As I read through many of the reviews here of this film I was pleased to see that it gets a pretty good rating, but disappointed at how short-sighted some are. For example -- that it's dated. Well, the film is well over 50 years old. Why wouldn't it be dated? Or that it's a soap opera or melodrama. Now, with that I really take exception, and the reason is that I grew up in a small town in the 1950s (the story takes place in the 1940s), and I could identify with most of the characters in the film. This is pretty close to how it was back then.
The film is an exposé of the negative small-town attitudes so common in the USA of that era (and to some extent, still today). This particular story takes place in New England where all appears to be nearly storybook-like, while under the surface there is scandal, murder, suicide, and incest. Constance MacKenzie (played by Lana Turner) is a sexually repressed woman who raised an illegitimate child (Allison). Selena Cross (Hope Lange is being raised by an alcoholic stepfather, who rapes her, and a weak mother who hangs herself. Another character is the mama's boy Norman, played by Russ Tamblyn. Meanwhile, a new high school principal falls in love with Constance MacKenzie...and it's a rocky road. And, one of the most interesting characters is the slightly (and delightfully) crusty Dr. Matthew Swain, the town doctor, played by Lloyd Nolan. It all comes down to how to save Selena from life in prison after she murders her stepfather, who intends to rape her a second time.
Lana Turner gets top billing here, although it's actually Hope Lange and Diane Varsi who really have the dominant roles. Nevertheless, Turner is very strong here, and this film helped boost a career that had sagged just a bit. Russ Tamblyn is excellent, and matures interestingly as the film progresses. This is one of Lloyd Nolan's most memorable performances; particularly noteworthy is his soliloquy in the courtroom. I feel that Arthur Kennedy -- never a favorite of mine -- deserves special recognition here. No actor really wants to play an alcoholic child-molesting practicer of incest! But he is excellent here. There are other interesting choices of actors here -- David Nelson, Leon Ames, and Lorne Greene -- not that their roles are particularly noteworthy.
There are only two criticisms that I have. First, the little brother of Selena doesn't appear to age a bit over 4 or 5 years. Second, in a few scenes, particularly with Turner, she is filmed in front of a rear projection screen -- and it looks really cheesy.
This movie is well worth watching...just remember that it is depicting life over 60 years ago.
The film is an exposé of the negative small-town attitudes so common in the USA of that era (and to some extent, still today). This particular story takes place in New England where all appears to be nearly storybook-like, while under the surface there is scandal, murder, suicide, and incest. Constance MacKenzie (played by Lana Turner) is a sexually repressed woman who raised an illegitimate child (Allison). Selena Cross (Hope Lange is being raised by an alcoholic stepfather, who rapes her, and a weak mother who hangs herself. Another character is the mama's boy Norman, played by Russ Tamblyn. Meanwhile, a new high school principal falls in love with Constance MacKenzie...and it's a rocky road. And, one of the most interesting characters is the slightly (and delightfully) crusty Dr. Matthew Swain, the town doctor, played by Lloyd Nolan. It all comes down to how to save Selena from life in prison after she murders her stepfather, who intends to rape her a second time.
Lana Turner gets top billing here, although it's actually Hope Lange and Diane Varsi who really have the dominant roles. Nevertheless, Turner is very strong here, and this film helped boost a career that had sagged just a bit. Russ Tamblyn is excellent, and matures interestingly as the film progresses. This is one of Lloyd Nolan's most memorable performances; particularly noteworthy is his soliloquy in the courtroom. I feel that Arthur Kennedy -- never a favorite of mine -- deserves special recognition here. No actor really wants to play an alcoholic child-molesting practicer of incest! But he is excellent here. There are other interesting choices of actors here -- David Nelson, Leon Ames, and Lorne Greene -- not that their roles are particularly noteworthy.
There are only two criticisms that I have. First, the little brother of Selena doesn't appear to age a bit over 4 or 5 years. Second, in a few scenes, particularly with Turner, she is filmed in front of a rear projection screen -- and it looks really cheesy.
This movie is well worth watching...just remember that it is depicting life over 60 years ago.