her - including the wives of Joe's service buddies, to be a baby. Then, she's later well informed and very knowledgeable about Spanish society and VIPs. Then she reverts to an ignoramus about wine and guzzles glass after glass during a tasting tour.

Well, most of cast did okay with what they had, even though one can sense some of the leads, at least, were hoping for something more. They might welcome anything that would pump life into the scenarios and make them much funnier than they were. The last scenario saves the film as a comedy with a classic mix-up of rooms in the villa and Maggie popping into bed with the general. This is an okay film for fans of the actors, but most will probably find the material wanting for their favorite actors and actresses.

Here are most of the funny lines of dialog from this film.

Sgt. Joe Fitzpatrick, "Now, now, go to bed.... I, I, I won't bother you. I may cry a little bit during the night. But I won't bother you."

Lt. McCann, "Where's Fitzpatrick?" Charles Meriden, "He's taking a cold shower, lieutenant." Lt. McCann, "Again? That's the third time today." Meriden, "Well, some guys like to be clean." McCann, walking away, "Psychos!"

Maggie Putnam, "Ohhh! Will you kindly leave my bedroom?" Sgt. Joe Fitzpatrick, "This isn't your bedroom. It's our bathroom."

Maggie, "Joe, I've got a surprise." Sgt. Joe, "Well, hold it, Maggie. I'm still awful shook up from the last one."

Sgt. Joe, "Well, why would she invite us. We're not society" Maggie, "Why? Well, what's the difference, why? She did."

Maggie, "Well, he's the best bullfighter in the world. And he's fighting tomorrow. And before the fight, we're invited to his apartment to watch him get dressed." Sgt. Joe, "Who wants to watch a man get dressed?" Maggie, "I do." Sgt. Joe, "Well, you never watched me get dressed. What does this Soriano character got that I haven't got?"

Antonio Soriano, "Women are attracted to bullfighters... I believe it has something to do with the bull." Sgt. Joe, "Oh, well that's logical."

Sgt. Fitzpatrick, "I'm sorry we're going to miss the bullfight, particularly now that I've got somebody to root for - I know it isn't him" (pointing to Soriano). Maggie, "That's not funny." Sgt. Joe, "I kinda liked it myself."

Sgt. Joe, "For a man who's supposed to be facing death, he seems awfully certain about tomorrow. Maybe those bulls are fixed."

This is the first of two films released in 1959 starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford. No one should go out of their way to watch either, except for the fact that Ms. Reynolds always acts with energy, even when the film is lackluster.

The meandering script has Ford, an army airman who was stationed in Iceland, come home and happen to catch a glimpse of Reynolds. He makes a nuisance of himself following her. He is not even likable. But a small smooch magically transforms the relationship and before you can say "pass the popcorn" they are married and he is leaving for his new assignment in Spain. Also, he wins a futuristic car that everyone fawns over.

Even though she jumped at marrying Ford, Reynolds still doubts the wisdom of her choice. I guess she never heard the saying "Marry in haste, repent at leisure." So, she wants a month of celibacy to prove their true compatibility. Throw in a large section about bullfighting and that is, essentially, the plot.

Ford is horribly miscast and their chemistry is nonexistent. Let's just say that it ended with dissatisfaction and boredom.

Debbie Reynolds is exposed in her undergarments, escorted out by air force sergeant Glenn Ford just as Cary Grant escorted out Katharine Hepburn in "Bringing Up Baby". The next thing you know, they're married and he's overseas. She has to follow him overseas when he wins a car that brought them together after the sweepstakes booth that she was working at. But her arrival in Spain isn't met with the joy she hoped for as she gets him into all sorts of trouble. When they become friendly with a dashing bullfighter, more problems ensue as the car and her lavish lifestyle brings them attention that doesn't sit well with the military.

If there is an older movie where the word " pregnant" is uttered, then I was not paying attention. It's a sign that the 1934 production code was lightening up, but that doesn't make this a good film. There's never any reason to indicate that there's any real attraction between Reynolds and Ford other than the fact that they meet under auspicious circumstances, fight and suddenly wed. Certainly, it's a case of "Taming of the Shrew" where the military is behind the taming. There's talk about obvious intentions of sex, which does add some amusement, but the situation seems truly forced.

Beautiful location Spanish footage helps make this visually interesting, as do a few of the squabbles between Reynolds and Ford. A fun supporting cast including Fred Clark, Harry Morgan and Eva Gabor (whom Reynolds would amusingly do imitations of in her nightclub act) also brings some class. But the situation is never entirely believable, which lowers the score even though it has many admirable qualities.

It's not just about a car. It shows a hardworking military service member and his wife getting treating with retaliation by their own government. It's depicts a congressman personally targeting one of his constituents because she's a woman. Nothing much has changed about the USA when you think about it.

Great cast of characters. Amazing time capsule of society back then that's still prevalent these days for many American families especially those serving in our military. It makes one realize how this foreshadows the lack of support our military gets from our government while one is in the service and then tossed back into civilian life where many become homeless or in poverty.