The Lieutenant Wore Skirts is a 1956 American comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin, starring Tom Ewell and Sheree North. Indeed the movie is of comedic and romantic genre in that it is a romantic story set at a bi gender pivotor. The film also integrates the post World War II societal trends especially the changing status of women in the society.
Plot Summary:
The story centers on Kathy Connors (played by Sheree North) who served in the Women’s Air Corps during the Second World War and and now lives with Greg Whitcomb (played by Tom Ewell) a civilian to whom she is lawfully wedded. Kathy is successfully married to Gregory “Greg” Whitcomb, former air force enlisted and soldier. After the war, Greg enjoyed a very good life which was domestic and peaceful minus military engagements and war noise.
However, it is rather unfortunate that Kathy is forced back to the military when the American Airforce decides to mobilise women again during the Korean War. This leads to trouble in their relations since Greg has to get used to the thought of his wife going to serve the military while he stays at home. Being self-conscious and envious of his wife’s profession, Greg attempts to join the army again because he feels he should wear the uniform. The only problem is that he is now too old and out of shape to pass a military examination, and that only aggravates his problems.
In other parts of the film, most of the humor revolves around Greg’s clumsy attempts to assert his masculinity and cope with his Oedipus complex while Kathy manages to be a competent and efficient officer. The movie comically deals with that very idea of role reversal where Greg is left out of things and Kathy is dominating her military career.
Cast:
Tom Ewell as Gregory “Greg” Whitcomb: a discharged soldier now a civilian, who finds it hard to come to terms with his wife’s going back to the Army.
Sheree North as Lt. Kathy Connors: Active duty wife of Greg, a former member of the Women’s Air Corps who is activated.
Rita Moreno as Sandra Roberts: A comic relief character who is neither main character or villain but nonetheless brings laughter to the audience.
Rick Jason as Major Gen. Williams: Some important military man who also interacts with Kathy and Greg.
Themes:
Gender Roles and Identity: The film takes an amusing view of women in the army and how such inversion of roles presents a woman as the more dominant and successful partner.
Insecurity and Masculinity: The issues of Greg’s insecurities as a man, owing to his wife’s achievement and his own failure to return into active service are comically and tragically salient.
Marriage and Partnership: At the very heart of the film, it is a rom-com chronicling Kathy and Greg and their struggle to adapt to the changes in their union.
Reception:
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts was nothing but a typical romantic comedy of the 1950’s centred on the role exchange between men and women. It did not receive any major attention although it was positively received for its comic relief and the cast of Tom Ewell and Sheree North. Ewell had just finished acting in The Seven Year Itch (1955) and was an actor who made a living from guy-next-door roles thrown into comical situations while North was positioned as a photoshoot rising star.
