The Seven Year Itch 1955
Directed by
Billy Wilder
Made by
Charles K. Feldman Group
The Seven Year Itch Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Seven Year Itch (1955). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Richard Sherman, Tom Ewell, a middle-aged publishing executive in New York City, watches as his wife Helen Sherman and their son Ricky Sherman spend the summer in Ogunquit, Maine to escape the city’s crippling heat. When he returns home from the train station with the kayak paddle Ricky left behind, he meets an unnamed woman, Marilyn Monroe, who is a commercial actress and former model. She has subleased the apartment upstairs while its owners are away for the season. That evening, he resumes reading the manuscript of a book in which Dr. Brubaker claims that almost all men are driven to have extra-marital affairs in the seventh year of marriage. Richard has an imaginary conversation with Helen, trying to convince her, in three fantasy sequences, that he is irresistible to women, including his secretary, a nurse, and Helen’s bridesmaid, but she laughs it off.
A potted tomato plant falls onto his lounge chair; the seemingly unclad attractive young woman upstairs apologizes for accidentally knocking it off her balcony, and Richard invites her down for a drink. While waiting for her to arrive, he vacillates between a fantasy of her as a femme fatale overcome by his playing of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, and guilt at betraying his wife. When she appears, she is wearing pink pajamas and turns out to be a naïve and innocent young woman who works as a television toothpaste spokeswoman and recently appeared—highly enticingly—in a popular photo almanac. After repeatedly viewing her revealing pose his overactive imagination begins to run wild. On his suggestion, she brings back a bottle of champagne from her apartment and returns in a seductive white dress. Richard, overcome by his fantasies, awkwardly grabs at her while they are playing a “Chopsticks” duet on the piano, toppling them off the piano bench. He apologizes, but she says it happens to her all the time. Guilt-ridden, he asks her to leave.
Richard worries that Helen will find out about his transgression the following day at work, even though she is unaware of it and only wants Richard to send Ricky his paddle. Dr. Brubaker arrives at his office to discuss the book but is of no help. When Richard keeps hearing of his wife spending time with her attractive, hunky writer friend McKenzie in Maine, he imagines they are carrying on an affair; in retaliation, he invites the young woman out to dinner and a film. They go see Creature from the Black Lagoon in air-conditioned luxury. As the two chat while walking home, she briefly stands over a subway grate to enjoy its updraft, creating the iconic Monroe scene in her pleated white halterneck dress, her skirt blowing up in the breeze. He then invites her to spend the night at his air-conditioned apartment so she can rest up and look her best for the next day’s television appearance, with him on the couch and her in his bed.
In the morning, Richard argues with then assaults the man he imagined was having an affair with his wife in Maine. After knocking him cold, he comes to his senses and, fearing his wife’s retribution (within his dream), tells the woman she can stay in his apartment while he leaves to catch the train for two weeks in Maine.
The Seven Year Itch Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of The Seven Year Itch (1955) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Richard meets the unnamed upstairs woman after returning home with Ricky's paddle
Richard Sherman returns to his New York City apartment after a train ride, carrying Ricky's kayak paddle. He unexpectedly meets the unnamed upstairs woman, a commercial actress and former model who is subleasing the flat. This chance encounter plants the seed of temptation that drives the rest of the story.
Three fantasy sequences begin
Richard's mind drifts to three fantasy sequences where he believes he could charm other women. He imagines himself irresistible to his secretary, a nurse, and Helen's bridesmaid. The fantasies reveal his growing vulnerability and the conflict between desire and fidelity.
A plant mishap leads to a drink invitation
During the same evening, a potted tomato plant falls onto his lounge chair, drawing the upstairs woman into his apartment. She apologizes for knocking it off the balcony, and Richard invites her down for a drink. This incident marks the transition from idle fantasy to a real-world encounter.
The woman arrives wearing pink pajamas and reveals her innocence
When she comes down, she is wearing pink pajamas and appears naïve—a toothpaste spokeswoman who recently appeared in a popular photo almanac. Richard's fantasies surge as he imagines her as a dangerous temptress. She brings a bottle of champagne, turning the mood toward seduction.
Chopsticks night and the unintended fall
They share a playful Chopsticks duet on the piano, but Richard's impulses overwhelm his manners. He grabs at her and they topple from the piano bench, eliciting a light-hearted laugh from her. Richard apologizes and finally asks her to leave.
Richard fears Helen will learn of the transgression
Back at work, Richard fears that his wife will discover the affair and the breach in his vows. He tries to reason away his guilt, but the problem lingers. Dr. Brubaker's visit to his office offers little practical help.
He imagines Helen with McKenzie and plans to distract himself with dinner
He imagines Helen spending time with her writer friend McKenzie in Maine, fueling his insecurity. In retaliation, he invites the upstairs woman out to dinner and a film, hoping to keep the fantasy alive. The plan marks a shift from private longing to active pursuit.
Creature from the Black Lagoon outing
They go to see Creature from the Black Lagoon in air-conditioned luxury, a rare escape from the heat and a chance to grow closer. The film's immersion becomes a backdrop for their conversation and flirtation. This outing deepens the sense that boundaries are dissolving.
The subway grate moment echoes Monroe
Walking home, she stands over a subway grate, and the breeze blows her dress in a Marilyn Monroe–style moment. Richard's imagination and restraint collide as desire intensifies. He then invites her to spend the night so she can rest for the next day's television appearance.
The overnight and the morning confrontation
Richard invites her to stay the night, and they end up on the couch with her in his bed. In the morning, he confronts the imagined rival and knocks him cold. He then decides to let the woman stay in the apartment while he leaves to catch the train for two weeks in Maine.
Departure for Maine
With the decision made, Richard boards the train to Maine, stepping into a temporary escape from the chaos of temptation and the moral pull of his marriage. Helen remains physically distant, but the emotional distance has already widened. The trip signals a pause in the immediate drama while the seven-year itch continues to loom.
The Seven Year Itch Characters
Explore all characters from The Seven Year Itch (1955). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Richard Sherman - Tom Ewell
A middle-aged publishing executive in New York City who becomes consumed by temptation during a hot summer. He alternates between rational restraint and vivid fantasies of other women's attention, revealing a fragile sense of control and mounting guilt. His inner conflict threads through his interactions, from the book discussion with Dr. Brubaker to the impulsive invitation extended to the upstairs neighbor.
The Girl - Marilyn Monroe
An unnamed commercial actress and former model who sublets the upstairs apartment. She embodies innocent allure that triggers Richard's fantasies, yet she remains naïve and unaware of the full implications of his interest. Her presence collides with the reality of a modern, image-driven culture.
Dr. Brubaker - Oskar Homolka
A psychiatrist whose book on the 'seven year itch' provides the backdrop for Richard's introspection, but he offers little practical advice to curb temptation. He serves as a theoretical foil to the protagonist's struggles, urging analysis without delivering a cure. His intersection with the plot frames the tension between science and lived experience.
Helen Sherman - Evelyn Keyes
Richard's wife, who spends the summer in Ogunquit with their son. She represents loyalty and the social expectations of marriage, absorbing and reacting to the rumors of a potential affair without being privy to every detail. She embodies the domestic ideal that Richard fears betraying.
Tom MacKenzie - Sonny Tufts
Richard's writer friend who is mentioned as a potential romantic rival in Maine. He personifies the external temptation and creative energy that piques Richard's insecurities. His presence heightens the sense that relationships and fidelity are subject to social pressures and envy.
Ricky Sherman - Tom Nolan
Richard and Helen's son, who spends part of the summer away with his mother in Ogunquit. His paddle incident with the upstairs neighbor serves as the catalyst that unsettles Richard's naively optimistic control over his life. His presence anchors the family dynamic amidst Richard's inner turmoil.
The Seven Year Itch Settings
Learn where and when The Seven Year Itch (1955) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Summer
The events unfold during a hot, humid summer that amplifies moral tension. The concept of the seven-year itch frames Richard's restlessness and fear of infidelity. The contrast between the sun-soaked seaside and the air-conditioned city adds to the strain between fantasy and reality.
Location
New York City, Ogunquit, Maine
New York City provides the urban heat and claustrophobic apartment setting where Richard's temptation begins. Ogunquit, Maine serves as the seaside retreat where his wife and son vacation and where Richard's fantasies intensify. The upstairs apartment acts as a focal point, blending city life with a vacation atmosphere to heighten the tension between desire and duty.
The Seven Year Itch Themes
Discover the main themes in The Seven Year Itch (1955). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Temptation
Richard confronts escalating desires after meeting the upstairs neighbor, blurring lines between fantasy and action. His imagination fuels a sense of irresistible opportunity and guilt in equal measure. The tension between temptation and loyalty drives the narrative forward, often with comic and uneasy undertones.
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Fantasy vs Reality
The film continually shifts between Richard's daydreams and real life. His fantasies create an illusion of control while social norms and consequences remind him of reality. A subway grate moment crystallizes the desire into a visible spectacle, forcing a reckoning with consequences.
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Image & Pop Culture
The upstairs neighbor is a toothpaste spokesperson and former model, embodying public image that tempts the male gaze. The film satirizes media and image culture by turning desire into performance and commodified spectacle. The heroine's innocence contrasts with fantasy-driven voyeurism, highlighting mid-century anxieties about marriage and appearances.
The Seven Year Itch Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Seven Year Itch (1955). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the sweltering heat of a New York summer, the city’s bustling streets seem to pulse with a restless energy that mirrors the inner stirrings of its inhabitants. When a family slips away for a seasonal escape, the empty apartment becomes a quiet stage for ordinary life to tilt toward the unexpected. The absence of a spouse and child creates a rare window for a middle‑aged professional to taste the fleeting freedom of a bachelor’s routine, a tantalizing pause amid the relentless rhythm of Manhattan.
_ Richard Sherman_, a publishing executive accustomed to the measured cadence of manuscripts and meetings, suddenly finds his days unspooled with idle leisure. The pressure of deadlines loosens, and with it, an old curiosity about what might lie beyond the well‑kept boundaries of his marriage. His imagination, already humming with the theories of a quirky psychologist, begins to wander, hinting at the classic notion that the seventh year of a partnership tests the resolve of even the most steadfast individuals.
That temptation takes shape in the form of an alluring, slightly clueless blonde who has sublet the apartment above his. Marilyn Monroe, a charismatic commercial actress and former model, exudes a breezy confidence that is both charming and disarming. Their interactions blossom from casual greetings into a series of playful, flirtatious exchanges, each one raising the stakes of curiosity and desire while the city’s heat continues to turn the atmosphere into something deliciously uncomfortable.
The film balances this budding tension with a light‑hearted, farcical tone, turning everyday moments into comedic misadventures. As Richard navigates the seductive pull of the upstairs neighbor, he must confront the fragile line between imagination and indulgence, all set against a backdrop of summer sunshine, city sounds, and the subtle, ever‑present question of whether a brief taste of freedom can ever truly coexist with a life already built on commitment.
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