If a Man Answers 1962
Directed by
Henry Levin
Made by
Universal International Pictures
If a Man Answers Plot Summary
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Chantal Stacy [Sandra Dee] is a very cute girl, the daughter of Germaine Stacy [Micheline Presle], a former French showgirl, and John Stacy [John Lund], a conservative Boston antiques dealer who met in Paris. Their lighthearted “soufflé-and-beans romance” paints her world with a blend of Parisian charm and New England pragmatism, and a foghorn sounds every time a man gets too close to her, signaling her father’s wary guard over her French-side temptations.
The family relocates to New York City after John gets a promotion, bringing Chantal into a bustling new life. On Fifth Avenue, she’s spotted by Eugene Wright [Bobby Darin], a photographer who invites her to model. During Chantal’s first shoot, her father storms onto the set, punches Gene, and whisks his daughter home. Chantal confesses to her mother that she enjoys modeling and would like to continue, but with her mother’s guidance she agrees to marry Gene. Yet once married, Gene refuses to let Chantal model, turning her into a housewife instead.
Shortly after, Chantal’s college friend Tina [Stefanie Powers], a spoiled, pampered New York socialite, arrives and begins flirting with Gene, drawing his attention away from Chantal and making her increasingly anxious about her marriage. When Chantal feels lost, her mother lends a hand with some old-fashioned advice and a book titled How To Train Man’s Best Friend. The idea is explained not as a way to dominate a husband, but as a guide to living with him—an insight that slowly reshapes how Chantal approaches her relationship.
Tina’s drunken confession of loneliness and envy prompts Germaine to reveal another tactic she once used: taking a lover. She explains that her lover, Robert Swan, was only imaginary—yet she kept up the act by sending herself flowers and arranging prank calls, hoping to spark jealousy in her husband. The ruse is supported as the girls tease John about their accounts, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Before Chantal heads home to test these techniques, her mother warns that when Gene confronts her, she should answer honestly, lest he wonder if she’s telling the truth about an affair.
The plan seems to work as Chantal begins sending two-dozen white roses and has her mother click the receiver so Gene thinks there’s a mysterious caller. Gene, eager to uncover the truth, tracks down the florist to locate Robert Swan. Chantal rushes to explain everything, but Gene pleads with her to end the supposed affair—and even suggests welcoming Swan into their home for a polyandrous arrangement. Chantal calls her mother in a panic, and her parents come over to confront the fantasy man they’ve created. Gene’s suspicions grow stronger as they wonder if Robert Swan could be real.
After a careful dive into the matter, Chantal realizes that Swan is actually Gene’s father, Adam Wright, playing the role of her mother’s old lover. She and her mother decide to ride the prank to its conclusion, turning the tables on the men for a moment. Germaine discovers from John that he, Gene, and Adam had been in on the ruse from the start, and she concedes defeat while praising her husband for staying loyal to his sex. In the end, the family reconciles, and it’s revealed that Chantal is pregnant, just as Germaine suspected all along.
If a Man Answers Timeline
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Move to New York City
Following John's promotion, the Stacy family relocates to New York City. Chantal faces a new, fast-paced life that brings her closer to the world of fashion and photography. The move sets the stage for Chantal's future meeting with a photographer and the beginnings of her romantic path with Gene.
First modeling shoot on Fifth Avenue
Chantal is discovered when Eugene Wright offers to photograph her. The first shoot unfolds on Fifth Avenue, bringing attention to her beauty. Her father arrives on set, signaling his disapproval of the skimpy outfit.
Confrontation on set and return home
John interrupts the shoot and punches Gene after spotting the provocative outfit. He takes Chantal home, determined to shield her from what he perceives as danger. Chantal grapples with her father's protective stance and her growing attraction to Gene.
Decision to marry and Gene's shift away from modeling
Chantal tells her mother she wants to keep modeling and stay with Gene. Germaine explains how to navigate marriage and living with a partner. Chantal decides to marry Gene, but he then bars her from modeling, turning her into a housewife.
Tina arrives and stirs jealousy
Chantal's college friend Tina arrives in New York and goes after Gene, flirting openly. Gene responds to Tina's advances, making Chantal nervous about her marriage. The tension between romance and loyalty begins to intensify.
The dog-training book appears
Germaine gives Chantal a book titled How To Train Man's Best Friend, claiming it will help her live with her husband. Chantal applies the techniques in everyday interactions and surprisingly notices the changes in Gene's behavior. The book is framed as guidance for managing married life rather than training a pet.
Reframing the book's purpose
Germaine clarifies that the book is really about staying with a husband and understanding him, not turning him into a pet. Chantal begins to view marriage through a new lens, though she still tests boundaries with Gene. The dynamic between husband and wife grows more complex.
The plan: a pretend lover to provoke jealousy
Tina's drunken confession about loneliness prompts Germaine to propose a further trick: bringing in a pretend lover for Chantal. They orchestrate a scheme to make Gene jealous by introducing the illusion of an affair with a man named Robert Swan.
The roses and the call: fueling the ruse
Chantal and her mother execute the plan by sending white roses and making phone calls to suggest a forbidden romance. The ruse inflames Gene's jealousy and pushes Chantal toward a more tangled web of deception. Chantal wonders how far this test will go.
Dinner with the 'Robert Swan'
Gene invites the supposed Robert Swan to dinner and even asks him to move in, proposing a polyandrous arrangement. Chantal rings her mother for guidance while the evening unfolds, unsure of what lies ahead. The men play out a complicated game that blurs lines between fantasy and reality.
Swan is revealed as Adam Wright, the father
Chantal discovers that Robert Swan is actually Adam Wright, Gene's father, disguising himself as her mother's former lover. The revelation shifts the power dynamics and forces the characters to confront the truth behind the deception. She and her mother decide to continue playing along for the moment before unpacking the implications.
The truth comes out; reconciliation begins
Germaine learns from John that Gene, Adam, and the Swan ruse were premeditated with a shared joke in mind. She concedes defeat but praises her husband for loyalty and the resilience of their marriage. The family begins to reconcile after the revelation.
Chantal's pregnancy confirms a new beginning
In the final beat, Chantal is revealed to be pregnant, matching Germaine's early suspicion. The news seals a renewed harmony among Chantal, Gene, and their families, promising a hopeful future in New York. The film closes on a note of love, loyalty, and family.
If a Man Answers Characters
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Chantal Stacy - Sandra Dee
Chantal is a cute, fashion-conscious daughter torn between her French roots and a conservative Boston upbringing. She grows into a wily, resourceful woman who navigates love, family meddling, and the modeling world. Through wit and manipulation, she seeks security and affection, culminating in an unexpected pregnancy that signals a new chapter. She learns to assert herself within a comedic, high-society game.
Gene Wright (Eugene Wright)
Gene is a photographer who draws Chantal into modeling and then into marital trouble. He wavers between charm and temptation, becomes entangled in the women’s schemes, and even entertains the idea of a polyamorous arrangement. His actions reveal a mix of allure, insecurity, and loyalty as the plot unfolds.
Germaine Stacy
Germaine is a former French showgirl and a calculating matriarch who uses wit and manipulation to steer the family. She guides Chantal with unconventional teaching methods and orchestrates the elaborate 'Robert Swan' ruse. Her deception fuels the comedy, yet her revelations push the family toward reconciliation.
Robert Swan / Adam Wright
Robert Swan is the supposed lover conjured by Germaine and the family, later revealed to be Adam Wright, Gene’s father, in disguise. The deception drives suspicion, jealousy, and humor as the characters test loyalties. The reveal flips expectations and helps them find a path to reconciliation.
John Stacy
John is a conservative Boston antiques dealer, protective of his daughter and wary of her French side. He initially intervenes directly but becomes part of the elaborate ruse. His pragmatic, skeptical perspective grounds the comedy in familiar parental authority.
Tina
Tina is a spoiled college friend who arrives in New York and flirts with Gene, challenging Chantal’s marriage. Her presence accelerates the dramatic tension and pushes Chantal to test the 'training' tricks. Her jealousy and insecurity reveal the fragility of appearances in a social climate of privilege.
If a Man Answers Settings
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Time period
Early 1960s
The story is set in the early 1960s, a period of glamorous fashion and shifting gender norms. The urban settings and dating scenes reflect a pre-feminist era’s social mores. The light, comedic tone mirrors the era while exploring relationships, loyalty, and individuality.
Location
Paris, Boston, New York City
The film unfolds across three cities: Paris, Boston, and New York City. Paris frames Chantal's French heritage and romance, while Boston anchors the family’s conservative values and business concerns. New York becomes the fast-paced backdrop for modeling, dating, and the social games that drive the plot.
If a Man Answers Themes
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Romance
The film treats romance as a game of perception and control, where affection is tested by jealousy, secrecy, and social expectations. Chantal navigates a web of courtship, modeling, and a mother’s schemes in search of security and love. Through witty misdirection, the story explores how desire and commitment contend with appearances. The ending pregnancy signals a new chapter amid the comic chaos.
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Deception
Deception drives the plot as truth is masked by elaborate tricks and invented lovers. The 'Robert Swan' charade is a centerpiece, turning a family into actors in a social experiment. The twist reveals how shared deceit can crumble under pressure, yet still lead to reconciliation. The reveal reshapes loyalties and redefines trust within the family.
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Gender Roles
The film satirizes traditional marriage expectations, showing a wife learning how to manage her husband with wit rather than force. It exposes double standards and the lengths couples will go to keep up appearances. Ultimately, it presents a playful, if fragile, sense of equality within a chaotic social game. The comedy hinges on women steering the dynamics while men navigate pride and jealousy.
If a Man Answers Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the glittering world of Fifth‑Avenue socialites, Chantal Stacy carries the dual legacy of a Parisian show‑girl mother and a New England antiques dealer father. Her upbringing is a lively blend of French charm and Boston pragmatism, a cultural cocktail that colors everything from her wardrobe to her outlook on love. When the charismatic photographer Eugene Wright steps into her life, their whirlwind romance feels like a modern‑day fairy tale—glamorous, carefree, and seemingly destined for a picture‑perfect future. Their marriage, set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s chic studios and elegant cocktail parties, radiates a breezy optimism that invites the audience to revel in the sparkle of young love.
Yet the surface‑smooth lake of their happiness begins to ripple when Tina, an old college friend with a penchant for drama, re‑enters the picture. Her arrival injects a subtle undercurrent of jealousy, hinting that even the most harmonious relationships can be tested by lingering insecurities and outside allure. Amid the rising tension, Chantal turns to her mother, Germaine, whose well‑meaning but meddlesome instincts surface in the form of old‑fashioned advice and a quirky self‑help manual on navigating married life. The mother‑daughter dynamic becomes a lively dance of generational perspectives, each offering a different recipe for keeping the romance alive while preserving individuality.
The film balances its romantic premise with a light‑hearted, comedic tone, weaving together witty banter, stylish set pieces, and the inevitable clash of expectations that arise when love meets family counsel. As Chantal and Eugene try to steer their newly forged partnership through the subtle storms of envy, advice, and social pressure, the story invites viewers to wonder whether a touch of meddling can ever truly complement the fragile happiness they have built together.
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