Inside the Brasher Apartments (For Love or Money)

In 1963, Kirk Douglas made a romantic comedy picture and Hollywood never recovered. This is not that story.

gif by me

Although you have to appreciate that Mr. I-Solely-Ended-the-Blacklist, Mr. Kirk Douglas himself, agreed to make a sex comedy. (I'm not a fan, in case that wasn't clear; and from what I've heard, he was very intense on the set of this farce, overthinking the role and the movie.)

He plays lawyer Donald Kenneth "Deke" Gentry, a man who's been tasked to take over the law portfolio of the Brasher family, led by Thelma Ritter, and to help find husbands for the three Brasher daughters. 

It's fun (despite Kirk Douglas) and the interiors are why we're here, so let's get into it! 

When Deke goes to meet the Brashers, conveniently, they all live in the same building. Bonnie Brasher lives in Room 1001, so she's up first.

And she's a health and exercise guru. A Jane Fonda Workout chic before Jane ever put on the spandex. 

Her apartment is also very yellow, which is my dream. And if something isn't yellow, it's pale green.

Here's Deke reading a copy of one of Bonnie's workout books, Build Along with Bonnie.

The television set is built into the wall and is framed by Bonnie's trophies. 

And here's Bonnie, played by Julie Newar.

All of her exercise gear is stored behind a convenient closet.

And her balcony is pretty bare; you get the sense that she goes out there to exercise, so why clunk it up with heavy furniture.

(Later in the movie we get another visit to Bonnie's apartment, where the hall leading to the kitchen area is on display, and you can see that there are some pale green design elements in her place.)

(This is the closest we get to Bonnie's kitchen, but where she's a health nut, let's assume it's very plainly decorated, with lots of health foods kicking around. I love the painting behind her!)

Next, it's off to Jan Brasher's apartment, Room 1101. She's played by Leslie Parrish, and we spend the least amount of time in her place. She's the bohemian of the bunch, as you can tell by the beatnik behind Deke. 

When Deke shows up, he's right in the middle of a live art performance...

...you have to wonder if Kirk Douglas is thinking that he played a painter better in Lust for Life.

Jan's apartment is plainer, compared to her sisters' places, but that's because the white walls and furniture are complemented by art pieces and sculptures. 

Her balcony looks more like an artist's retreat. You know she spends hours out there painting or writing or meditating. 

But her kitchen! I love Jan's kitchen the best. It looks like an explosion at the pastel paint factory.

And just after Jan kicks out Deke, she calls up the last Brasher sister to warn her that he's on his way up. Gotta love that yellow telephone! 

I like the floor tiling of the hallways. 

And now it's time to go to Kate Brasher's apartment, Room 1201. Kate is played by Mitzi Gaynor, and her costumes in this movie are A+++.

Her tastefully decorated apartment is done in pale blue and white accents. 

She's the more classical of the sisters, more interested in research and study, as evidenced by the projection she's watching...

...for some reason, she and her research partner are studying blinking and consumerism. But if you look behind the screen, there are beautiful floral arrangements and some pale pink décor. 

Behind the screen is also the entrance to the kitchen area... 

...and it's just as fun as Jan's, though decidedly more pink. I love it, too! 

Let's just keep admiring it.

I love the large wine glass with the plastic fruit in it. 

Kate loses points for me with the boring white telephone. All the colours of the rainbow in that kitchen and she doesn't go with pink? 

Back in Kate's living room area and a glimpse of her balcony shows that there's just a simple chair set and table. You know she sits out there with a mug of coffee and some research and ruminates. 

She's got a piano in the background, too. And if you glimpse at her bedroom, it's very coral with shag-style carpeting. 

(Later in the movie we get another glimpse of Kate's kitchen with the dining table visible. It's small and glass, but there's another angle visible, and I love how the walls are pale pink but the inset shelving is pale blue!)

(And again later in the movie, Kate's consoled by her mother in her apartment, and we get another glimpse of the living area.)

After Kate kicks him out, there's one more stop: Chloe Brasher, the matriarch of the family, played by the always delightful Thelma Ritter.

Her apartment is the grandest, by far, and looks more like a living museum/art gallery than a place to live. There's also questionable art that should have never been okay to display, and certainly wouldn't be today.

She also has a large family portrait hanging above her fireplace. 

Look at all the beautiful art pieces, and that chandelier! 

And her apartment is plain beige, the art and décor speaks for itself.

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I took all the screencaps in this post.

Read the Apartment Therapy posts for Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Ladies Man, Bachelor in Paradise, Pillow Talk, Any Wednesday, The Thrill of It All, Critic's Choice, Gidget, Boys' Night Out, If a Man Answers, The Best of Everything, The Long, Long Trailer, Duchess of Idaho, Lover Come Back, That Touch of Mink, It Happened to Jane, Thrill of a Romance, Send Me No Flowers, Bells Are Ringing, Susan Slept Here, Who's Got the Action?, The Girl Most Likely, The Wheeler Dealers, I'll Take Sweden, and Texas Carnival!