Un soupçon de vision

I would not place 'Touch Of Mink' with the likes of Tarkovsky's films, but I will say that it is a beautifully-filmed fantasy that is really titillatingly funny in a genuinely charming way. Even the most serious film viewers cannot deny the smiles that are inevitable when Doris is on the screen. The film's story evolves when two lives are randomly thrown together - that of a hard-working waitress and a rich bachelor playboy. What ensues is delicious full-on Technicolor romantic comedy.

There are also some classic moments: The hand emerging from the 'atuomatic' restaurant where Doris and Audrey work to smack the face of a particularly offending male patron (those where the days when a woman could smack a man in a film and get great laughs...) - Doris's fantasy sequence as she's driven through the streets in a bed - with a man - and they're NOT MARRIED! It's a harmless, light film that still has such a centered beauty and sophistication that shows off the bright side of Hollywood-produced films of that era. As previous posters have commented, HD Digital video just cannot produce the same wonderful hues of celluloid - and there is something irresistible about Ms. Day in this film - her character's innocence is rather genuine, as is her male lead (Cary Grant) who obviously loves her for his ability to win her over with gifts and his own brand of charm.

I think it's important to have a second look at many of Doris Day's films in the lights of the 21st century. Touch of Mink, in particular, holds a dream-bubble of blissful idealism and moral irony that has incredible resonance today, when so many have found that we must reexamine our attitudes toward casual sex. This is the central core of the film, and many would now see's Ms. Day's character's reaction to such a thought as far more intelligent than when it was viewed in the 1970's- 80's.

Give the film a view; especially on a Friday night when you really, truly want to be entertained by a dazzling screen star.

"That Touch of Mink" has its high points as well as its lows. The film's main theme revolves around undulating social morays of a cultural transition which, if one examines history, aren't all that transitional as they would appear to be. Day, Grant, Meadows and Young give some solid performances in an early 60's "sex" comedy. The humor is suggestive rather than explicit, which should create some fun for the more conservative minded. I can't say I laughed a whole lot (if at all), but I did enjoy the film on its own terms.

Regrettably the currant DVD offered by Artisan Entertainment is sub par. "That Touch of Mink" isn't the greatest film ever made, but, like so many other offerings of the period, it is a solid piece of cinema, and deserves a better visual release.

Currently Artisan Home Entertainment bolsters a "Digitally Mastered" disk, but the only mastering that was done was to put the film onto DVD format in the first place, and nothing more. I say nothing more because the film image is absolutely horrible. There's lots of video noise overlaying the film image, and where the film is shown in widescreen format, it's hardly an anamorphic transfer. Instead the consumer is given a low resolution transfer which, were it not for Day, would not be worth watching.

The audio is clear, even though its monaural. A remastered soundtrack really isn't required for a film like this, as there's really nothing more to listen to other than dialog and incidental music. That is there're no explosions, gun shots, rockets, bands or other things demanding a digital 5.1 mastered soundtrack. Still, having said all this, good clean audio should accompany a good clean image.

Too bad this disc is missing both.

While going to receive her unemployment paycheck and to a job interview later, the coat of the naive Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) is splashed with mud by the Rolls Royce of the millionaire businessman Philip Shayne (Cary Grant). Later he sees her going to have lunch from his office and sends his financial adviser Roger (Gig Young) to give some money to Cathy to compensate her loss. Cathy feels offended with the offer and she goes to Philip's office with the intention of throwing the money on his face. However, when she sees the handsome Philip, she immediately falls in love with him. They date and Cathy expects that Philip proposes to marry her, but he does not have this intention.

"That Touch of Mink" is a silly and naive but funny romantic comedy. The premise is dumb and is irritating to see Cathy buying expensive clothing and traveling to Bermudas with a playboy expecting to give nothing in return. But the comedy has many funny situations, like the just married couple in the motel or Roger being mistakenly taken as Philip in Cathy's apartment building. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Carícias de Luxo" ("Caresses of Luxury")

This is a movie that I can enjoy watching over and over again, and every time there's something new to notice. It would be a difficult movie to re-make today, morality having changed the way it has, but as a slice of history, it works well. The script is really well-written, with some great one-liners and sharp dialogue, and who can resist Cary Grant? A hot drink, a plate of cookies, and "That Touch of Mink" add up to a very pleasant way to pass an evening.

In N. Y. C and unemployed secretary named Cathy Timberlake (Doris Day) is splashed with water and mud by a Rolls Royce on her way . Car owner is Philip , a rich businessman tycoon (Gary Grant) who asks her for apologies . Cathy then is involved on a journey to Bermudas Islands where several antics and mayhem happen in a game of cat and mouse.

This is a sex-comedy in which a sympathetic woman falls in love with a man not interested in marriage. Classic and light romantic comedy of the 60s with two comedy masters : Doris Day and Gary Grant , both of whom exhibiting considerable rapport even when they are arguing. Doris Day was probably the only Hollywood actress by the time who could have handled this brand of bright and simple comedy with kinks in such expert fashion. The film is one of the various starred by Doris Day during the 50s and 60s , such as : ¨Lover come back" , "Send me flowers" , "More over darling" , "Do not disturb", "Glass bottom boat" , "Do not distur¨ among others , with usual partners as Rock Hudson and other big stars as James Garner, Rod Taylor and Gary Grant himself . And appearing likeable secondaries : Gig Young , he's ever better than habitual as the inevitable sidekick of the starring , John Astin also scores as a man with a lugubrious leer and besides Dick Sargent (Bewitched) as a nervous husband justly married. The screenplay gets fun lines and amusing situations , being written by expert Stanley Shapiro (producer too) that enables the actors to make the most of themselves. Furthermore , it displays a colorful cinematography by Russell Metty and and lively musical score by George Duning. The motion picture was well directed by Delbert Mann (Separate tables, Desire under the Elms , Marty) . The flick will appeal to Gary Grant and Doris Day fans.