Dec. 22, 1964 - Opening today is “Kiss Me, Stupid,” a sex comedy produced and directed by Billy Wilder and starring Dean Martin, Kim Novak, and Ray Walston. The supporting cast features Felicia Farr, Cliff Osmond, Howard McNear, Cliff Norton, Mel Blanc, and Henry Gibson. Lyrics for the songs in the film were written by Ira Gershwin, using some of George Gershwin’s unpublished melodies.
Wilder initially offered the role of Orville Spooner to Jack Lemmon (Farr’s husband), whom he had directed in “Some Like It Hot,” “The Apartment,” and “Irma la Douce,” but prior commitments forced the actor to decline. The director then signed Peter Sellers for the role. Six weeks into filming, Sellers suffered a series of 13 heart attacks and was hospitalized in Los Angeles. Upon his release, the actor returned to England under doctor’s orders. Unwilling to wait while Sellers completed a six-month recuperation period, Wilder opted to replace him with Walston and reshoot all his scenes.
The role of Polly the Pistol was written with Marilyn Monroe in mind. After her death in August 1962, filming was postponed while the role was recast. It was later reported that Jayne Mansfield would take over the role, but she had to withdraw from the project because of her pregnancy. Sometime thereafter, it was decided that Novak would play the role, coming out of a two-year absence from acting to appear in the film.
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