Kiss Me, Stupid (1964): When Billy Wilder’s Hot Streak Collided with Hollywood Censorship and Catholic Condemnation

2025-03-06

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What made Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), a comedy starring Dean Martin and directed by Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot), so scandalous that it became the first U.S. film since Elia Kazan’s Baby Doll (1956) to receive a "Condemned" rating from the Legion of Decency? In 1964, both Kiss Me, Stupid and The Pawnbroker shocked the Catholic censors and the Hays Office, pushing the MPAA to rethink Hollywood’s entire ratings system. In this episode, Bill and Cisco dive into the con...

What made Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), a comedy starring Dean Martin and directed by Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot), so scandalous that it became the first U.S. film since Elia Kazan’s Baby Doll (1956) to receive a "Condemned" rating from the Legion of Decency? In 1964, both Kiss Me, Stupid and The Pawnbroker shocked the Catholic censors and the Hays Office, pushing the MPAA to rethink Hollywood’s entire ratings system.

In this episode, Bill and Cisco dive into the controversy: Did Kiss Me, Stupid deserve its "C" rating? Adapted from a French sex farce, the film features Ray Walston (stepping in for both Jack Lemmon and Peter Sellers), Kim Novak (taking over roles originally meant for Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield), Felicia Farr, and Dean Martin playing... well, Dean Martin. Plus, there’s even a cameo from Bugs Bunny himself—Mel Blanc!

Joining the conversation is novelist, YouTuber, and vintage influencer Alex DeMers to break down the film’s legacy, censorship battles, and whether it really was too risqué for 1960s audiences.

🎧 Tune in for Hollywood history, classic film scandal, and a whole lot of Catholic guilt.

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