Cactus Flower

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Cactus Flower

PG

1969

1h 43m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Distraught when her middle-aged lover breaks a date with her, 21-year-old Toni Simmons (Goldie Hawn) attempts suicide. Impressed by her action, her lover, dentist Julian Winston (Walter Matthau) reconsiders marrying Toni, but he worries about her insistence on honesty. Having fabricated a wife and three children, Julian readily accepts when his devoted nurse, Stephanie (Ingrid Bergman), who has secretly loved Julian for years, offers to act as his wife and demand a divorce.

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Myles Standish

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jun 15, 2022

One of the funniest light comedies of the year.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

The plot [from the play by Abe Burrows, based on a French play by Barillet & Gredy] is minimal and the lines are somewhat stilted and hollow, but if the direction was tighter and the mood kept light and airy it might have worked.

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Howard Thompson

New York Times

May 10, 2005

It comes as a pleasing jolt to find the youngster, Goldie Hawn, at the apex of the triangle, not only beautifully holding her own with the two veteran stars but also enhancing the content and flavor of the movie.

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Hazel Garland

New Pittsburgh Courier

Jun 15, 2022

Ingrid Bergman stars in her first Hollywood film in 20 years, and is as usual great. Walter Matthau is always wonderful, but TV's Goldie Hawn almost steals the picture. She should get an Oscar nomination for her role as "Toni."

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Feb 19, 2018

A-

this is a 1969 romantic comedy with style, wit, charm, sophistication, and several delightful moments of women's lib in action. It also happens to be a great time capsule of late '60s fashion, music, and culture in Manhattan.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Aug 15, 2011

3/4

A sometimes forgettable romantic comedy.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 25, 2026

Cactus Flower is a *4* star Movie!

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Bill T.

@btreakle Jun 1, 2026

Loved this one! Goldie Hawn and Walter Matthau were superb in this story of love.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life May 31, 2026

A star studded cast of veteran actors and new commer Goldie hawn drive this screwball comedy. My favorite scene is when they're all on the dance floor. Goldie is amazing in this movie. Well deserving of all the awards she won. I love the story of how I lie turns into one of the best movies I've ever seen. Tim Treakle

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Katherine V

@KittKat Mar 24, 2026

Worth the time. Acting good & nice trip down memory lane visually

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James G P

@AlbertJay Feb 23, 2026

Goldie Hawn bravely tries to carry the movie through to its oh-so-predictable outcome, but the casting is mostly wrong and the script, weak. The saving grace is that it's kind of a hoot to see the stilted portrayal of the Swinging 60's: the hair, the outfits, the dancing, the slang.

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CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni Dec 21, 2025

Amusing movie. As Walter Matthau, a womanizing dentist asks his assistant, Ingrid Bergman, to pose as his wife, so he can continue his affair with Goldie Hawn, Awkwardly amusing situations ensue, Movie bouyed by its' likeable stars, and one big laugh out loud moment, Star making performance by the charming Goldie Hawn as a naive ditz who soon wises up real fast, Most surprising, a wonderful comedic turn by Ingrid Bergman, And yeah, you can see the ending coming a mile away, but it’s still fun getting there.

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Gene Saks

Director

Walter Matthau

Dr. Julian Winston

Ingrid Bergman

Stephanie Dickinson

Goldie Hawn

Toni Simmons

Jack Weston

Harvey Greenfield

Rick Lenz

Igor Sullivan

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Synopsis

Distraught when her middle-aged lover breaks a date with her, 21-year-old Toni Simmons (Goldie Hawn) attempts suicide. Impressed by her action, her lover, dentist Julian Winston (Walter Matthau) reconsiders marrying Toni, but he worries about her insistence on honesty. Having fabricated a wife and three children, Julian readily accepts when his devoted nurse, Stephanie (Ingrid Bergman), who has secretly loved Julian for years, offers to act as his wife and demand a divorce.

Director: Gene Saks
Producer: M.J. Frankovich
Screenwriter: I.A.L. Diamond
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Frankovich Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 43m

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