It's 1933, and eight young women are friends and members of the upper-class group at a private girl's school, about to graduate and start their own lives. The film documents the years between their graduation and the beginning of the World War in Europe, and shows, in a serialized style, their romances and marriages, their searches for careers or meaning in their lives, their highs and their lows.
Acting
Joan Hackett steals every scene as fragile, furious Dottie.
Direction
Lumet wrangles eight storylines like a symphony conductor.
Costume
Depression-era fashion porn that'll make you hate your closet.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Candice Bergen
Lakey
Joan Hackett
Dottie
Elizabeth Hartman
Priss
Shirley Knight
Polly
Joanna Pettet
Kay
Mary-Robin Redd
Pokey
Jessica Walter
Libby
Kathleen Widdoes
Helena
James Broderick
Dr. Ridgeley
James Congdon
Sloan Crockett
Larry Hagman
Harald Peterson
Hal Holbrook
Gus Leroy
Richard Mulligan
Dick Brown
Robert Emhardt
Mr. Andrews
Carrie Nye
Norine
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mary McCarthy's novel was banned in Ireland and denounced by the Legion of Decency; the film sanitizes the lesbian subtext but kept the diaphragm scene that made 1966 audiences gasp.
Candice Bergen hated her performance so much she tried to buy the negative; this was Elizabeth Hartman's last significant film before her tragic early death.
US
