Movie · 1962 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 39m · NR · English
Curator score: 3.1/10 (19.1K ratings)
Insistence! Resistance! Persistence! Co-Existence! It's the year's most uproarious, romantic free-for-all...!
Overview
Cathy Timberlake is en route to a job interview when a car transporting businessman Philip Shayne covers her in mud. He sends his assistant, Roger, to apologize, but upon meeting Cathy, Roger knows that she would be a suitable match for his boss. Despite their mutual attraction, Cathy and Philip want different things. Philip wants a fling, while Cathy wants a marriage. As they travel to exotic locales, their differing motivations are put to the test.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.1/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.13/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Delbert Mann
Production
Universal Pictures, Arwin Productions
Cast
Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young, Audrey Meadows, Alan Hewitt, John Astin, Dick Sargent, Jan Burrell, Alice Backes, Richard Deacon, Billy M. Greene, Jack Livesey, Ralph Manza, Joey Faye, Kathryn Givney, Helen Brown, John Fiedler, Barbara Collentine, Nelson Olmsted, Mickey Mantle
Curator Review
Verdict
A polished, star-driven 1960s romantic comedy with breezy travelogue appeal and a few genuinely funny set pieces, but it’s also dated in its gender politics and can feel more charming than sharply written. If you’re here for Cary Grant and Doris Day’s screen presence, it delivers; if you want modern chemistry or a more progressive romantic premise, it may frustrate.
Best for
fans of classic Hollywood star vehicles
viewers who enjoy light, glossy romantic comedies
people interested in 1960s fashion, manners, and travel fantasy
Doris Day or Cary Grant completists
Skip if
you need strong romantic chemistry
you’re sensitive to regressive gender dynamics
you prefer fast, joke-dense comedies
you want a romance with more emotional depth or modern sensibility
Overview
That Touch of Mink is one of those late-era studio romances that runs almost entirely on star charisma. Cary Grant is doing polished, controlled Cary Grant things, while Doris Day brings the bright, practical energy that keeps the film from floating away on its own elegance. The setup is simple and very of-its-time: a woman wants marriage, a man wants a fling, and the movie keeps staging their mismatch as a game of wit, decorum, and temptation.
Worth noting
What works best is the surface pleasure. The fashion, the apartment interiors, the travel, and the occasional absurd comic flourish give it a glossy, escapist feel. There are stretches where the movie is more amiable than funny, and the central dynamic can feel frustratingly lopsided, but the cast is professional enough to make even the weaker material go down smoothly.
Bottom line
As a romance, it’s less about emotional inevitability than about watching two polished performers negotiate a very old-fashioned script. That makes it appealing as a time capsule and a star vehicle, but less satisfying if you’re looking for genuine spark or a relationship that feels earned. It’s a pleasant diversion with some sparkle, not a classic on the level of the era’s very best comedies.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Sara Clements (2★) · 237 likes
One day I’ll make a list of all the old movies that feature a fashion show for absolutely no reason
sarah (2★) · 213 likes
no laughs no sex no chemistry no vibes just cary grant buttoning up his cardigan every 15 minutes
Ronan Doyle (3★) · 144 likes
I wish to marry Cary Grant. I see four key issues:
a) Cary is a man. For some ludicrous reason a marriage between us is thus not okay with most nations. We shall have to go to Sweden.b) Cary is dead. I'm not as up-to-date on laws regarding marriage to corpses as to other men, but I dare say it's not cool. Hardly fair: love's love.c) Cary was cremated. No doubt the previous problem could be overcome with… more
francie 🕊️ (3★) · 101 likes
spending half a day with cary grant and feeling like you're in love with him is big mood
mckenna (3★) · 82 likes
cathy was so relatable because i too would apologize to cary grant if he splashed mud on me
1963 · Comedy, Mystery, Romance · 1h 53m · NR · Curator 8.5/10 (289K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Pure Flix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Bloodstream
A stylish, star-powered romantic thriller with wit, glamour, and a similarly elegant mid-century sheen.