No Down Payment (1957)

In California, four couples who have bought homes and are neighbors face money problems, alcoholism, racism, promiscuity, and discrimination against lack of education, until a tragic event forces them to reassess their lives.

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screenplay), John McPartland (from the novel by)

Stars:

Joanne Woodward, Sheree North, Tony Randall

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joanne Woodward	...	Leola Boone
Sheree North	...	Isabelle Flagg
Tony Randall	...	Jerry Flagg
Jeffrey Hunter	...	David Martin
Cameron Mitchell	...	Troy Boone
Patricia Owens	...	Jean Martin
Barbara Rush	...	Betty Kreitzer
Pat Hingle	...	Herman Kreitzer
Robert H. Harris	...	Markham (as Robert Harris)
Aki Aleong	...	Iko
Jim Hayward	...	Mr. Burnett

Storyline

The marital difficulties of four couples living in a southern California housing development become intertwined. Among the unhappy couples are ne'er-do-well Jerry Flagg and his long-suffering wife Isabelle, flirtatious Leola Boone and her sadistic husband Troy, hard working Herman Kreitzer and his understanding wife Betty, and newlyweds Jean and David Martin.

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Plot Keywords:

backyard barbecue | suburbia | american dream | husband wife relationship | dysfunctional marriage | 

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Taglines:

John McPartland's Explosive Novel That Tell-Tales on Young Married America!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Among the ensemble cast are ex-spouses Jeffrey Hunter and Barbara Rush, who both portray married characters, but not married to each other.

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Quotes

Jerry Flagg: I couldn't come home. I was feeling so punk.

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Connections

Featured in Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003)

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Soundtracks

The Drive-In Rock
(uncredited)
Music by Lionel Newman
Lyrics by Carroll Coates
[The song first played and danced to at the Flaggs' dinner party, then played later when Troy rushes home after finding out about the Police Chief job]

User Reviews

Scary truths for the 1950's

I caught this movie at a film festival at UCLA this week-end. It was excellent. Great screen play and acting. I almost didn't recognize Tony Randall as his nose is suspiciously larger than it seems in later films. Unlike the reviewer who felt this was essentially a "Soap Opera" that was well acted, I think that this film had an obvious dark side. It wasn't just the telling of the business of others, it was the unveiling of the dark underbelly of suburban life. Not for the sake of entertainment, but for the sake of exposure. This movie reminded me a lot of a William Inge play. An expose more-so than a side show. I loved it much more than I expected to.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

No Down Payment

Filming Locations:

15281 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$995,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Wald Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1