Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Copyright 15 May 1963 by Jerry Wald Productions. Released through 20th Century-Fox. New York opening simultaneously at the Astor, the 72nd Street Playhouse and other cinemas: 19 June 1963. U.S. release June 1963. U.K. release: 26 May 1963. 8,516 feet. 94½ minutes. U.K. release title: WOMAN OF SUMMER.NPTES: Film debut for TV director Franklin Schaffner. Travilla was nominated for an Academy Award for his black-and-white costume design, losing to Piero Gherardi's 8½. Running a disastrous 25 performances, "A Loss of Roses" opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on 28 November 1959. St Subber and Lester Osterman were the producers and Daniel Mann directed. Betty Field was Mrs Baird, Warren Beatty was Kenny and Carol Haney was Lila. For this film version, Robert Webber and Michael J. Pollard repeat their stage roles.COMMENT: Anyone expecting anything spicy either because of the film's title or its advertising, is in for a mighty big disappointment here. True, Miss Woodward looks more attractive than usual, thanks to skillful photography and a becoming hair style, but the climactic strip tease is so tame it makes a mockery out of the script. At the conclusion of the so-called "strip", she is wearing more clothes than she usually does to walk down the street!The screenplay is so talkative, it obviously derives with little alteration from the stage play — and such boring dialogue it is too! The fatal casting of that unattractive and uninspiring actor Richard Beymer in a pivotal role doesn't help matters, though it must be admitted that even Claire Trevor is hard put to get anything out of her banal and commonplace dialogue.Despite her prominence in the billing, Gypsy Rose Lee has a minuscule role and drops out of the film altogether at a very early stage. Miss Woodward herself brings a bit of life to her part and Robert Webber is adequate as her villainous manager. Michael J. Pollard has a small but recognizable part as Beymer's sidekick. Schaffner's direction is disappointingly dull and unimaginative, almost all the scenes being handled with a maximum of uninspired close-ups. Production values are distinctly mediocre.This was the last film of the late producer, Jerry Wald — he died before any responsibility at all for this unbelievably sloppy production could be charged to him It was originally intended as a vehicle for Marilyn Monroe, for whom William Inge is said to have designed the play on which it is based ("A Loss of Roses"). Monroe could not have been worse in it than is Joanne Woodward.Director Franklin Schaffner, who hails from TV, was ill-advised to fix upon this confusion for his movie debut. To add insult to injury, the movie is full of errors. I make it twenty-three! See how many you can find. For example, a woman giving testimony in the witness box is at the very same time shown to be sitting in court among the spectators!

Joanne Woodward is excellent in the role of down-on-her-luck performer Lila Green; her acting is natural and believable, even when her whimsical naive dreams briefly draw her away from the hard reality of her existence. It is easy to imagine her role being played by Marilyn Monroe, the actress for which this film was originally intended. Lila's circumstances seemed in tune with Monroe's real-life situation just prior to her death.The supporting cast holds up well, especially Robert Webber as Woodward's sleazy 'manager', and Claire Treavor, who appears as though she hasn't aged a day since 'Key Largo' (1948). Although Richard Beymer is fine as Kenny, it would have been interesting to see what Pat Boone would have done with the role had he not turned it down; with his wholesome innocent quality, he might have made a more compellingly believable Kenny. All in all, a fine film for its time.

In a conversation several years ago, I asked Ms Woodward about this film. It receives short shrift by those who would discuss her career. The story has several interlocking plot lines: a woman caught in the struggle to survive, the men who use and abuse the situation toward their own ends and the teenager who falls for her. A teenager becoming enamored with an older woman was nothing new. The teenager having an affair with the older woman was a story somewhat ahead of it's time in 1963. The Women's Liberation Movement did not start until the late 1960s and the word 'cougar' referred to mountain lions. Ms. Woodward talked about the confused or disjointed impression this film gives and stated that the original director, whose name I cannot remember, died half way through filming. Mr. Schaffner, who finished the project, had a different point of view. Regardless, Ms Woodwards' acting is, in my opinion, remarkable. She provided each director with the desired performance expressing his vision. Unfortunately, the final cut is reflective of each and gives the film a sense of choppy disconnect.

The play that Warren Beatty (and Michael J. Pollard from B & C) did on stage was turned into a "semi-exploitation" flick with the title change from A LOSS OF ROSES to THE STRIPPER. Joanne Woodward is phenomenal as always, creating a "Marilyn" type character that is fragile, almost used-up and not even 35 yet. Richard Beymer (so great on TWIN PEAKS on TV) is the young lad, Claire Trevor is his mom and there's a sanctimonious air to the atmosphere (including the sleazy Robert Webber as a sleaze (who was an under-rated)) and M. J. as Beymer's buddy.A well-intentioned script in '63 that was too "HUD"-like (starring Ms. Woodward's cool husband, Paul Newman), but it just wasn't gritty enough or well-directed enough to spark SPARKS. Very good acting, great locales and cinematography. Worth your time!