The Group (1966)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 10:22am

This hot mess of a film was on MGM HD the other day and I'm not ashamed to admit that I adored every overwrought second of it. Candice Bergen aside (she didn't really seem to learn how to act until the late 70s/early 80s), the women in this film actually keep you invested in the clunky soap opera of a plot, although Sidney Lument directs in this herky-jerky style that cuts and jumps from scene to scene at a rapid pace. Often characters will be talking about something that's about to happen and then we jump cut to a scene of people talking about said event AFTER it happens.

It's a treat to see Jessica Walter, Shirley Knight, Larry Hagman, Richard Mulligan(!), etc so young, especially Walter, who looks like a million bucks throughout.

The stylized 60s version of the 30s looks fantastic in HD, so I highly recommended seeing it in that format if you have the chance.

There's psychoanlaysis! There's the clash of liberal vs conservative! There's breast-feeding! There's lesbianism!

Anyone else a fan?

[blueroses]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 10:41am

I've never seen it but now I want to!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 10:43am

"Anyone else a fan?"

I am. It's been so long since I've seen it that I can't remember anything except I loved it!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 11:00am

It looked so good in HD that I enjoyed it more than I should have, I think! I also love that even though it takes place in the 30s Jessica Walter's hair is always quintessential 60s.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 11:35am

I love this board! First Borstal introduced me to "Lipstick"
and now Phyllis tosses this gem out.

I'm hitting up netflix right now!

edit: Boo! It's not available.

Updated On: 2/19/08 at 11:35 AM

[erikaamato]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 12:26pm

Everyone at Vassar had to see that thing at least once. It is a hot mess, indeed. :-P

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 12:39pm

I forgot to mention that George Gaynes (Punky Brewster's foster dad) was in it, too!

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 12:41pm

That's especially freaky, because I always get him and Richard Mulligan (and Harry Morgan, for that matter) confused.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 12:44pm

This is one of the greatest films of all time.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:29pm

Its good fun. Jessica Walter steals the show.