The Shrike (1955)

A successful theatrical director is driven to failure by the machinations of his vengeful wife. Eventually, he lands in a mental hospital where both his wife and his new love, a young ... See full summary »

Director:

José Ferrer

Writers:

Ketti Frings, Joseph A. Kramm (play)

Stars:

José Ferrer, June Allyson, Joy Page

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
José Ferrer	...	Jim Downs
June Allyson	...	Ann Downs
Joy Page	...	Charlotte Moore
Kendall Clark	...	Dr. R.S. Bellman
Isabel Bonner	...	Dr. Barrow
Jay Barney	...	Dr. Kramer
Somar Alberg	...	Dr. Schlesinger
Edward Platt	...	Harry Downs
Richard Benedict	...	Gregory, Male Nurse
Herbie Faye	...	Tager
Martin Benedict	...	Jimmy
Will Kuluva	...	John Ankortis
Martin Newman	...	Carlos O'Brien
Billy Greene	...	Schloss
Joe Comadore	...	Major

Storyline

A successful theatrical director is driven to failure by the machinations of his vengeful wife. Eventually, he lands in a mental hospital where both his wife and his new love, a young actress named Charlotte, are waiting to see him.

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Plot Keywords:

pulitzer prize source | marriage as hell | based on play

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 1955 (Japan)

Also Known As:

In all diesen Nächten

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original play, the character of Charlotte is frequently mentioned but never appears. The film adds her as a major character played by Joy Page.

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Connections

Referenced in Tsukiyo no kasa (1955)

User Reviews

The Shrike - the Ending??

On Broadway, the Kramm play did have a more downbeat ending in that it is clear that there is no way for the two to ever live together again. BUT the ending, in the film, is essentially the same. No matter how much the wife, so brilliantly essayed by June Allyson, professes a change in her makeup, and no matter how they look walking hand-in-hand down the street, there is NO DOUBT that only further problems await this couple. There is definitely a cloud of doom over the whole thing, and even their steps are hesitant providing a clue to the future. Jose Ferrer chose Allyson for this film, and he was so right despite her feelings over the years that he may not have been. There should have been awards for her in The Shrike. (She had won honors for comedic turns in other films, including Too Young To Kiss, which pales in comparison to her work here). Her recent death only makes it sadder that her skills as an actress were never totallya realized by Hollywood. Her comedic and musical skills are evident in many films, but her serious work (The Secret Heart, for example) deserve to be studied again.