User Reviews

"A Marriage of Strangers" is a surprisingly adult installment of "Playhouse 90". It's about two folks (Diana Lynn and Red Buttons) who barely know each other and yet decide to marry!

It seems both are very lonely no longer so young and have been going to a Lonely Hearts-type club for singles. Both are very shy and yet somehow they soon decide to marry each other. Not surprisingly, their wedding night is a disaster. She's scared...almost panic-striken as well as possibly frigid...and he is very angry because she won't even let him touch her. How could they possibly work this out? And, is the best course of action to get an annulment?

I think the acting in this one is quite good. As for the story, it's thought-provoking. For me, I kept thinking that outside the Western World, such marriages are common...such as with arranged marriages in India. How do these folks work things out on their honeymoon? While this isn't dealt with in the show, it did bring this to mind...as well as the folks severely needing counseling!

Overall, a rather depressing show but one that makes you think and is generally well made. It's also one you might not like because the ending is very vague and you have no idea what was in store for the couple.

There's a misconception that early TV shows were simplistic. Actually when TVs first became widely accessible, like with most new technology they were expensive and were affordable to educated people with good incomes. This TV drama is a good example of how adult and intelligent early TV could be.

Excellent performances by the 3 leads. Wonderfully crafted script with realistic dialog. Great supporting cast such as Nancy Kulp (THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES) and Gina Gillespie (WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?).

A great example of early TV drama.

This Playhouse 90 play was originally shown on television in 1959. Playhouse 90 plays were always absorbing, but this one was such an exceptional presentation I never forgot the feelings it generated. Only recently did I discover its title and year of presentation. Red Buttons and Diana Lynn were ideal for their roles. They dissolved into them and gave unbelievably natural performances as two sensitive people who married after they had barely met. They spend the rest of the play in self discovery and becoming acquainted with each other. It was a memorable experience to watch this unfold–one that has lasted in my thoughts for nearly 50 years.