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Strangers When We Meet

1960, Movie, NR, 117 mins

Strangers When We Meet: Review

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Another sex-in-suburbia soap after the fashion of PEYTON PLACE and NO DOWN PAYMENT, this picture looks gorgeous but is essentially empty. The star of the film is the house that's being built all through the story and that director Quine reportedly received as partial payment for his work on the project. Co-designed by art director Ross Bellah and architect Carl Anderson, the house is certainly attractive enough, but when a structure becomes the focal point for a movie, you know that the story is in trouble. Douglas is a gifted architect married to Rush, who spends most of her early scenes twittering about the family budget and neglecting Douglas. One day, he is taking one of his sons to school and meets another parent, Novak. She's married to Bryant, who doesn't have any sexual desire for his wife. Douglas and Novak begin to have an affair. Douglas is hired to design a house for Kovacs (who delivers the film's only comedy), a successful writer who attempts to bed every woman who comes his way. While construction begins on the hilltop house, Douglas and Novak keep their affair going through a series of illicit rendezvous, with many of their meetings taking place in a public cocktail lounge. Their liaisons are noted by Matthau, a neighbor stuck in a loveless marriage to Gallagher. Douglas and Novak are very happy when they are together, but though Novak would like to make their relationship permanent, Douglas is unwilling to leave his family. There is a dinner party; Bryant and Novak are invited and the strain on the lovers is evident. Eventually Douglas breaks down and tells a jealous Kovacs about the affair. In the meantime, Matthau tries to move in on Rush, but she rebuffs him. When Douglas is offered a huge commission to build an entire city in Hawaii, he doesn't tell Rush, but instead goes to Novak and asks if she wants to go there with him. She declines and thinks it's better that they both stay married. Douglas comes home just as the rejected Matthau is leaving his house. When Rush tells her husband what Matthau was up to, Douglas runs after Matthau and punches him in the nose, but Matthau reminds the architect about his own affair. Douglas is left with a serious decision: Does he leave Rush or stay? Novak and Douglas meet at their usual hangout, and he tells her that he will be leaving for Hawaii with Rush. This slow-moving picture is filled with emotional moments, but you are always aware that the characters are acting and are never drawn into the story. leave a comment
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