# The Seven Year Itch

The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 film about a so far faithful husband who is tempted by a beautiful neighbor when his family goes away for the summer.
    Directed by Billy Wilder. Written by George Axelrod and Billy Wilder, based on Axelrod's play.

## The Girl

* When it's hot like this, you know what I do? I put my undies in the Ice Box!
* [in Richard's fantasy] It shakes me! It quakes me! It makes me feel goose-pimply all over!
* Oooooooohhhh! This feels just elegant!
* So he lured me down to his apartment. He made me sit on his piano bench. Then he made me play Chopsticks. Then suddenly he turned at me. His eyes bulging. He was frothing at the mouth. Just like The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
* Oh, do you feel the breeze from the subway. Isn't it delicious?
* Your imagination! You think every girl's a dope. You think a girl goes to a party and there's some guy in a fancy striped vest strutting around giving you that I'm-so-handsome-you-can't-resist-me look. From this she's supposed to fall flat on her face. Well, she doesn't fall on her face. But there's another guy in the room, over in the corner. Maybe he's nervous and shy and perspiring a little. First, you look past him. But then you sense that he's gentle and kind and worried. That he'll be tender with you, nice and sweet. That's what's really exciting.

## Richard Sherman

* This thing about women and me. I walk into a room. They sense it instantly. I arouse something in them. I bother them. It's a kind of animal thing I've got. Really quite extraordinary.
* Miss Morris, I'm perfectly capable of fixing my own breakfast. As a matter of fact, I had a peanut butter sandwich and two whiskey sours.

## Dr. Brubaker

* My 3:00 patient jumped out of the window in the middle of his session. I have been running fifteen minutes ahead of schedule ever since.
* Until you are able to commit a simple act of terror, I strongly advise you to avoid anything as complex as murder.

## Other

* Waitress: Nudism is such a worthy cause. We must bring the message to the people. We must teach them to unmask their poor suffocating bodies and let them breathe again. Clothes are the enemy. Without clothes, there'd be no sickness, there'd be no war. I ask you, sir, can you imagine two great armies on the battlefield, no uniforms, completely nude? No way of telling friend from foe. All brothers, together.

## Dialogue

    The Girl: Do you have any kids?
    Richard Sherman: No. None. No kids. Well, just one. Little one. Hardly counts.
    Richard Sherman: It's just my imagination. Some people have flat feet. Some people have dandruff. I have this appalling imagination.
    The Girl: I think it's just elegant to have an imagination. I just have no imagination at all. I have lots of other things, but I have no imagination...Come on now, relax. You're just making this all up.
    Richard Sherman: Let's face it. No pretty girl in her right mind wants me. She wants Gregory Peck.
    The Girl: Is that so?...How do you know what a pretty girl wants?...You and your imagination. You think every girl's a dope. You think a girl goes to a party, and there's some guy - a great big lunk in a fancy striped vest, strutting around like a tiger, giving you that 'I'm so handsome, you can't resist me' look, and from this, she's supposed to fall flat on her face. Well, she doesn't fall on her face. But there's another guy in the room, way over in the corner. Maybe he's kind of nervous and shy, perspiring a little. First, you look past him, but then you sort of sense, he's gentle and kind and worried, and he'll be tender with you, nice and sweet. That's what's really exciting! If I were your wife, I'd be very jealous of you. I'd be very very jealous. [she kisses him] I think you're just elegant.
    The Girl: [in his fantasy] Rachmaninoff... It isn't fair... Every time I hear it, I go to pieces... It shakes me, it quakes me. It makes me feel goose-pimply all over. I don't know where I am or who I am or what I'm doing. Don't stop. Don't stop. Don't ever stop! Why did you stop?
    Richard Sherman: You know why, because now I'm going to kiss you, very quick and very hard.
    [in Richard's fantasy, à la Jean Simmons and Donald Houston in The Blue Lagoon, Elaine and Richard are on the beach at midday, kissing and embracing]
    Elaine: What is this strange animal thing you have? It bothers me. It's bothered me since the first time l saw you. And it'll bother me always, from here to eternity. [also referencing From Here to Eternity, which featured a similar scene to that of The Blue Lagoon, with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr]
    Richard Sherman: You must fight it, Elaine. Remember, l belong to another!
    Elaine: Richard!
    Richard Sherman: [running off into the surf] This can never be. l have a devoted, trusting wife at home and a freckle-faced little space cadet.
    Elaine: Richard!
    Richard Sherman: Tell me doctor, are you very expensive?
    Dr. Brubaker: Very!
    Richard Sherman: I'm sure you occasionally make exceptions.
    Dr. Brubaker: Never!
    Richard Sherman: Well I mean, once in a while, a case must come along that really interests you.
    Dr. Brubaker: At $50 an hour, all my cases interest me.
    Dr. Brubaker: When something itches my dear sir, the natural tendency is to scratch.
    Richard Sherman: Last night I scratched.
    Tom MacKensie: What blonde in the kitchen?
    Richard Sherman: Wouldn't you like to know! Maybe it's Marilyn Monroe!

## Cast

* Marilyn Monroe - The Girl
* Tom Ewell - Richard Sherman
* Evelyn Keyes - Helen Sherman
* Sonny Tufts - Tom MacKenzie
* Robert Strauss - Kruhulik
* Oskar Homolka - Dr. Brubaker
* Marguerite Chapman - Miss Morris
* Donald MacBride - Mr. Brady
* Victor Moore - the Plumber
* Carolyn Jones - Miss Finch
* Doro Merande - Waitress in the vegetarian restaurant

## External links

* The Seven Year Itch quotes at the Internet Movie Database