The Group (film)
| The Group | |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Sidney Lumet |
| Produced by | Sidney Buchman |
| Written by | Sidney Buchman |
| Starring | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/> |
| Music by | Laurence Rosenthal |
| Cinematography | Boris Kaufman |
| Edited by | Ralph Rosenblum |
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Production
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Famartists Productions S.A.
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| Distributed by | United Artists |
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Release dates
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Running time
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150 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.4 million[1] |
| Box office | $6 million[2] |
The Group is a 1966 ensemble film directed by Sidney Lumet based on the novel of the same name by Mary McCarthy about a group of female graduates from a Vassar-like college during the early 1930s.
The cast of this social satire includes Candice Bergen, Joan Hackett, Elizabeth Hartman, Shirley Knight, Jessica Walter, Kathleen Widdoes, and Joanna Pettet.[3] The film also features small roles for Hal Holbrook, Carrie Nye, James Broderick, Larry Hagman and Richard Mulligan.[3] For its time, the film touched on controversial topics, such as free love, contraception, abortion, lesbianism, and mental illness.
Contents
Plot
After their university days, eight women go their separate ways. Lakey, always regarded as their leader, leaves for Europe to begin a new life on her own.
The domestic lives of the others go mainly awry. Priss has married a doctor but has two miscarriages. Kay weds a playwright who cheats on her. Dottie gives up a flamboyant lifestyle in Greenwich Village to settle down with a dull Arizona businessman. Pokey has her hands full with two sets of twins.
As for the others, Polly has an affair with a married man, Helena travels the world but is unable to find happiness at home, while Libby, a success in the literary world, is frigid in her personal life.
With the war's intensity building in Europe in 1939, Lakey returns home. When the others realize the woman with her is more than just a traveling companion, they know she has become a lesbian. After a tragedy that results in the death of one of the women, Lakey leads them to the funeral for one last time together as a group.
Cast
Main
- Candice Bergen as Lakey
- Joan Hackett as Dottie
- Elizabeth Hartman as Priss
- Shirley Knight as Polly
- Joanna Pettet as Kay
- Mary-Robin Redd as Pokey
- Jessica Walter - Libby
- Kathleen Widdoes as Helena
- James Broderick as Dr. Ridgeley
- James Congdon as Sloan Crockett
- Larry Hagman as Harald Peterson
- Hal Holbrook as Gus Leroy
- Richard Mulligan as Dick Brown
- Robert Emhardt as Mr. Andrews
- Carrie Nye as Norine
Supporting
- Philippa Bevans as Mrs. Hartshorn
- Leta Bonynge as Mrs. Prothero
- Marion Brash as Radio Man's Wife
- Sarah Burton as Mrs. Davison
- Flora Campbell as Mrs. MacAusland
- Bruno Di Cosmi as Nils
- Leora Dana as Mrs. Renfrew
- Bill Fletcher as Bill, the Actor
- George Gaynes as Brook Latham
- Martha Greenhouse as Mrs. Bergler
- Russell Hardie as Mr. Davison
- Vince Harding as Mr. Eastlake
- Doreen Lang as Nurse Swenson
- Chet London as Radio Man
- Baruch Lumet as Mr. Schneider
- John O'Leary as Put Blake
- Hildy Parks as Nurse Catherine
- Lidia Prochnicka as The Baroness
- Polly Rowles as Mrs. Andrews
- Douglas Rutherford as Mr. Prothero
- Truman Smith as Mr. Bergler
- Loretta White as Mrs. Eastlake
Cameo Appearance/Uncredited
- Arthur Anderson as Pokey's Husband
- Ron Charles as Dr. Jones
- Richard Graham as Rev. Garland
- Edward Holmes as Mr. MacAusland
Release
The film grossed $6 million at the box office,[2] earning $3 million in US theatrical rentals.[4] It was the 25th highest grossing film of 1966.
The Group was released to DVD by MGM Home Video on January 15, 2011, via the MGM Choice Collection as a Region 1 manufacture-on-demand DVD.[5]
Reception
Variety wrote that the film is faithful to the novel but retains too much detail.[6]
Awards
- Joan Hackett was nominated for the British BAFTA Film Award for the best foreign (i.e. non-British) actress.
- The film was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 16th Berlin International Film Festival in 1966.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Happy 'Group' Portrait By A.H.WEILER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 13 June 1965: X13.
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- ↑ "Big Rental Pictures of 1966", Variety, 4 January 1967 pg 8
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