Main Cast: Sophia Loren, Tab Hunter, Jack Warden, Barbara Nichols, Keenan Wynn, George Sanders
Release Year: 1959
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
That Kind of Woman stars Sophia Loren as an Italian girl, Kay, who enjoys a brief wartime romance with American paratrooper Red (Tab Hunter). But Kay is already the property of a suave millionaire (George Sanders) known only as "The Man." When next we see her, Kay is living Hollywood's concept of the life of a kept woman: luxurious apartment, limitless wardrobe, and an ever-so-slightly repentant facial expression. When Red reenters her life, she forsakes her wanton lifestyle -- only to lose her newfound love to enemy bullets. Essentially a remake of the World War I war-horse The Shopworn Angel, That Kind of Woman relies solely on Sophia Loren for its emotional punch; Tab Hunter is, after all, Tab Hunter. Watch for fleeting appearances by John Fiedler as a GI and Bea Arthur as a WAC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The importance of true star power is amply demonstrated by That Kind of Woman. While Woman might have been mildly daring in its day, as it frankly acknowledges the existence of "kept" women who do more for their pay than just smile and look pretty, it is only Sophia Loren that makes it of any real interest to modern audiences. The screenplay isn't horrible, mind you, although it makes no real sense. Loren is established as a woman who is perfectly happy being kept, wants and needs the benefits that come with being kept, and is in a relationship that doesn't put a lot of demands on her that she wouldn't want. Yet, she gives it all up for "true love" -- and the audience just doesn't buy it. With Tab Hunter at his physical peak, it would be easy to believe she would be interested in his character sexually, but we just don't buy that she would risk and sacrifice everything for him. Still, with that major drawback aside, the rest of the screenplay is perfectly acceptable, if not original or exciting. Sidney Lumet directs in a surprisingly clumsy manner, sacrificing clarity and pacing in order to train the camera close up on his attractive stars. They certainly are pretty adornments, but Hunter's acting is straightforward and by the numbers. Loren blows him off the screen, turning in a star-powered performance that is not necessarily great acting but is a testament to her presence and charisma. She gets some fine support from George Sanders and Barbara Nichols and some exceptional support from Keenan Wynn and especially from a young Jack Warden. Their support is valuable -- but it's nothing compared to Loren's contribution. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Roland Anderson - Art Director, Hal Pereira - Art Director, Ray Wander - Associate Producer, Edith Head - Costume Designer, Richard Caffey - First Assistant Director, Sidney Lumet - Director, Howard A. Smith - Editor, Daniele Amfitheatrof - Composer (Music Score), Van Cleave - Musical Direction/Supervision, Nathan VanCleave - Musical Direction/Supervision, Wally Westmore - Makeup, Boris Kaufman - Cinematographer, Marcello Girosi - Producer, Carlo Ponti - Producer, Sam Comer - Set Designer, Grace Gregory - Set Designer, James Gleason - Sound/Sound Designer, Charles Grenzbach - Sound/Sound Designer, Walter Bernstein - Screenwriter, Robert Lowry - Short Story Author
