Cactus Flower is a 1969 film directed by Gene Saks. The film's plot is a romantic comedy that revolves around a dentist who pretends to be married to avoid romantic commitment, but things get complicated when his assistant decides to marry him. 

Plot

The story focuses on Julian Winston (played by Walter Matthau), a middle-aged dentist who is known for having relationships with many women but avoids marriage at all costs. To maintain this image, Julian pretends to be a married man.

His assistant, Stephanie Dickinson (played by Ingrid Bergman), is in love with him and believes he is happily married. However, when Stephanie threatens to commit suicide because of her relationship with Julian, he realizes the extent of his involvement and tries to extricate himself from this situation.

Julian decides to seek help from Toni Simmons (played by Goldie Hawn), a young and lively girl, to play the role of his wife and divert Stephanie's attention. The situation becomes complicated when Toni genuinely falls in love with Julian.

The plot follows the intricacies and comical situations that arise when Julian's lies begin to unravel and when the truth is discovered. The film explores themes of love, trust, and the meaning of romantic commitment.

"Cactus Flower" is known for the performances of its cast and its light and humorous plot that explores the complications of human relationships.

Director: Gene Saks

Writer: I.A.L. Diamond

Producer: M.J. Frankovich

Music: Quincy Jones

Main Cast:

• Walter Matthau as Julian Winston
• Ingrid Bergman as Stephanie Dickinson
• Goldie Hawn as Toni Simmons
• Jack Weston as Harvey Green
• Rick Lenz as Igor Sullivan
• Vito Scotti as Señor Rodriguez
• Irene Hervey as Van Horn

Major Awards: Goldie Hawn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.

Box Office Gross: The film achieved good success at the box office.

Critical Reception: Cactus Flower is a 1969 comedy with an outstanding cast that includes Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and Goldie Hawn. The plot follows Julian Winston, a dentist played by Walter Matthau, who pretends to be married to avoid a serious commitment with his young lover Toni, played by Goldie Hawn. When Toni attempts suicide, Julian finds himself having to reveal the truth to everyone, including his assistant Stephanie, played by Ingrid Bergman. The film was praised for the performances of its actors and marked Goldie Hawn's film debut, for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The comedy was a success and has continued to be appreciated for its humor and engaging story.