[WARNING: This review may contain "spoilers."]
Rumor has it that Lillian Hellman wanted to link John F. Kennedy's assassination to this "Peyton Place" of a film. Its too bad she didn't get her way. Not only would she have beaten Oliver Stone to the punch by almost twenty years, it would have made for great cheese. As it is, this film provides enough cheese of its own.
My favorite cheesy scenes involve "big" Roger's party and the town party-lynching at the junkyard. The party scene is memorable because of the prevalent sixties atmosphere. The clothing is magnificent right down to Sheriff Calder's ruffled tuxedo shirt. Moreover, the women are gorgeous. Angie Dickinson is a cinematic delight as Calder's wife. In addition, Elizabeth Rogers, beautifully played by Diana Hyland appears with well coiffed hair and the looks to match. All of this beauty mixed with a supposed East Texas birthday party equals a memorable mismatch. Go-Go dancers at a wealthy East Texan's party is simply too Hollywood to be believed.
The second, cheesy scene occurs late in the movie at the local junkyard. The town unexpectedly shows up and proceeds to burn the place down, with a mixture of molotov cocktails, flaming tires, and wanton partying.
To be sure, this is not merely a film full of silly sequences. In fact, many scenes come off downright earnest. Calder's fight at his office is probably the most riveting.
Many scenes of lesser consequence occur in which we see the acting talents of a very young, Jane Fonda, and assorted cast. Unfortunately, Redford, isn't believable as a felon the town should fear. Many more malevolent characters exist in the film as law abiding folk, which they are not.
This is another sixties, social commentary piece, and should be taken as such. There is a lot of hand wringing but little, if any solutions bantered about. Period audiences were probably meant to take their cues and adopt socialistic solutions to convoluted problems. This reach, by the makers, is what makes this film campy for modern audiences.
Rumor has it that Lillian Hellman wanted to link John F. Kennedy's assassination to this "Peyton Place" of a film. Its too bad she didn't get her way. Not only would she have beaten Oliver Stone to the punch by almost twenty years, it would have made for great cheese. As it is, this film provides enough cheese of its own.
My favorite cheesy scenes involve "big" Roger's party and the town party-lynching at the junkyard. The party scene is memorable because of the prevalent sixties atmosphere. The clothing is magnificent right down to Sheriff Calder's ruffled tuxedo shirt. Moreover, the women are gorgeous. Angie Dickinson is a cinematic delight as Calder's wife. In addition, Elizabeth Rogers, beautifully played by Diana Hyland appears with well coiffed hair and the looks to match. All of this beauty mixed with a supposed East Texas birthday party equals a memorable mismatch. Go-Go dancers at a wealthy East Texan's party is simply too Hollywood to be believed.
The second, cheesy scene occurs late in the movie at the local junkyard. The town unexpectedly shows up and proceeds to burn the place down, with a mixture of molotov cocktails, flaming tires, and wanton partying.
To be sure, this is not merely a film full of silly sequences. In fact, many scenes come off downright earnest. Calder's fight at his office is probably the most riveting.
Many scenes of lesser consequence occur in which we see the acting talents of a very young, Jane Fonda, and assorted cast. Unfortunately, Redford, isn't believable as a felon the town should fear. Many more malevolent characters exist in the film as law abiding folk, which they are not.
This is another sixties, social commentary piece, and should be taken as such. There is a lot of hand wringing but little, if any solutions bantered about. Period audiences were probably meant to take their cues and adopt socialistic solutions to convoluted problems. This reach, by the makers, is what makes this film campy for modern audiences.