Main Cast: Cary Grant, Samantha Eggar, Jim Hutton, John Standing, Miiko Taka
Release Year: 1966
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Cary Grant made his last film appearance before retiring from the screen in this agreeable piece of fluff based on the 1943 comedy The More the Merrier, which dealt with the romantic complications inherent in the housing shortage in Washington D.C. during World War II. In Walk, Don't Run, the story is updated to a housing shortage in Tokyo during the Olympic Games of 1964. British industrialist Sir William Rutland (Cary Grant) arrives in Tokyo two days before the start of the games and cannot find any suitable accommodations. As a result, he answers an ad for an "apartment to share" and convinces the occupant, Christine Easton (Samantha Eggar), to rent a room to him. The next day he meets the handsome Steve Davis (Jim Hutton), a member of the United States Olympic walking team. Steve also needs a room and convinces Christine to take him on as a second tenant. After meeting Christine's pompous fiancé, Julius D. Haversack (John Standing), Rutland begins to ply his matchmaking skills in an effort to get Christine and Steve to fall in love with each other. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Ted Hartley - Yuri Andreyovitch; Ben A. Astar - Dimitri; George Takei - Police Captain; Teru Shimada - Mr. Kurawa; Lois Kiuchi - Mrs. Kurawa; David Draper; Dale Ishimoto; Robert Kino - Assistant Manager; Frank Kumagai - Plain Clothesman; Miko Mayama - Japanese Waitress; Rollin Moriyama - Manager; Monty O'Grady - Ad Libs; Peggy Rea - Russian Shot Putter; Alex Rodine; Yoko Tani - Bath Attendant; Ilona Wilson; James Yagi - Rutland's Driver; C.K. Yang - Chinese Athlete; Bob Okazaki - Plant Manager; Miyoshi Jingu - Woman; Roy Ogata; Burt Santos; Anna Shin
Sir William Rutland (Cary Grant) is an important English businessman who arrives in the city two days early and is greeted by the housing shortage caused by the Games. While at the British Embassy seeking help, he notices an announcement of an available apartment and decides to check the place out. He finds himself at the residence of Christine Easton (Samantha Eggar) who insists that it would be improper to take him in as a housemate—for while she forgot to advertise so, she naturally preferred a woman. Easton eventually lets Rutland stay - half because she is persuaded it is her patriotic duty to take him in and half because of Rutland’s own self-assured pushiness.
Rutland then sublets half of his half of the cramped space to American Olympian race walker Steve Davis (Jim Hutton), in whom Rutland sees a younger version of himself. While Easton is less than thrilled with the arrangement, she has already spent Rutland's share of the rent. Rutland sets about playing matchmaker for the two young people, in spite of their disparate personalities and Easton’s engagement to boringly dependable British diplomat Julius P. Haversack (John Standing).
Davis repeatedly refuses to reveal what sport he is competing in. Rutland meddles in the young couple's romantic troubles. The movie culminates in his suddenly stripping down to his boxer shorts and a t-shirt so he can pretend to be a competitor and talk to Davis during his event, trying to heal the breach between the young lovers.
The film was scored and orchestrated by Quincy Jones, with Peggy Lee contributing to the writing of the songs "Stay with Me" and "Happy Feet". The score featured Toots Thielmans on harmonica and the trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison.
Bibliography
Reid, John Howard. "Walk, Don't Run." Reid's Film Index, no. 36 (1998): 178-181.
