Alma Duval, a middle-aged housewife, tries to hide how much she suffers from her husband's amorous excursions while trying to help her children solve their problems and doing her best to keep her family together as it's slowly falling apart. Meanwhile, daughter Virginia is dumped by her boyfriend because she cannot help him with his career. Her cheating husband's birthday party is approaching and many lines will be crossed after that event.
Acting
Shirley Booth's trembling restraint will haunt you for days.
Direction
Cukor and Mann squeeze every drop of Southern Gothic humidity.
Director
Daniel Mann
Shirley Booth
Alma Duval
Anthony Quinn
Jack Duval
Shirley MacLaine
Virginia Duval
Earl Holliman
Buddy Duval
Eileen Heckart
Fan
Clint Kimbrough
Billy Duval
Warren Stevens
Wyatt
Jody Lawrance
Dora May
Valerie Allen
Ruby
Stafford Repp
Baggage Man (uncredited)
Irene Tedrow
Essie Mae (uncredited)
Bill Walker
Attendant (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim
Preacher (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
A rare 1950s Hollywood drama that refuses to punish the 'cheating husband' — instead it eviscerates the institution that trapped everyone.
Shirley MacLaine was so furious about her character's limited arc that she nearly quit; Cukor reportedly told her 'suffering is the job.'
US
