The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1956)

Time has not been good to The Lieutenant Wore Skirts, much of the humor of which is dependent upon whether one automatically finds a man cooking for his wife to be intrinsically funny. That said, if one can look beyond its datedness -- and beyond the fact that the husband, no matter how you slice it, is simply behaving selfishly -- Lieutenant offers a moderately good time, especially for those tuned into director Frank Tashlin's determinedly over-the-top style. As has been noted frequently, Tashlin got his start directing cartoons, and he brings the same ferocious energy to his live action projects. Star Tom Ewell works very well with Tashlin, perhaps because his hatch-like hangdog face looks like a refugee from an animated film, and perhaps because his willingness to underplay contrasts with and balances Tashlin's willingness to shoot for the moon. Whatever the reason, Ewell comes off wonderfully in Lieutenant, making even trite situations amusing. Sheree North is, as was usually the case, pretty much wasted in the role of the wife; her work is very good, but she's not given material that shows her off to good advantage. Much better is Rita Moreno, who scores heavily with her supporting part that pays homage to Marilyn Monroe. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide