William Wyler (1902–1981)

Love has got to stop somewhere short of suicide. This drama of a successful man whose wife has suffered for 20 years in the midwestern city of Zenith and now on a journey to Europe fights as hard as she can against getting older by flirting with a series of men--Niven, Lukas, etc.--is disturbing on so many levels. In many ways it is sexist and out of date, but on the other hand, there are so many truths here as well--truths that hurt, and one can't help but reflect upon one's own relationships. I didn't know an ending like this would be allowed in 1936. As the wife, who is portrayed as the main villain here, Chatterton is appropriately maddening, but her performance is superb. As the husband who sometimes goes out of his way to remind his wife she isn't as young as she pretends to be, Huston is mostly sympathetic, but we can still see why after 20 years his wife needs something more, something he isn't able to give--at least to her. Well made and directed, but perhaps it looks better after a few days watching nothing but B movies and second features! (It's hard to believe this is the same Walter Huston in Treasure of the Sierra Madre! The man COULD act.)… (more)

Douglas's intense, borderline-insane performance as a detective is at the center of this story, but it is the performances by the women that provide the depth and nuance that makes this film memorable. Eleanor Parker received a nomination for best actress, even though she is on screen for only a little more than 20 minutes, which is apparently some sort of record. She is Eleanor Parker, however, so you can't take your eyes off her when she IS on screen. Lee Grant, in her first film (although reprising her role on Broadway) is the semi-comic relief as a shoplifter who sits and watches everything occur over the course of an evening at the 21st Precinct. She brings an indefinable quality that makes the character much more interesting than might be suspected. More than anyone else, she represents us--the audience. Grant was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Joseph Wiseman stands out for his rather exaggerated performance as a burglar facing life imprisonment due to the number of his previous arrests. Dobie Gillis's father is another of the detectives. Although this film is considered the forerunner of shows like Hill Street Blues, in its constricted setting of a room with a bunch of detectives sitting around, it is much more like Barney Miller. But as the events of the evening transpire, it becomes clear this is no comedy. Not everything ends neatly. Very well done.… (more)