The Tender Trap (film)

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The Tender Trap
Directed by	Charles Walters
Produced by	Lawrence Weingarten
Written by	Julius J. Epstein Max Shulman (play) Robert Paul Smith (play)
Starring	Frank Sinatra Debbie Reynolds David Wayne Celeste Holm
Music by	Jeff Alexander
Cinematography	Paul Vogel
Editing by	John D. Dunning
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	4 November 1955
Running time	111 min
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Tender Trap (1955) is a comedy starring Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, David Wayne, and Celeste Holm. Based on a 1954 play The Tender Trap by Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith, "The Tender Trap" marked Sinatra's return to MGM. some six years after On the Town, although his second film under a new contract with the studio, Guys and Dolls, was released ahead of "The Tender Trap" by one day on November 3, 1955.

The film was nominated for the 1956 Academy Award for Best Original Song, for the song "(Love Is) the Tender Trap" (music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn). The song proved a hit for Sinatra, which he would continue to sing throughout his career.

[edit] Plot Summary

Charlie Y. Reader (Sinatra) is a theatrical agent, living a seemingly idyllic life as a bachelor. His numerous female admirers come and go, cleaning and cooking for him. At an audition, he meets singer and actress Julie Gillis (Reynolds) who has planned her life to a tight schedule. She plans to marry and retire from performing to a life of child-rearing by 22. After a few dates, Julie tells Charlie that they'll not get married if he continues seeing these other women. This unexpected announcement fascinates Charlie and he begins to fall in love with her.

Charlie's best friend, Joe McCall (Wayne), who has a wife and children in Indianapolis, is visiting New York and staying at Charlie's apartment. He begins to fall in love with Sylvia (Holm), a former lover of Charlie's. Sylvia is approaching 33 and believes Charlie is her last hope of getting married. She is thrilled to have Charlie propose to her, only to discover at their engagement party that he has proposed to Julie as well.