A Soap Opera dealing with Grace Caldwell (Suzanne Pleshette ) , a young Pennsylvania newspaper heiress living with her widowed mummy (Carmen Matthews) get in trouble restraining herself when she meets handsome young men . As word starts to spread about her behavior , manipulative Grace becomes a major source of heartache for her mother and a big source of concern to her brother , Brock (Linden Chiles) . One evening , at a Christmas party , Grace meets Sidney Tate (Bradford Dillman) , a gentleman farmer , and both of them fall in love . Grace accepts marriage with him , but only after making it clear that there are some things about her past she's not at all proud of . Grace promises to be faithful to Sidney , it's a promise she has every intention of keeping , until two former casual acquaintances , Roger Bannon (Peter Graves) and Jack Hollister (Peter Graves) , re-enter her life. But the unfortunate husband becomes involved in problems due to his wife and her troublesome relationships . Then the woman's sexual compulsions and her nymphomanic tendency threaten to destroy the distressed marriage ."A Rage to Live " goes where no motion picture has ever dared go before ! The names and places didn't matter . . . Only when! Take it easy Grace...! Think of a good lie to tell your husband. Tell him you're late because the car broke down ...tell him anything!...the John O'Hara best-seller that dares to probe a woman's intimate desire! Take it easy, Grace...! Think of a good lie to tell your husband. Tell him you're late because the car broke down...tell him anything! Even make love to him...after all, you need him more than other men! The story of Grace Caldwell Tate really began in the back seat of a car... ...and went from man...to man...to man... Charlie, Sidney, Roger... The names and places didn't matter... only 'when'
This soapy picture is based on a popular best seller by John O'Hara and made in similar style to Harold Robbins' Soap-operas in the Sixties . Dealing with an explosive , nympho woman who becomes involved in various love affairs resulting in lousy and distressed consequences . This twisted story seems to be been suggested by the real life of a famous actress in distress . Main and support cast are pretty good . Standing out the gorgeous Suzanne Pleshette , though Anne Bancroft , Sue Lyon and Natalie Wood were previously sought for this thorny character who eventually played by Suzanne . As the charming Suzanne is nice as the nymphomaniac woman whose passion leads her to twisted paths , she gives a fine performance , though overacting at times . She was deemed to be one of Hollywood's best but underrated actresses . While Bradford Dillman performs decently the young man who falls in love, and he asks her to marry him . They are well accompanied by a familiar plethora of secondaries giving adequate interpretations , such as : Ben Gazzara, Peter Graves , Bethel Leslie , Carmen Mathews , Linden Chiles, James Gregory , Ruth White, Virginia Christine , Mark Goddard , among others .
It displays an evocative and brilliant cinematography in black and white by Charles Lawton Jr. , being shot in Burbank , California . As well as atmospheric and dramatic musical score by Nelson Riddle . This Soap Opera motion picture was professionally directed by TV craftsman Walter Grauman . He was a good artisan who made a large number of Television movies and episodes in a long career and eventually directed some films . As he shot episodes of popular series such as : Murder, She Wrote , Columbo , V , Blacke's Magic , Cover-up , Barnaby Jones , Streets of San Francisco , Manhunter , Most wanted , FBI , Mission Impossible , Blue Light , The New Breed , Untouchables, Steve Canyon , Peter Gunn , Colt 45 , Perry Mason , Will Banner , The Fugitive, among others .
This soapy picture is based on a popular best seller by John O'Hara and made in similar style to Harold Robbins' Soap-operas in the Sixties . Dealing with an explosive , nympho woman who becomes involved in various love affairs resulting in lousy and distressed consequences . This twisted story seems to be been suggested by the real life of a famous actress in distress . Main and support cast are pretty good . Standing out the gorgeous Suzanne Pleshette , though Anne Bancroft , Sue Lyon and Natalie Wood were previously sought for this thorny character who eventually played by Suzanne . As the charming Suzanne is nice as the nymphomaniac woman whose passion leads her to twisted paths , she gives a fine performance , though overacting at times . She was deemed to be one of Hollywood's best but underrated actresses . While Bradford Dillman performs decently the young man who falls in love, and he asks her to marry him . They are well accompanied by a familiar plethora of secondaries giving adequate interpretations , such as : Ben Gazzara, Peter Graves , Bethel Leslie , Carmen Mathews , Linden Chiles, James Gregory , Ruth White, Virginia Christine , Mark Goddard , among others .
It displays an evocative and brilliant cinematography in black and white by Charles Lawton Jr. , being shot in Burbank , California . As well as atmospheric and dramatic musical score by Nelson Riddle . This Soap Opera motion picture was professionally directed by TV craftsman Walter Grauman . He was a good artisan who made a large number of Television movies and episodes in a long career and eventually directed some films . As he shot episodes of popular series such as : Murder, She Wrote , Columbo , V , Blacke's Magic , Cover-up , Barnaby Jones , Streets of San Francisco , Manhunter , Most wanted , FBI , Mission Impossible , Blue Light , The New Breed , Untouchables, Steve Canyon , Peter Gunn , Colt 45 , Perry Mason , Will Banner , The Fugitive, among others .