It's in the same category as those very humdrum domestic family dramas by Tennessee Williams, Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, a family sticking together beyond what's good for them, not realising they have grown dysfunctional, three children here, all grown up, a realistic boy with some sense of responsibility, a girl having her first major crush, and a younger boy, witnessing how his father runs along with a younger girl, refusing to tell his mother, while the elder son and sister already know all about it. The father finally runs off with that girl for real, and they have a traffic accident, end of story. What's left? A mother still feeling her obligation to take care of the children, they try to send her away, but she refuses to give up her care for them, overbearing parents and children too sensitive to be able to stand up to them, while the film is replenished with outstanding acting. It's difficult to see who gives the best performance here, but Anthony Quinn and Shirley Booth are both more than excellent, while Shirley MacLaine in one of her earliest roles shines through in every scene of hers. It's a very domestic drama uplifted to a considerable level by both general excellent acting and a beautiful score by Alex North.
