The 1963 comedy Sunday in New York comes to Blu-ray through
the Warner Archive. The movie is based on Norman Krasna's 1961 play
which was a modest hit on Broadway starring young Robert Redford. Krasna
also provides the screenplay for the film version, which was directed
by Peter Tewksbury. The film was somewhat of an eyebrow-raiser at the
time, with its relatively bold approach to modern sexuality among young
people. The movie's major asset is its engaging cast of lead characters:
Cliff Robertson, Jane Fonda, Rod Taylor and Robert Culp. Fonda plays a
frustrated 22 year-old virgin who is made to feel guilty about her
sexual urges. She is going out with millionaire society boy Culp but is
frustrated by his lack of romantic aggressiveness. Fonda makes an
unannounced visit to her brother, airline pilot Robertson, in order to
seek advice out the wisdom of a girl keeping her virginity until
marriage. Robertson piously counsels her that only 'good girls' get the
best husbands, but secretly hides his own life as a playboy. His
Manhattan bachelor pad needs a revolving door to handle his liaisons
with tempting airline stewardesses.
While exploring the
sights of New York City, Fonda meets cute with
handsome writer and man of the world Rod Taylor. A clumsy near-seduction
turns disastrous and sets up a convoluted set of comic circumstances in
which misunderstandings and confusions of identity thrust the
characters into emotional turmoil. The antics are quite dated today but
provide a fascinating insight into how female sexuality was repressed
during this era. It was permissible for men to lead Hugh Hefner-inspired
lifestyles, but even the hint of an urge on the part of a young woman
would leave her branded as a slut. Nevertheless, the four leads are in
top form and provide plenty of genuine laughs, even if some of the
comedic situations are as predictable as they are contrived. Fonda is
perfect as the somewhat liberated woman who is fighting society's
conventional attitudes. It's ironic that within a few short years, Sunday in New York would
look as a dated as an Oscar Wilde comedy of manners and Fonda would be
playing the intergalactic sex goddess Barbarella. Robertson and Taylor
prove once again that they could not only credibly play men of action,
but were also excellent performing light comedy. Culp, who would go on
to
stardom the following year in I Spy, should have emerged as a much bigger star on the silver screen.There are also some fine supporting turns by Jo Morrow and Jim Backus.
Although much of the film is somewhat claustrophobic due to its
origins as a play, Tewksbury opens up the action considerably by
shooting in some of New York's most legendary locations. It's a joy to
see the city during this era, from the ice skating rink at Rockefeller
Center to the famed rowboats in Central Park. There are also some
nostalgic ads visible on buses including one that promotes nickel rides
at New Jersey's legendary Palisades Amusement Park.There is an extended
sequence in which jazz great Peter Nero performs in a nightclub,
complete with a solo by Leslie Uggams. (Nero wrote the score for the
film, including the title theme which is sung by another hipster, Mel
Torme).
It's easy to dismiss Sunday in New York as a quaint look at
sexuality, but it also affords the viewer the opportunity to spend time
with the kind of leading actors who retro movie lovers revere.
The
region-free Warner Archive Blu-ray is up to the company's high
standards and is a considerable upgrade to the DVD release. The only
bonus feature is a trailer.
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