WOMAN TIMES SEVEN is one of those portmanteau films beloved of filmmakers of the Fifties and Sixties linked by an abstract theme or authorial voice. In this case, it is adultery.Shirley MacLaine gets the chance to show off her acting talent in seven different roles ranging from a mousy homemaker to a translator-turned-vamp, a shrewish society lady, and a middle-aged Parisian pursued by a strange man. Sometimes she is more effective than others; she reveals her talent for dancing as well as nonverbal comedy. The film is quite risqué for the late Sixties, as it has her appearing nude in one of the sequences, although director De Sica ensures that she is most tastefully shot, revealing nothing of her charms for lascivious viewers.Of the seven playlets, "Funeral Procession" is quite droll, with Peter Sellers reprising his role from the previous year's WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT? as a lecher trying yet failing to persuade a widow (MacLaine) to sleep with him. In "Super Simone" Lex Barker plays a successful novelist so obsessed with his fictional character Simone and her sexual exploits that he remains immune to his wife's (MacLaine's) entreaties - that is, until she initiates some outrageous stunts, including having their evening meal served by an African dressed in tribal clothing. "At the Opera" has MacLaine as a society lady fond of shouting at everyone who is eventually trumped by the sight of one of her deadliest rivals (Adrienne Corri) having the same style of dress designed for her. The anthology rounds off with Michael Caine in a nonspeaking role working for a rich Parisian (Philippe Noiret) jealous of his wife (MacLaine).The film incorporates some of the sexist values characteristic of a pre-feminist era: women mostly exist to serve their husbands, both socially as well as sexually. Yet such archaism is redeemed somewhat by the atmospheric photography (by Christian Matras) that captures Paris's romanticism and enduring attraction.

My summary was facetious. Without good writing, a film simply isn't worth seeing--which pretty much sums up my opinion on "Woman Times Seven". It's very poorly written--quite uneven and at times annoying. The director didn't help any, as the film lacks subtlety and simply is a chore to watch. My only reason to watch it is that Peter Sellers was in it--but barely.Shirley MacLaine stars in seven different vignettes as a woman living in Europe. The shorts are supposedly funny (which they aren't) as well as a bit bawdy. I real felt sorry for the actress, as she was far too talented to be in such a lousy film. In fact, my wife kept asking me "why are you watching that STUPID film"--until finally I realized she was right and turned off this dreadful mess.

With Shirley MacLaine in a variety of different wigs and costumes (and a large variety of co-stars in the cast including Alan Arkin, Rossano Brazzi, Shirley's "Gambit" co-star Michael Caine, Anita Ekberg, Vittorio Gassman and a pre-"Being There" Peter Sellers), I was terrified this was going to be a replay of MacLaine's all-star marital farce "What a Way to Go!" Not quite, as Shirley is playing seven different women this time, in seven short stories about love and sex. The opening tale involving Shirl in a funeral procession is very witty, but the other six seem to progressively lose steam. Not the tour-de-force MacLaine's fans were probably hoping for, it does have some cute bits and pieces but suffers from a muddy production and tepid handling overall. *1/2 from ****

With all the stars on call and what seems like a decent budget the seven short films often seem to be struggling to find a point and fall flat. The only exception is Michael Cane's outing. This is a little gem, a perfect musical score and well shot. The story has a little twist and is what I imagine all the other six films aspired to.SPOILERShirley is, in my humble view, looking absolutely stunning, as the faithful wife/sex kitten who never quite strayed from the path, but the first time she is tempted is, ironically enough.. by the private eye following her on the orders of her jealous husband.Excellent little short, makes the film worth watching.