[Tom Ewell’s] most successful and arguably most identifiable role came in 1952 when he began the Broadway production of The Seven Year Itch. With Vanessa Brown as “The Girl”, the show ran for almost three years, and Ewell played the part more than 900 times, as he said when he appeared as a mystery guest on What’s My Line? to promote the movie. He won a 1953 Tony Award for this role. He reprised his role in the 1955 film version, with Brown replaced by Marilyn Monroe. The scene of Ewell slyly admiring Monroe as she stood over a subway grate with her skirt billowing has become one of the most iconic moments in films. He won a Golden Globe Award for his performance. (VIA WIKIPEDIA)
The Seven Year Itch is a romantic comedy 1955 American film based on a three-act play with the same name by George Axelrod. The film was co-written and directed by Billy Wilder, and starred Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, reprising his Broadway role. It contains one of the most iconic images of the 20th century – Monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress[2] is blown by a passing train. (VIA WIKIPEDIA)
.
.
“Would you mind pressing it again? My fan’s caught”
Is Richard really supposed to be as sweatily creepy as Ewell made him? Regardless of his success in Axelrod’s original play I rather wish that Wilder had got his way and cast Walter Matthau rather than Mr Ewell.
As famous as the subway vent sequence is and as brilliant as Marilyn is in it, she is far sexier elsewhere in better clothes.