War movies usually come in two flavours. There’s the grim, gritty kind, packed with battlefield heroics, tragic losses, and enough explosions to rattle your fillings. Then there’s Kiss Them for Me (1957)—a film that takes war, shakes it up with a generous pour of gin and serves it with a wink and a twist of mischief. If you’re looking for tanks and tactics, look elsewhere. If you want Cary Grant dodging responsibility while romancing Jayne Mansfield in a hotel suite the size of Rhode Island, step right up.
A Plot with More Play Than Peril
The film follows three decorated Navy pilots who land a cushy three-day leave in San Francisco. Commander Andy Crewson (Cary Grant) and his pals (Ray Walston and Larry Blyden) aren’t interested in military matters. They’re here for the important things: parties, dames, and dodging their PR duties. Their civilian host, a well-meaning but clueless businessman (Leif Erickson), tries to rope them into selling war bonds, but the flyboys have other ideas.
Enter socialite Gwinneth Livingston (Suzy Parker), a woman as poised as she is perplexed by Andy’s antics. Their romance teeters between charm and chaos, while Jayne Mansfield’s character, Alice, provides a dazzling distraction for anyone not otherwise engaged in mischief. The whole affair is a madcap mix of cocktails, comedy, and Cary Grant at his most delightfully devious.
Cary Grant in Peak Playboy Mode
Cary Grant spent much of his career making irresponsibility look irresistible. Here, he’s in fine form—ducking duty, wooing women, and tossing off one-liners with the ease of a man who has absolutely no intention of waking up before noon. His Andy Crewson isn’t your typical war hero. He’s a charmer with a uniform, a smooth talker who knows exactly how to wriggle out of any serious commitment, whether it’s to the military or to marriage. Watching him work his magic is a lesson in effortless cool.
The Jayne Mansfield Factor
Jayne Mansfield doesn’t just enter scenes—she commandeers them. As Alice, a bubbly, breathy bombshell with an unshakable faith in fun, she delivers lines like a woman who’s never heard the word “subtlety.” She’s pure Technicolor energy, stealing focus even when she’s simply standing still. Whether she’s misunderstanding a conversation or making every word sound slightly scandalous, Mansfield brings an extra layer of lively lunacy to the film.
Suzy Parker: The Sensible Center
While Grant and Mansfield swirl around in a cocktail-fueled cyclone, Suzy Parker’s Gwinneth Livingston provides a rare moment of calm. She’s smart, sophisticated, and only partially immune to Andy’s charms. Her role could have been a throwaway love interest, but Parker gives her enough depth to make her interesting. She’s the kind of woman who sees through the nonsense but might just tolerate it anyway.
San Francisco as a Playground
Forget battlefields and barracks—this is a war film where the front lines are fancy hotel suites and lavish parties. The film takes full advantage of its setting, treating San Francisco like a giant amusement park for wayward officers. The champagne flows, the music swings and responsibility is something that happens to other people. It’s a cinematic vacation from the usual war movie fare.
The Comedy of Dodging Duty
Despite its setting in the thick of World War II, Kiss Them for Me isn’t particularly interested in war. Sure, there are brief moments of reflection—fleeting glimpses of what these men have seen and will return to—but the film keeps things light. The comedy leans on rapid-fire banter, mistaken identities, and an ongoing battle between Andy’s love of leisure and the Navy’s insistence that he do something useful.
Why It Works (And Why It Doesn’t Always)
The film is fun, no question. The dialogue is snappy, the cast is game, and the whole thing moves with the energy of a party that no one wants to end. But does it always work? Not quite. The humour sometimes stumbles, and the film occasionally feels like a series of comedic set pieces rather than a fully cohesive story. Still, if you’re watching for charm rather than coherence, you’ll be thoroughly entertained.
A Toast to Lighthearted War Films
Not all war movies need to be heavy. Kiss Them for Me reminds us that sometimes, even in the shadow of conflict, there’s room for laughter, romance, and a little irresponsibility. If you like your war stories with more wit than warfare and your Cary Grant at his most carefree, this is one to watch.
Final Thoughts: Pour Yourself a Drink and Enjoy
Is it historically accurate? No. Does it have a compelling wartime message? Not particularly. Is it a blast to watch Cary Grant navigate a sea of champagne, flirtation, and Jayne Mansfield? Absolutely.
So, if you’re in the mood for a wartime comedy where the biggest battle is avoiding duty, Kiss Them for Me is your kind of movie. Pour yourself a drink, put your feet up, and enjoy Cary Grant doing what he does best—making mischief look magnificent.
Watch Kiss Them for Me (1957) here: YouTube link