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A Very Special Favor (1965) movie poster

Spoiler-Free Summary

A Very Special Favor (1965) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
1965 · 105 mins · English
Directed by
Michael Gordon
Starring
Allen Joseph, Dick Shawn, Charles Boyer, Marcel Hillaire, Helen Brown, Don Beddoe

A French father, who has been absent for years, enlists the help of a wealthy American playboy—who owes him a favor—to court his daughter, a cold, tightly controlled Freudian psychologist. The scheme sets up a clash of cultures and personalities as the playboy attempts to win over the emotionally guarded daughter.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 What it is about
  2. 2 Is it worth watching?
  3. 3 After you watch
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like A Very Special Favor
  6. 6 Every angle

Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is A Very Special Favor About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of A Very Special Favor (1965) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

In the glossy crossroads of post‑war Paris and sleek New York, a long‑absent French patriarch returns to the life he left behind. Michel Boullard—a proud, sharp‑tongued lawyer whose sense of French dignity borders on the theatrical—has spent a quarter of a century away from his daughter. He arrives with a single, oddly personal mission: to spark something beyond the rigid routine that has come to define her. To do this, he summons an old debt from across the Atlantic, enlisting the charismatic, self‑confident oil heir Paul Chadwick. Known for his effortless charm and a reputation as a quintessential playboy, Paul is asked to become the unlikely catalyst for a change that Michel believes only a foreign flirt can provoke.

Lauren Boullard—the daughter at the heart of the plan—is a distinguished Freudian psychologist, celebrated for her keen intellect and iron‑clad emotional control. She navigates the world with the precision of a scientist, keeping her personal life as tightly regulated as her practice. Her existence is a study in disciplined ambition, and the prospect of opening herself to impulsive romance feels both foreign and unsettling. The film paints her world in muted, academic tones, contrasting sharply with the vibrant, almost flamboyant energy that surrounds Paul’s New Yorkian lifestyle. This cultural and personality clash fuels a breezy, farcical rhythm that never loses its wit, allowing humor to flow through the tension between French pride and American swagger.

The premise sets up a delicate dance of intentions: a father hoping to redeem his own pride, a playboy tasked with a contrived courtship, and a psychologist poised on the edge of self‑imposed restraint. As these three forces orbit each other, the story explores the humor and unease that arise when carefully constructed identities are nudged by an outsider’s charm. The tone remains light and observant, inviting the audience to delight in the subtle battles of ego, culture, and the universal yearning for a life that balances ambition with affection.

Last updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:41

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What to expect

Is A Very Special Favor Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of A Very Special Favor (1965) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen A Very Special Favor? Now Read the Spoilers

Once you have watched A Very Special Favor (1965), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning.

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Very Special Favor, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Very Special Favor tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Sophisticated Romantic Farces like A Very Special Favor

Charming stories where elaborate deceptions lead to unexpected love. If you enjoyed the charming wit and elaborate scheme in A Very Special Favor, you'll love these movies. This collection features sophisticated romantic comedies where playful deceptions, cultural clashes, and clever characters create a lighthearted and witty atmosphere, all leading to a happy romantic resolution.

  • witty
  • charming
  • playful
  • sophisticated
  • farce
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: light, witty, charming
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically involve a central comedic scheme—often a deception or a favor—that sets two contrasting characters on a collision course. The plot unfolds through a series of misunderstandings and witty exchanges, testing the characters' initial positions and ultimately revealing their true, more compatible selves beneath the facade.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared light tone, steady pacing, and focus on romantic farce. They blend intellectual humor with emotional warmth, creating a specific vibe of charming sophistication and playful conflict that results in a satisfying, happy conclusion.

Movies about Thawing the Ice Queen like A Very Special Favor

Stories where a charismatic character melts the defenses of an emotionally guarded one. Fans of Lauren's journey from a controlled psychologist to someone embracing love in A Very Special Favor will appreciate these films. Discover stories featuring emotionally guarded characters who are carefully, and often humorously, drawn out of their shells by a persistent and charming love interest, leading to personal growth and romance.

  • romantic
  • character growth
  • opposites attract
  • charming
  • emotional guardedness
  • hopeful
  • Tone: light, hopeful, romantic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a predictable but satisfying arc: a character defined by emotional control or intellectual rigor meets a force of chaos, charm, or genuine warmth. Through a series of encounters, the guarded character's worldview is challenged, leading to a vulnerability that allows for a deeper, more authentic connection and personal transformation.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core character dynamic and emotional journey. The focus is on the process of breaking down emotional walls, often with humor and charm, resulting in a light to moderate emotional weight and a ultimately hopeful or happy resolution for the characters.

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Every angle

A Very Special Favor (1965) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Very Special Favor in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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