A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
It's 1955. Frank and April Wheeler, in the seventh year of their marriage, have fallen into a life that appears to most as being perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job while April stays at home as a housewife. But they're not happy. April has forgone her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank hates his job - one where he places little effort - although he has never figured out what his passion in life is. One day, April suggests that they move to Paris - a city where Frank visited during the war and loved, but where April has never been - as a means to rejuvenate their life. April's plan: she would be the breadwinner, getting a lucrative secretarial job for one of the major international organizations, while Frank would have free time to find himself and whatever his passion. Initially skeptical...
Written by Huggo
Some scenes in the US and International trailer were not included in the final cut of the movie, such as the scene of Frank's "Nothing's forever, right?" line and the scene with Helen showing the Wheelers their soon-to-be home.
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Goofs
Continuity:
The morning after Frank and April decide to move to Paris, Frank leaves the house wearing a dark red tie. He wears the same tie in the office, when he tells the boys he's moving. Frank's tie is light yellow at lunch; in fact, everyone's tie is different. When he gets back to the office, his tie is red.
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Quotes
John Givings:
Hopeless emptiness. Now you've said it. Plenty of people are onto the emptiness, but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness. See more »
Crazy Credits
At the end of the closing credits:
"For Mia and Joe."
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