That Funny Feeling 1965

Romance

Comedy

Runtime

93 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Richard Thorpe

Made by

Universal Pictures

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That Funny Feeling Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for That Funny Feeling (1965). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Joan Howell Sandra Dee is an aspiring actress who, for the moment, works as a maid. She shares a modest home with her friend Audrey Nita Talbot, also chasing a break in acting, and the two dream of bigger chances while navigating audition rooms, squeaky apartments, and the slow grind of small-scale gigs.

On three separate encounters, she keeps crossing paths with Tom Milford Bobby Darin, a successful publishing executive renowned for his charm and his penchant for womanizing. By the third meeting, Tom asks her for a date, and the idea of a brighter life begins to tempt Joan, even as a trace of nerves lingers about the risk of getting caught up in a fantasy she’s not sure she can sustain.

To make a memorable impression, Joan invites him to the lavish apartment of one of her clients—whom she believes is out of town for a couple of weeks—pretending that the place belongs to her. What she doesn’t know is that the apartment actually belongs to Tom, and his surprise at being welcomed into his own home is the spark that sets the farce in motion.

To test how far she’s willing to go, Tom moves in with his pal Harvey Granson Donald O’Connor and humors the ruse, even as Harvey deals with his own concerns about an acrimonious divorce and a stash of property he’s supposedly hiding from his wife at Tom’s place. The arrangement threads together Tom’s vanity, Joan’s longing, and Harvey’s wary pragmatism, turning the apartment into a stage for witty deceit and escalating misunderstandings.

When Joan finally learns the full truth, she decides to trigger a counterplay that puts Tom on the back foot: she invites all of Tom’s previous conquests—dressed as prostitutes—to a party at the very apartment that started as a lie. The plan ignites a chaotic night, culminating in a police raid that exposes the impostures and the fragility of the farce.

In the aftermath, the tension between fantasy and reality comes to a head. On the ride to the station in a police van, Tom unexpectedly proposes to Joan, turning a chaotic scheme into a complicated, bittersweet moment. At the same time, Audrey flirts with a receptive Harvey, adding a final twist to this tangled web of flirtations, pretenses, and consequences that tests loyalty, ambition, and the price of living out loud.

That Funny Feeling Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of That Funny Feeling (1965) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Joan's humble life and acting dream

Joan Howell works as a maid while quietly pursuing an acting career. She shares a modest home with her aspiring-actress friend Audrey. The setup contrasts her simple world with the glamorous circles Tom inhabits.

First chance encounter with Tom Milford

Joan and Tom bump into each other for the first time, sparking a curious, uneasy chemistry. Tom, a successful publishing executive and notorious womanizer, is intrigued by Joan's plain-spoken charm. Their initial meeting hints at a clash of worlds that will soon collide.

Second encounter and growing tension

They cross paths again in a second chance encounter, planting seeds of ongoing tension and attraction. Tom's interest deepens as Joan remains witty and guarded. The repeated meetings set the stage for a more serious dynamic.

Third bump leads to a date

On their third encounter, Tom asks Joan for a date, signaling clear romantic interest. Joan is flattered but cautious, balancing her own ambitions with the risk of exposure. This moment marks a turning point in their uneasy dynamic.

Joan invites Tom to a client's lavish apartment

To impress him, Joan invites Tom to a lavish apartment belonging to one of her clients, convinced the place is unoccupied. The invitation is a calculated move to show off a life she doesn't truly own. The plan hinges on Tom assuming the apartment is hers to use.

Client's lavish apartment

Reality check: the apartment is Tom's

Tom arrives at the apartment and is stunned to realize the space is actually his own. The deception backfires, and Joan realizes the situation has unintended consequences. This revelation shifts the power balance between them.

Tom's apartment

Tom moves in with Harvey to maintain the ruse

To keep up the deception and avoid exposure, Tom moves in with his friend Harvey. Harvey, who is dealing with an acrimonious divorce, is wary of Joan and the arrangement. The living situation tightens the web of lies around their mutual games.

Harvey's place

Joan discovers truth and plots revenge

Once Joan learns the apartment is Tom's, she decides to turn the tables. She contrives a party and invites all of Tom's former conquests, dressing them as prostitutes to shock him. The setup is meant to humiliate Tom and expose his pattern of womanizing.

Joan's plan / party setup

The revenge party unfolds

Guests arrive at a party where Tom's former conquests appear in disguises, creating chaos and embarrassment. The spectacle underscores the clash between Joan's cunning and Tom's cavalier attitude toward relationships. The room fills with tension as the truth about Tom surfaces.

Party venue

Police raid interrupts the party

The party triggers a police raid, bringing the chaotic night to a sudden halt. Officers escort guests out and take statements, turning the event into a public embarrassment. The raid escalates the already mounting pressure on both Joan and Tom.

Party venue

In the police van, Tom proposes to Joan

On the way to the station, Tom unexpectedly proposes to Joan, showing a complicated mix of affection and resentment. The moment mixes romance with residual anger and confusion. It marks a bizarre turning point as their relationship is tested under legal pressure.

on the way to the station police van

Audrey flirts with Harvey

In the tense aftermath of the raid, Audrey flirts with Harvey, providing a lighter counterpoint to the tense sequence. The flirtation hints at new or rekindled liaisons amid the night’s chaos. The scene closes with unresolved feelings and a sense that circumstances may push the pair toward different paths.

on the way to the station police van

That Funny Feeling Characters

Explore all characters from That Funny Feeling (1965). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Joan Howell (Sandra Dee)

Joan is an empathetic aspiring actress who works as a maid. She is bold and impulsive, using a series of bold ruses to get ahead, yet her schemes reveal vulnerability and a longing for belonging. Her cleverness sometimes backfires, forcing her to navigate the consequences of deception with wit.

💃 Romance 🧠 Witty 😂 Comedic 💼 Aspiration

Tom Milford (Bobby Darin)

Tom is a successful publishing executive and known womanizer. He enjoys scheming but is also quick-witted and charming, which makes him both alluring and dangerous as he indulges in the game. His perception shifts as the deceit escalates, and he is forced to confront his own vulnerability.

💼 Career 💘 Romance 😎 Charismatic

Harvey Granson (Donald O'Connor)

Harvey is Tom’s friend who has his own concerns about his acrimonious divorce and a property he’s hiding. He provides practical counterpoints to the schemes and adds a dose of comedic relief, while participating in the plan out of loyalty to Tom.

🧩 Loyal 😂 Comic 🗝️ Secretive

Audrey (Nita Talbot)

Audrey is Joan’s aspiring-actress friend who slips into the plot’s ruses with flirtatious energy. She adds a playful, flirty dynamic and becomes a partner in the social game, contributing to the comedic chaos.

💃 Social 🎭 Playful 🕵️ Curious

That Funny Feeling Settings

Learn where and when That Funny Feeling (1965) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1960s

The story unfolds in a mid-1960s urban setting, reflecting contemporary fashion and social mores. The humor relies on modern dating, mistaken identities, and the stylish, fast-paced life of a publishing executive and aspiring actress. The tone is light-hearted and farcical, focusing on witty banter and stylish interiors rather than historical events.

Location

Upscale apartment, Police station

The main action centers around a luxurious apartment where a pretend residence leads to a night of revelry. The setting contrasts opulent interiors with deceit driving the plot, including a high-society party that culminates in a police raid. A police van and nearby station provide comedic contrast to the glamour on display. The spaces reflect the contrast between appearances and reality that drives the story.

🏢 Wealthy setting 🎉 Social life 🚓 Police raid

That Funny Feeling Themes

Discover the main themes in That Funny Feeling (1965). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🎭

Deception

A web of lies props up the plot as Joan pretends to own an apartment to impress Tom, highlighting how deception fuels romance and social ambition. Each ruse escalates the stakes, driving farcical complications that threaten to unravel. The film uses humor to explore the blurry line between performance and reality in relationships.

💘

Romance and consequences

Romantic attraction alongside deceit creates tension as characters test boundaries and trust. Witty dialogue and farce propel the plot, showing how desire can trigger risky choices. The payoff hints at genuine feeling emerging from a tangle of schemes.

🏷️

Class and aspiration

Joan’s modest home versus the world of wealth reveals class tensions and the cost of social climbing. The film satirizes status symbols and access to glamorous spaces, using humor to critique appearances. The resolution suggests authenticity may trump appearance in the end.

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That Funny Feeling Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of That Funny Feeling (1965). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the bustling landscape of New York City, Joan Howell navigates the gap between her dreams and her daily reality with a hopeful spirit. An aspiring actress waiting for her big break, she supports herself working as a maid-for-hire, spending her days in the opulent homes of the wealthy before returning to her own cramped, modest apartment. It is a life of stark contrasts, defined by the glamour she observes and the simplicity she lives, a duality that sets the stage for a story where appearances are everything and identity is a fluid concept.

Her routine takes a turn when she repeatedly crosses paths with Tom Milford, a successful publishing executive renowned for his charm and business acumen. Despite their different worlds, a spark ignites between them, leading to a budding romance that makes Joan acutely aware of the divide between her financial reality and Tom’s polished lifestyle. Unwilling to let her humble surroundings dampen the connection, she attempts to curate a more impressive version of herself, hoping to bridge the gap between who she is and who she thinks he wants her to be.

The situation crescendos into a delightful farce when Joan invites Tom to dinner at a lavish apartment she cleans daily, pretending the luxurious space is her own. What she doesn’t realize is that the apartment actually belongs to Tom, placing him in the awkward position of being welcomed into his own home by a woman he believes is something she isn’t. As Tom decides to play along with the ruse, the apartment becomes a stage for escalating misunderstandings and witty deception, turning a simple date into a complex game where the biggest secret is hiding in plain sight.

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