Strangers When We Meet
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Movie Reviews of Strangers When We Meet
Movie Review: 1960s Desperate Housewives
Summary: 3 Stars
"Strangers When We Meet" is a tame version of the current TV Show, "Desperate Housewives." It is set in Southern California, with many scenes set at a neighborhood bus stop - and some in a local grocery store. The film starts at the bus stop, where parents gather to wait for the school bus. Architect Larry Coe (Kirk Douglas) and his neighbor, Maggie (Kim Novak), exchange first glances and the chase begins. They have fallen head over heels in love and both try to fight it. Unfortunately, they both have spouses and young children. Nevertheless, Larry ardently pursues Maggie and she eventually decides to be in an exciting relationship with him. Her husband is cold and dull, and prefers the routines of daily life. Maggie has also had a previous liaison outside of marriage and explains this to Larry during a confrontation at their hotel rendezvous. For awhile they Larry decides he wants nothing to do with her, but he cannot leave Maggie alone. Throughout the story, Larry is designing a beautiful new home for writer Roger Altar (Ernie Kovacs). The building of the house is shown in stages throughout the movie. It almost becomes another character in the movie. As the building goes on, Larry's wife (Barbara Rush) begins to have suspicions that her husband is having an affair. She feels left out when he does not tell her of a five year project in Hawaii. This is for an entire city in Hawaii. Another subplot deals with their neighbor, Felix (Walter Matthau), who is also married, decides to make a pass at Larry's wife since he knows of Larry's affair. He barges into their home as Larry is parking his car in the driveway. When they confront each other, Felix makes Larry realize that he has done the same thing with Maggie. Every relationship in this movie seems to come to a dead end, but the beautiful home Larry is building is completed at the end of the movie, and that gives some sort of satisfaction.
Overall, it is a high class soap opera with big stars. In today's world it looks like over-dramatic angst.
Movie Review: Illicit Love - 60's style
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to say I am not a great fan of Kirk Douglas but he certainly tries to convince us that he is in love with the other woman - Kim Novak - but maybe a little too much? Problem is there there is no real chemistry between the two. Everyone else does an admirable job. Kim Novak is absolutely lovely and her portrayal of a tortured, unhappy, and unfilled woman is a gem. The story itself is very dated - the affair is made to seem a shocking situation, but in today's world it is a bit laughable. In the film, Douglas and Novak are sneaking out at night and both give their "unsuspecting" spouses excuses but can their spouses be that stupid not to have an inkling of what is going on? Of course! This film was made in the early 60's! Some fun phrases appear in the film that are campy: Novak's mother: "Margaret, I am not a tramp!", "Novak to her husband: "Don't you want me? Do you think I'm pretty?'. etc. etc. I doubt anyone when finished viewing the film will give it any oscars, but it is fun to watch although a few edits could have helped. My main reason for liking this film? Novak was never more naturally beautiful, and when I remember her, this is the film I remember. For those persons who will mention Vertigo (which is my favorite film), her peformance in this film is classic but it is Hitchcock's film. "Strangers" is Novak's (Sorry, Mr. Douglas). The ending of the film is flat and expected. To be honest, Douglas goes back to his wife, but as I mentioned before, there was no real chemistry, and when he tells Novak at the end, "I love you Maggie, I really do", one wonders, if he really does, why not take the chance? But then this was a early 60's film and you didn't do that then. Unless, of course, you were Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.Movie Review: Three People Miserable
Summary: 3 Stars
Just saw this on TCM (how I wish DirecTV would show TCM in HD). I realize that in 1960, Hollywood endings had to worship the marital union, but I kept saying to myself, geez, Kirk, get a divorce ... and you, too Kim. Instead, Kirk Douglas goes off to Hawaii with a clinging wife he's no longer in love with who "can't live without him" and is certain to never trust him again; Novak, alone and still horny, goes back to her closet-case husband. Great. As for Matthau ... a truly repulsive misogynist creep.Movie Review: Disappointed After 50 Years
Summary: 1 Stars
When we visited New York City on July 14, 1960, Mother took us to a Broadway movie and years later I googled it to see the name. Having recently watched it I was not impressed and even when I was 13 wrote in my journal, don't mess around with another man's wife. My journal has been published as One Magical Summer.