HotToastyRag Besides the title song, The Tender Trap doesn't have much going for it. Frank Sinatra plays a playboy bachelor, and David Wayne, a family man, envies his lifestyle. One day, David leaves his wife and children and decides he's going to live "the life" too. While he becomes infatuated with Frank's current squeeze, Celeste Holme, Frank is left to play around with aspiring actress Debbie Reynolds. Only, Debbie is a very good girl; she won't take any love-em-and-leave-em behavior.I was never a Debbie Reynolds fan; she always seemed enormously insincere and amateur. If the king of all bachelors is going to be hooked in by somebody, she'd better be worth it—and I have a hard time believing Debbie Reynolds is worth it. It's pretty dated, with lots of jokes about men's view of "death by marriage", and won't really appeal to modern women. Do yourself a favor: listen to the song and skip the movie.

jacobs-greenwood Because this comedy with music portrays the now dated male-female role viewpoints of the 1950's, it's a less than satisfying experience today. Perhaps the best that can be said about it is that it features the Academy Award nominated Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn title song.Frank Sinatra is too old to play the swinging bachelor that attracts the prematurely "set in her ways" and too young bachelorette wannabe married gal that Debbie Reynolds plays. There is never anything that can remotely be called chemistry exhibited between the two in this movie. Ironically, Sinatra would be even older when he played a similar role in a much better film, Come Blow Your Horn (1963). This was directed by Charles Walters; Julius Epstein's screenplay was based on the Max Shulman-Robert Paul Smith play.I've never been able to warm up to David Wayne nor the characters he plays, and his "Indiana married man experiencing a mid-life crisis that comes to visit childhood pal (Sinatra) in New York" in this one is no different.On the other hand, Celeste Holm was practically auditioning for the Liz Imbrie part (successful thirty-something career woman longing for marriage but second choice for Sinatra's character whom she adores) she would play in High Society (1956) the following year; she's terrific in both roles. Carolyn Jones, who plays Sinatra's dog walker, is the most notable other actor in the cast.

moonspinner55 Unsuccessful Broadway show from Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith becomes glossy, tepid M-G-M romantic comedy with one song. Frank Sinatra is certainly well-cast as a womanizing theatrical agent in New York City, and Debbie Reynolds is cute as a singer-dancer under her own personal deadline to get married, but this archaic set-up is no longer any fun. To the bachelor, available girls are just "tomatoes" (pronounced tuh-may-tahs); to the talented songbird, being a woman means nothing without having a husband to validate her. Premise comes directly from that antiseptic '50s aesthetic that women want marriage in order to start a family (just like their mothers), but men want marriage in order to get into the bedroom (because no self-respecting 'tomato' would go all the way without vows). Ladies-man Sinatra does a lot of sweetheart-talking and forehead kissing, yet his randy excursions (and drunken escapades) are merely chatted about, never seen. He's called a monster, a heel--which seems a tad severe for a guy who never seems to get any action because his phone is always ringing and his doorbell is always buzzing. Sinatra and Reynolds may have indeed proved to be a splendid screen-couple, but they are trapped by "The Tender Trap", which curdles from coyness. ** from ****

ryancm THE TENDER TRAP is part of the Frank Sinatra collection from his "golden years" and first time out on DVD. While quite "stagey" (after all it WAS a stage play), it's quite enjoyable and in todays world "quite improbable". First, a young actress gets a lead role in a show in an instant and isn't even excited about it!! What??? She has designs on marriage instead. Then why try to get into a long running show? Oh well, that's the only way theatrical agent, SINATRA, could meet her I guess. Even though the lead character is a playboy with lots of girlfriends, it all seems so G-rated. If made today, well, heaven knows what sex acts, foul language and nudity would prevail. SINATRA was made for the role of Charlie. DEBBIE REYNOLDS is cute in an un-defined role. The real scene stealer is CELESTE HOLM and a cute bit by CAROYLN JONES. SINATRAS buddy played by David WAYNE was a bit annoying, but WAYNE does a good job non-the-less. Good use of the CinemaScope process works good here, even though all scenes are interiors with one weird outdoor process shot. Rent this one as it's SINATRA in his prime. Now Paramount should release JOKER IS WILD and COME BLOW YOUR HORN and MGM/UA should release NOT AS A STRANGER. That would make about 90% of SINATRA on DVD.