The Facts Of Life (1960)

A married advertising executive (Bob Hope) and a suburban housewife (Lucille Ball) fall in love. Both belong to the same social group so it's difficult to maneuver their affair secretly. Directed by Melvin Frank (THE COURT JESTER), the film did well critically and at the box office. At the time, it was a bit of surprise to see Bob Hope and Lucille Ball in a comedy about adultery, their movies were usually more family friendly but this one was for the adults. I'm a big fan of Bob Hope movies but this isn't one of my favorites. Since it's a more "serious" subject, Hope's usual persona is kept in check as is Ball's wacky I LOVE LUCY image. This being 1960, the outcome of the affair is never in doubt. Still, it's a solid picture which many consider one of Hope's best. Some 13 years later, director Melvin Frank would cover some very similar territory in A TOUCH OF CLASS (1973) but this time unrestricted by early 1960s morality but this is the better movie. It received five Oscar nominations and won one (best B&W costume design). With Ruth Hussey, Don DeFore, Louis Nye, Hollis Irving and Philip Ober.