A Rage to Live (1965)

A woman's sexual compulsions threaten to destroy her marriage.

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writers:

John T. Kelley (screenplay), John O'Hara (novel)

Stars:

Suzanne Pleshette, Bradford Dillman, Ben Gazzara

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Grace Caldwell Tate
Bradford Dillman	...	Sidney Tate
Ben Gazzara	...	Roger Bannon
Peter Graves	...	Jack Hollister
Bethel Leslie	...	Amy Hollister
Carmen Mathews	...	Emily Caldwell
Linden Chiles	...	Brock Caldwell
James Gregory	...	Dr. O'Brien
Ruth White	...	Mrs. Bannon
Mark Goddard	...	Charlie Jay
Sarah Marshall	...	Connie
George Furth	...	Paul Rutherford
Virginia Christine	...	Emma

Storyline

Grace Caldwell, a young Pennsylvania newspaper heiress living with her widowed mother, has trouble restraining herself when it comes to the amorous attentions of young men. As word starts to spread about her behavior, Grace becomes a major source of heartache for her mother and a big source of concern to her brother, Brock. One evening, at a Christmas party, Grace meets Sidney Tate, a gentleman farmer. They fall in love, and he asks her to marry him. Grace accepts, but only after making it clear that there are some things about her past she's not at all proud of. Sidney is taken aback by Grace's candid admission, but still wants to marry her. Grace promises to be faithful to Sidney; it's a promise she has every intention of keeping, until a former casual acquaintance, Roger Bannon, re-enters her life.

---

Plot Keywords:

nymphomania | hairy chest | bare chested male | cuckold | based on novel | 

---

Taglines:

Take it easy, Grace...! Think of a good lie to tell your husband. Tell him you're late because the car broke down...tell him anything! Even make love to him...after all, you need him more than other men!

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sue Lyon was named in fan magazines as having been hired for a part in this film, but it never came about.

---

Quotes

Grace Caldwell: I thought I loved him, and then I found I could feel the same way about someone else, someone different.
Brock Caldwell: Grace, that isn't love.
Grace Caldwell: No. But it's being wanted and needed and held close. It's almost love.
Brock Caldwell: "Almost love"? You don't have to settle for that.
Grace Caldwell: I'm not settling.
Brock Caldwell: I just don't get this. You talk like a girl who's got nothing else in her life, who nobody cares about ...
Grace Caldwell: No ...
Brock Caldwell: Well, that's the way it sounds --
Grace Caldwell: I don't care how it sounds. When I feel that way, I can't think of anything else. Doesn't ...

---

Soundtracks

Rage To Live
Music by Art Ferrante and Lou Teicher
Lyrics by Noel Sherman
Performed on two pianos by Art Ferrante (as Ferrante) and Lou Teicher (as Teicher)

User Reviews

A lady with a high sex drive and a strong desire for excitement and self-destruction.

Grace (Suzanne Pleshette) is an over-sexed teenage debutante when the story begins...so much so that she's earned quite the reputation. However, when she meets nice-guy Sidney (Bradford Dillman) she forsakes her wicked ways and promises to make him a good wife. Well, this is the case...for a couple years. However, Grace not only has a strong sex drive but a strong drive towards sex destruction. Soon, she begins a purely sexual affair with a neighbor (Ben Gazzara). He wants there to be more to it than that...so she drops him and heads off for her next conquest! Ultimately, however, her wicked ways catch up to her and she finds that great husband, home and baby she's worked for slipping out of her fingers.

This is an enjoyable, albeit sleazy, soap opera. It's the sort of film that must have seemed pretty steamy back in the day, though by modern standards it's relatively tame. Pleshette and the rest of the cast give it their best and it is quite entertaining trash.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1965 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

John O'Hara's A Rage to Live

Filming Locations:

USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rage Productions, The Mirisch Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1