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

Troy's television is a 1957 Zenith.

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Quotes

Troy Boone: You better get hep to yourself, mister.

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Connections

References The $64,000 Question (1955)

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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

For grownups

This 20th Century Fox expose of "the good life" in the suburbs wasn't seen by anybody much in 1957, and it's easy to see why: It probes convincingly deep into the less pleasant aspects of this clean, all-white subculture, and suburban moviegoers probably didn't want to see their worst aspects on screen, and urban audiences didn't care. Early Martin Ritt, and typically thorough of him, it explores prejudice, sexism, alcoholism, war veterans with what would now be diagnosed as PTSD, and capitalism's way of trapping young families in debt. The wide-screen black-and-white cinematography is clean and alluring, and all eight principals do well--Sheree North, groomed by 20th to be a threat to Monroe, proves once again that they didn't really give her enough chances to show what she could do. The shiny surfaces and flattering clothes and powerful cars all illustrate that "good life," and show what's wrong with it. And in comprehensively exploring the roots and hypocrisies and effects of racism at the time, it's a good deal braver than many contemporary films.

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