A Guide for the Married Man (1967) Movie Review: A Clever Comedy About Infidelity

A Guide for the Married Man is a 1967 romantic comedy that takes a deliberately unusual approach to marriage and infidelity.

Directed by Gene Kelly and starring Walter Matthau, the film follows Paul Manning, a married man who becomes increasingly fascinated by the idea of having an affair after discovering that one of his friends has been unfaithful.

Rather than presenting infidelity as a serious romantic drama, the movie turns it into a series of comedic lessons, examples, and increasingly ridiculous situations.

The result is a stylish piece of 1960s comedy that mixes satire, romance, celebrity cameos, and a surprisingly thoughtful look at temptation and marriage.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

The Story

Paul Manning appears to have a normal married life.

He has a wife, a home, and a stable family life.

But his perspective begins to change when he discovers that his friend Ed Stander has been having an affair.

Instead of simply condemning Ed's behavior, Paul becomes curious.

He starts wondering how married men manage to have affairs without getting caught.

That curiosity becomes the foundation of the movie.

Paul begins learning what he believes are the "rules" of infidelity.

The film presents different examples of married men who cheat, often using exaggerated situations to show how they behave.

The more Paul learns, the more complicated his own thoughts become.

A Different Kind of Comedy

The movie doesn't follow a traditional romantic-comedy structure.

Instead, it often feels like a fictional instructional guide.

Paul essentially becomes the audience's guide through the world of cheating husbands.

The film presents hypothetical situations, examples, warnings, and demonstrations.

This structure allows the movie to jump between different stories while continuing to follow Paul's growing fascination with the subject.

It's almost as if the movie is asking:

How do people get away with something they know is wrong?

The answer, according to the film, is usually: they don't do it nearly as cleverly as they think.

Paul Manning

Walter Matthau plays Paul with his trademark dry and sarcastic style.

Paul isn't portrayed as an obvious villain.

He's more curious than actively malicious.

That makes his situation more interesting.

He starts out as an observer, listening to stories about other married men.

But gradually, the idea of having an affair becomes more appealing to him.

His curiosity turns into temptation.

The movie uses Paul to explore how easily someone can begin rationalizing behavior they originally considered wrong.

The Lessons

One of the movie's funniest ideas is that cheating supposedly requires careful planning.

The men in the film develop elaborate strategies for hiding their affairs.

They create excuses.

They invent fake business trips.

They find secret meeting places.

They try to avoid being seen.

But their plans frequently become more complicated than the affair itself.

The comedy comes from watching these supposedly intelligent men create increasingly ridiculous situations in an attempt to hide what they're doing.

The film's message is that deception requires constant effort.

One lie creates another.

And eventually, those lies can become impossible to control.

The Wife

Paul's wife, Ruth, is played by Lucille Ball.

She provides an important contrast to the world of secret affairs surrounding Paul.

While Paul becomes fascinated by the possibility of cheating, his marriage represents the life he already has.

The movie doesn't simply portray Ruth as an obstacle.

Instead, she becomes part of the reason Paul has to think seriously about what he could lose.

His marriage may seem ordinary to him, but that doesn't mean it lacks value.

The Celebrity Cameos

One of the film's most memorable features is its large collection of celebrity appearances.

The movie uses famous actors and personalities in short comedic segments, giving the film the feeling of a series of miniature sketches.

These appearances also reinforce the movie's playful tone.

Instead of treating every situation as serious drama, the film constantly reminds viewers that they're watching a comedy built around exaggerated examples.

The cameos help keep the movie unpredictable.

You never quite know who is going to appear next.

The Theme of Temptation

Underneath the jokes, the movie is really about temptation.

Paul doesn't suddenly become a completely different person.

He simply begins wondering whether he is missing something.

That thought is enough to make him question his marriage.

The film shows how temptation can grow.

It often begins with curiosity.

Then curiosity becomes fantasy.

Fantasy becomes opportunity.

And eventually, someone has to make a decision.

The Humor

The comedy is very much rooted in the style of the 1960s.

There is plenty of physical comedy, awkward dialogue, exaggerated situations, and sexual humor.

Some jokes are intentionally ridiculous.

Others depend on the audience recognizing the social expectations surrounding marriage at the time.

The film also makes fun of the idea that men can somehow create a perfect system for cheating.

Every "rule" seems to create another possible disaster.

What Works Best

Walter Matthau is the movie's biggest strength.

His ability to play ordinary characters with a mixture of frustration, sarcasm, and charm makes Paul entertaining to watch.

The film's unusual structure is also interesting.

Instead of telling one straightforward story, it explores different examples of infidelity while keeping Paul at the center.

The celebrity cameos add another layer of entertainment.

And the movie's bright, polished 1960s presentation gives it a distinct personality.

What Doesn't Work as Well

The film's attitude toward marriage and infidelity is very much tied to its era.

Modern audiences may find some of its gender stereotypes dated.

The movie also takes a long time to get to its central point because it spends so much time presenting different examples and scenarios.

Some of the comedy is broad and may not work for viewers who prefer more subtle humor.

Still, the film's unusual approach gives it a charm that makes it stand out from more conventional romantic comedies.

Is A Guide for the Married Man Worth Watching?

If you enjoy classic Hollywood comedies, Walter Matthau, or films that explore relationships through satire, it's worth checking out.

It isn't a serious examination of marriage.

It's a playful and sometimes absurd look at the excuses people make when they want something they shouldn't have.

The movie is also interesting as a snapshot of 1960s attitudes toward relationships and marriage.

Final Thoughts

A Guide for the Married Man turns the complicated subject of marital infidelity into a comedy about temptation, deception, and the ridiculous lengths people go to hide their mistakes.

Paul begins by simply being curious about how other men cheat.

But the more he learns, the more he has to confront his own feelings.

The movie's central joke is that there is no perfect guide to cheating.

Every secret creates another secret.

Every excuse creates another problem.

And the more complicated the deception becomes, the more obvious it is that the person has something valuable to lose.

Beneath the comedy, the movie ultimately suggests that a stable marriage may be worth more than the excitement of a secret affair.

Final Verdict – A Guide for the Married Man is a witty and stylish 1960s comedy that uses exaggerated situations and celebrity cameos to explore temptation, marriage, and infidelity. Its humor and social attitudes are dated in places, but Walter Matthau's performance and the film's unusual structure make it an entertaining classic.

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