The play was inspired by a political argument Simon witnessed between liberal writer Paddy Chayefsky and a conservative woman. While it features Simon's lively comic style—still on display on Broadway in Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple when The Star-Spangled Girl debuted—it was not well received.

Critic Walter Kerr in his New York Times review wrote : "Neil Simon, your friendly neighborhood gagman, hasn't had an idea for a play this season, but he's gone ahead and written one anyway."

In an interview, Simon said that The Star-Spangled Girl "was written 'from an emotional identity rather than personal identity...I knew this one didn't have the body of the others. I knew it never had a chance to be a powerful comedy....I didn't make it'".

There were laughs, but to many the plot seemed unbelievable and the characters contrived. Furthermore, while Simon could write about people—especially New Yorkers—he seemed out of his element writing about politics.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Girl