I always knew the suburbs weren't for me, and this movie reinforced that! Behind that idyllic facade that has been pushed on so many people since the 50's, lies a whole lot of crap!
There's alcoholism, racism, anger, infidelity, rape and a whole lot of other unfortunate human traits and frailties. You can feel sorry for some of the characters, like Joanne Woodward, who drinks too much and flirts too much to forget her unhappy marriage and the baby she gave up for adoption. Others you can't feel any sympathy for, like Cameron Mitchell, who plays her husband, obsessed with his war years, and the idea that being a veteran should entitle him to any job he wants, whether qualified or not. He also considers himself entitled to any woman he wants, whether she's willing or not.
Then there are those you can't make your mind up about, like Tony Randall's character, dreaming of success, money and power, when he hasn't the talent to go with the dreams, and Sheree North's portrayal of his wife, who tries to get him to face reality, but goes too far in giving him no space for dreams.
A pretty sorry bunch, in a pretty sorry way of life.
There's alcoholism, racism, anger, infidelity, rape and a whole lot of other unfortunate human traits and frailties. You can feel sorry for some of the characters, like Joanne Woodward, who drinks too much and flirts too much to forget her unhappy marriage and the baby she gave up for adoption. Others you can't feel any sympathy for, like Cameron Mitchell, who plays her husband, obsessed with his war years, and the idea that being a veteran should entitle him to any job he wants, whether qualified or not. He also considers himself entitled to any woman he wants, whether she's willing or not.
Then there are those you can't make your mind up about, like Tony Randall's character, dreaming of success, money and power, when he hasn't the talent to go with the dreams, and Sheree North's portrayal of his wife, who tries to get him to face reality, but goes too far in giving him no space for dreams.
A pretty sorry bunch, in a pretty sorry way of life.