The Seven Year Itch

The Seven Year Itch is a classic romantic comedy film from 1955, iconic both for its humor and its landmark status in Marilyn Monroe's illustrious career. Starring Monroe, alongside Tom Ewell and Evelyn Keyes, it may be best known for the unforgettable image of Monroe's dress billowing up around her waist while she stands on a subway grate - a scene that has come to epitomize the mythical allure of Hollywood's golden age.

The movie is based on a stage play of the same name by George Axelrod, with co-writing and directing credits going to Billy Wilder. The cinematic translation of Axelrod's play is a witty, engaging journey that explores the shades of middle-age crisis, human fantasies, and the complexity of monogamous relationships.

Set in the boiling heat of a New York summer, Ewell stars as the middle-aged, light-suspense publisher, Richard Sherman. With his family escaping the city-heat for a summer vacation in Maine, Sherman elects to stay behind, being knee-deep in work. This sets up the premise for a comedy of errors as Sherman grapples with his own marital fidelity amid the onslaught of his wild, albeit comedic, fantasies.

While trying to endure the summer alone in the city, Sherman's life takes an interesting turn with the arrival of Monroe's character, the unnamed Girl, who rents the apartment upstairs. Being a ravishing blonde with a charmingly innocent persona, The Girl becomes the inadvertent stirrer of Sherman's marital predicament - the proverbial seven-year itch.

Throughout the movie, Sherman’s vivid imagination gives life to hilarious sequences, accentuated by Ewell's brilliant comic timing and Monroe’s intoxicating screen presence. The ‘seven-year itch’ phenomena — a term that refers to the supposed decline of happiness in a marriage after seven years — serves as the film's main touchstone.

What makes The Seven Year Itch an essential cinematic experience is the memorable and widely-celebrated performance of Marilyn Monroe. Her charmingly effervescent portrayal of The Girl stands as one of her career's most notable roles. The iconic scene at the subway grate, showing her dress fly up, is just one of the moments where Monroe's performance - provocative yet laden with innocence - bewitches viewers' hearts and minds. The entire sequence has gained an immortality that few cinematic moments enjoy.

Both Monroe and Ewell perform their parts impressively, with their naturally believable chemistry adding even more life to the script’s already electric dialogue. Monroe shines as the attractive and free-spirited object of Sherman's fantasies, while Ewell gives a spectacularly convincing depiction of a married man diving headfirst into midlife chaos.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Keyes, though primarily off-screen, lends a sense of tension and reality to the moral quandary posed by the film. As Sherman's wife, Helen, her eventual return to the city leaves the viewers in suspense about the repercussions of Sherman’s extramarital fantasies.

The film's direction and screenplay, helmed by Billy Wilder, expertly balance the comedic moments with those of contemplative exposition. Wilder's polished storytelling complements the performances by masterfully navigating through both indulgently fantasized sequences and real-life interactions. He even brilliantly uses interior monologues to further delve into Sherman's psyche, adding a layer of psychological complexity that gives The Seven Year Itch a timelessness beyond its immediate comedy.

In conclusion, The Seven Year Itch is a vibrant, fast-paced, funny, and sometimes poignant film that serves as a memorable milestone in the romantic comedy genre. It addresses the universal theme of relationship complacency while providing ample laughs, unforgettable performances, and a vivid exploration of human desire and fantasy. This film not only showcases Monroe at her best but also stands as a timeless testament to Billy Wilder's genius and keen understanding of comedic storytelling. Its humorous depiction of marital fidelity and its engagingly human characters continue to resonate for audiences, making it as immersive and enjoyable now as it was during its time of release in 1955.