sartoris22 Review of Kiss Them for Me

Kiss Them for Me (1957)

Officer Cary Grant and his band of men pursue romance on a four-day leave.

[7/10 · 23 July 2008]

Kiss Them for Me is one of the more interesting Cary Grant movies because, like his best work with Hitchcock, Grant plays against type, as a naval officer on a four day leave whose only mission is to...well, enjoy the company of a woman. That he chooses the ravishing model Suzy Parker as his love target adds to the appeal of the movie, as does Grant's smooth but dogged pursuit of his goal. Throughout her scenes with Grant, Parker tries to get him to declare feelings other than carnal ones, but Grant's character never really wavers in his pursuit, and we witness a different type of Grant character, who unapologetically uses his considerable charm to accomplish something that is neither noble nor particularly gentlemanly. Even in Hitchcock films, Grant's more suspect character traits are redeemed in the end by noble purpose; however, in Kiss Them for Me, Grant is charming without being virtuous, although he is serious about his commitment to the navy and to his men. Some might find the Grant character unnecessarily misogynistic but his portrayal of the officer rings true for a man who has seen much fighting and war without the more civilizing company of women. This is a harder, edgier Grant, and it is a delight to watch his characterization. I've long thought it a loss that Grant did not do more edgy roles--for example, I think he would have a made a brilliant Phillip Marlow in The Big Sleep--but Kiss Them for Me gives us more than a taste of Grant's range as an actor and piques our curiosity about other more dangerous roles he might have played in his long and illustrious movie career.