Something far more professional yet difficult to watch for its own reasons next, with 1962’s heavy marital comedy-drama Period of Adjustment from Oscar-winning director George Roy Hill. This one follows Isabel (Jane Fonda) and George (Jim Hutton), a newlywed couple on their honeymoon who are already experiencing issues. With Christmas approaching, they decide to visit their married friends Ralph (Anthony Franciosa) and Dorothea (Lois Nettleton) who, it turns out, are having troubles of their own. This one is adapted from a Tennessee Williams story, so you know that it’s going to be hard work. Men don’t tend to come off well in these tales and women get a particularly raw deal, though from the film’s poster you’d think this was a cheery, bubbly romantic comedy.
The film is grounded by some excellent performances and well-scripted dialogue, but it is oh-so depressing with the men treating their spouses like crap and expecting the world to feel sorry for them, with the drama all going down on Christmas Eve. Chirpy nurse Isabel fell for Korean War veteran George when he was her patient and an impressive, dialogue-free opening montage showing how they met and fell head over heels is incredibly cute, lulling us into a false sense of security. However, pretty much the second they’re married things start to get bumpy. Turns out George suffers from sexual performance anxiety that causes him to shake uncontrollably and, in a surprise move, decides to quit his job right before the wedding without talking about it with his bride-to-be. It’s the sort of film where men expect women to shut up, do as they’re told and to never question their husband’s decisions because he’s a man, goddammit.
Soon, George is treating her to a wedding night meal in a dive bar and getting blind drunk before passing out, expecting Isabel to be cool with and grateful for all this. They plan to drop in on George’s old war buddy Ralph in the hopes of finding work - and maybe a bit of marriage advice. However, Ralph isn’t really the go-to guy for counsel as he basically only married Dorothea for her money and hates her family’s guts. Oh, and he’s also decided to chuck his job just to piss off Dorothea’s father, so she’s leaving him. These two couples coming together for the holidays is a recipe for disaster and all we can do is sit and watch the catastrophe unfold.
This is a film about various arguments and uncomfortable falling-outs. It’s a weird one, because on their own George and Ralph come off as pretty swell, stand-up guys but just don’t treat their women with the respect that they deserve at all. I find this hard to watch, as Williams seems to have worked so hard to create such detestable characters. Of course, being a Christmas film, the couples counsel each other and eventually learn a thing or two, leading to a happy ending of sorts, but it’s still car-crash stuff. Some choice cuts - Ralph telling Dottie that he sincerely “likes” her and is pleased she’s “improved in appearance.” Elsewhere, he confesses “honey, any time a married man sees a beautiful girl, he feels cheated.” Charming. Oh, and he constantly refers to his wife as “homely”, a surefire way to keep those home fires burning.
And who can forget the scene where George just leaves Isabel outside the home of Ralph - who’she’s never met - and drives off in a huff? The film feels like an exercise in how not to treat women. Later, Ralph throws his young son’s favourite doll in the fireplace and chastises him for being a “sissy”. You get the impression Williams had a hard time growing up.
Luckily, it seems a little bit of Christmas magic, with the help of some well-timed carollers is all these couples need to calm down and embrace the future with some optimism - though I’m left wondering if they wouldn’t have been better off filing for divorce.
It’s a really well-made film, but a miserable slog, a real down and dirty wallow in other people’s misery. Still, it’s an insightful tale about how many men cover up their insecurities by acting macho. Watching this, I feel proud that I don’t really identify with these guys at all. I’d like to think that society has moved on from this sort of ‘toxic masculinity’ nonsense, but that’s probably just wishful thinking. In a world where each week brings a new allegation of political sleaze and the President of the USA can get elected even after making remarks about women “loving” being grabbed by their unmentionables, it’s clear we’ve still got a lot more work to do. Yeah, this one’s a total downer.
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