As the film opens we see right at the offset that the marriage between "shaky-hands"George(Jim Hutton;a problems that resulted from his war experience in Korea)and Isabel(a smoking Jane Fonda at the early part of her career)is rocky. But, the home they are headed for in Florida holds a marriage coming apart at the seams. Ralph(Anthony Franciosa)and Dorothea(Lois Nettleton)are having problems of their own. Ralph has had enough of his boss, and Dorothea's father, and tells him his thoughts about the crusty old man and where he can take this job. Other things underneath the surface, though, lead Dorothea to leaving Ralph such as his quitting his job, the way he wishes for his son be treated like a male than a sissy(I felt this was an intentional Tennesse Williams subtle plot point about parental homophobia)..his son is given girlie toys instead of a football or other more manly presents. We watch as these four characters face personal demons in a night of not only bitter feuding, discussion, and, most importantly, reflection. The main question is can both marriages survive? Like a lot of films based on plays, this shows characters searching their souls and trying to become honest with themselves and the faults that guide them into unusual terrain. We watch as they try and sort out their emotions by talking. We see an age-old ordeal in the Ralph and Dorothea marriage..the in-laws butting in and causing further conflict. That alone casts a foreboding shadow Ralph wishes to escape. Also, the "ugly duckling" aspect regarding how Dorothea feels about herself is also a little ordeal that plays out in the film as she questions whether Ralph wants to remain in a "love-less" marriage.
George is a fragile man who met his wife Isabel in a mental hospital where doctors tried to find the reason for the consistent plague of shakes that take over his hands(it would probably acute to panic attacks that many suffer today). He talks a big talk, even tries to play out his aggressiveness, but he's weak and really does need Isabel even though he pretends to acts all macho. Isabel has such a wonderful personality, but her insistence to be heard and appreciated, at times, weighs a bit on George.
So we see that each person has to come to terms with each other's faults and problems. This film has a tendency to over-exaggerate it's message(..and is a bit syrupy at times)and lays on the melodrama a bit thick. It still has a more adult theme to it and touches on some very important things every marriage faces. It's always interesting seeing Fonda in these early roles before she becomes engulfed in the hippie lifestyle of the on-coming Vietnam war.
George is a fragile man who met his wife Isabel in a mental hospital where doctors tried to find the reason for the consistent plague of shakes that take over his hands(it would probably acute to panic attacks that many suffer today). He talks a big talk, even tries to play out his aggressiveness, but he's weak and really does need Isabel even though he pretends to acts all macho. Isabel has such a wonderful personality, but her insistence to be heard and appreciated, at times, weighs a bit on George.
So we see that each person has to come to terms with each other's faults and problems. This film has a tendency to over-exaggerate it's message(..and is a bit syrupy at times)and lays on the melodrama a bit thick. It still has a more adult theme to it and touches on some very important things every marriage faces. It's always interesting seeing Fonda in these early roles before she becomes engulfed in the hippie lifestyle of the on-coming Vietnam war.