Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

drednm At two and a half hours, Billy Wilder's soufflé falls flatter than a crepe in this laborious comedy about a naive ex-cop and a hooker with a heart of gold.The snail-paced story dies fast as the plot plods along. Jack Lemmon is the ex-cop who ends up as a pimp to Shirley MacLaine's Irma la Douce, a Parisian prostitute. He falls in love with her and decides the only way to have her to himself is to disguise himself as a rich British lord who pays her only to play cards. To earn the money to pay her, he works nights in a meat market schlepping huge slabs of meat.Eventually he decides, with the help of the local bar owner (Lou Jacobi) he hatches a plan to "kill off" the lord and go straight. When he symbolically throws the disguise (which isn't very good) into the Seine, his rival pimp sees him and reports the murder of the lord. From there, the plot churns on for another 30 minutes to resolve the situation.Comedy needs quick pacing; farce needs even sharper pacing. If it lumbers along as this film does, the spark simply dies out, leaving a fizzled pile of ashes.MacLaine and Lemmon try hard, but it just doesn't work. Jacobi becomes annoying, and even his final "to the audience" line is a dud. Among the co-stars are Bruce Yarnell as Ox, Herschel Bernardi as the police inspector, Joan Shawlee as the Amazon, Grace Lee Whitney as Kiki, Hope Holiday as Lolita, Cliff Osmond as the police sergeant, and Howard McNear as the concierge. Brief bits by James Caan and Bill Bixby.

wes-connors Parisian prostitute Shirley MacLaine (as Irma La Douce) does a brisk business. She acts demure, wears sexy green outfits and carries a little pooch named "Coquette". After her clients pay, Ms. MacLaine specializes in sob stories that elicit a tip. Handy hotels, a friendly barroom and "on the take" police make it a happy situation for the streetwalkers and their partners. Suddenly, the successful sex trade is dealt an arresting blow. Honest policeman Jack Lemmon (as Nestor "Tiger" Patou) is put on patrol. Initially unaware of the sex action, Mr. Lemmon informs MacLaine her dress in unbuttoned. When he sees all the women in provocatively slit dresses and low-cut tops, Lemmon realizes they are hookers...Attracted to MacLaine, Lemmon gets into a fight with her pimp, brawny Bruce Yarnell (as Hippolyte), and gets lucky. Lemmon surprisingly inheriting Mr. Yarnell's position. Since he really loves MacLaine, Lemmon invents the British secret identity "Lord X" and proceeds to buy up all MacLaine's bedtime. The madcap situation leads to fun and tragedy...From director-writer-producer Billy Wilder, this story is derived from a French musical, with the songs dropped. It's obviously not as good as Mr. Wilder's other works, being too slow and lacking in laughs. Lemmon undressing for MacLaine and later donning her ex's jacket and brown derby are comic highlights. The original idea to cast Marilyn Monroe might have produced something more interesting, had the recently deceased actress overcome her addictions (the songs would have been included for Ms. Monroe, of course). MacLaine is sexy, smart and chain-smokes. The photography by Joseph La Shelle and art direction by Alexander Trauner are strengths. Casual sex is celebrated and paid for, but never shown.***** Irma la Douce (6/5/63) Billy Wilder ~ Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Bruce Yarnell, Lou Jacobi

Chris L While Billy Wilder comedies rarely last more than two hours, Irma la Douce is abnormally long, 2h27, which induces a diluted narration, little dense action and a lack of rhythm unusual for the American director.The plot here horrendously drags on, some scenes are a lot too long and seem more like an excuse for Jack Lemmon's gestures — who, like the rest of the cast, is close to overacting — than to serve a real purpose story-wise.The last hour is particularly painful and it is with great relief that you get through this little inspired rom com, minor in Billy Wilder's filmography, and it's a bit infuriating because you can't help but think that with 30 to 45 minutes less, this could have been a great movie.

thinker1691 Among the street people of Paris, there is a saying, 'it costs nothing to hate, but if you wish to make love, it will cost you thirty franks.' The movie "Irma La Douce" meaning, 'Irma the sweet' stems from an original play by Alex Breflort and is adroitly directed by the great Billy Wilder. It tells the story of Nestor Patou (Jack Lemmon) a young idealistic French Policeman, who gets transferred to the 'Red Light' district of Paris France. Unaware of the established economic system between the police and the street prostitutes, he naively orders a raid and among the many surprised clients arrested, Nestor discovers his own boss. Fired from his job, he becomes a pimp for his girlfriend called Irma (Shirley MacLaine). Learning her work involves prostitution, he arranges to become her only client. This creates the Topsy-turvy world which includes the mysterious Lord X. Lou Jacobi is 'Moustache' who explains to the audience how silly a situation can become when plucking chickens. A superior film and one which has become a definite Classic. ****