This is a film that tries very, very hard to be profound and say something. However, due to some over-the-top performances and almost angelic leading man, Robert Stack, the film turns out more like a soap opera than a meaningful drama. As such, it is almost like a guilty pleasure--a film you can laugh at from time to time and enjoy on a camp level. It's a shame really, as the central message is important and timely.
The film begins with Polly Bergen going nuts in a movie theater and being taken to a psychiatric hospital. Despite her very flamboyant performance, I actually think Miss Bergen did an excellent job playing someone losing her mind (perhaps reading through parts of the script helped her achieve this). It must have been very tough to over-emote that much and yet still stay convincing. In fact, most of the other mental patients were acted well and the film did a great job of showing the mentally ill.
My problem with the acting in the film should be squarely placed on Robert Stack and Joan Crawford--or at least the writers for creating such ridiculous and "black and white" characters. Stack was an idealistic psychiatrist who always knew what he was doing and never made a single mistake despite being a bold innovator. He was like a god in human form and everything he said seemed wise and profound. On the other hand, Crawford seemed like both Nurse Ratched (from ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST) as well as Fay Dunaway from MOMMY DEAREST!! She was the head nurse and not even once did she do anything good or decent, but instead was a complete obstructionist who fought good Dr. Stack at every turn. While this sort of bickering seemed very much like the film THE COBWEB (also set in a mental institution but made in 1955), it was a bit less like a soap opera and focused more on the patients and their progress. THE COBWEB was pure, 100% soap.
Now the idea behind all this was good and predated the de-institutionalization movement by about a decade. The idea of treating patients as people and putting them in the least restrictive environment was wonderful and a welcome change from the horrible days of institutionalization for life (common up until that time). It just needed to address these valid concerns in a more realistic, less sensationalistic and more balanced way. Overall, it's a good intentioned and interesting film that is also quite bad in places and can't rise above mediocrity as a result.
By the way, during the picnic scene, look for the hot dog cart. It has a HUGE Pepsi sign on it at the insistence of Miss Crawford--who was on the board of directors for the beverage at the time and insisted on such product placement in all her later films. It makes watching the films fun--you can play "who can spot the Pepsi?" with your friends.
The film begins with Polly Bergen going nuts in a movie theater and being taken to a psychiatric hospital. Despite her very flamboyant performance, I actually think Miss Bergen did an excellent job playing someone losing her mind (perhaps reading through parts of the script helped her achieve this). It must have been very tough to over-emote that much and yet still stay convincing. In fact, most of the other mental patients were acted well and the film did a great job of showing the mentally ill.
My problem with the acting in the film should be squarely placed on Robert Stack and Joan Crawford--or at least the writers for creating such ridiculous and "black and white" characters. Stack was an idealistic psychiatrist who always knew what he was doing and never made a single mistake despite being a bold innovator. He was like a god in human form and everything he said seemed wise and profound. On the other hand, Crawford seemed like both Nurse Ratched (from ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST) as well as Fay Dunaway from MOMMY DEAREST!! She was the head nurse and not even once did she do anything good or decent, but instead was a complete obstructionist who fought good Dr. Stack at every turn. While this sort of bickering seemed very much like the film THE COBWEB (also set in a mental institution but made in 1955), it was a bit less like a soap opera and focused more on the patients and their progress. THE COBWEB was pure, 100% soap.
Now the idea behind all this was good and predated the de-institutionalization movement by about a decade. The idea of treating patients as people and putting them in the least restrictive environment was wonderful and a welcome change from the horrible days of institutionalization for life (common up until that time). It just needed to address these valid concerns in a more realistic, less sensationalistic and more balanced way. Overall, it's a good intentioned and interesting film that is also quite bad in places and can't rise above mediocrity as a result.
By the way, during the picnic scene, look for the hot dog cart. It has a HUGE Pepsi sign on it at the insistence of Miss Crawford--who was on the board of directors for the beverage at the time and insisted on such product placement in all her later films. It makes watching the films fun--you can play "who can spot the Pepsi?" with your friends.