The Group (1966)

In June 1933, eight young women, who are close friends and members of the upper-class group at South Tower College, graduate and start their adult lives. The film documents the years ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Mary McCarthy (novel), Sidney Buchman (screenplay)

Stars:

Candice Bergen, Joan Hackett, Elizabeth Hartman

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Candice Bergen	...	Lakey Eastlake
Joan Hackett	...	Dottie Renfrew Latham
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Priss Hartshorn Crockett
Shirley Knight	...	Polly Andrews Ridgeley
Joanna Pettet	...	Kay Strong Peterson
Mary-Robin Redd	...	Pokey Prothero Beauchamp
Jessica Walter	...	Libby MacAusland
Kathleen Widdoes	...	Helena Davison
James Broderick	...	Dr. James Ridgeley
James Congdon	...	Sloan Crockett
Larry Hagman	...	Harald Peterson
Hal Holbrook	...	Gus Leroy
Richard Mulligan	...	Dick Brown
Robert Emhardt	...	Henry Andrews
Carrie Nye	...	Norine Blake

Storyline

In June 1933, eight young women, who are close friends and members of the upper-class group at South Tower College, graduate and start their adult lives. The film documents the years between their graduation and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe, and shows, in a serialized style, their romances and marriages, their searches for careers or meaning in their lives, their highs and their lows.

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Plot Keywords:

female doctor | f rated | child raising | marriage | playwright | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Group

Filming Locations:

Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Famartists Productions S.A.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Candice Bergen's first film.

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Goofs

When Libby McAusland sits down to lunch at the hospital cafeteria there is spilled coffee in the saucer of her cup. When she picks up the cup in the next shot the spilled coffee is gone.

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Quotes

Harald Peterson: [to Kay] Cooking is a lively art. You make it rather academic and lifeless.

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Connections

Referenced in By Sidney Lumet (2015)

User Reviews

Admittedly, similar to a soap opera in content....

but this film is interesting for the cast, and the time period it depicts. Also the costumes are rather amusing. I have not yet read the book although several reviews have mentioned the time warp factor. Candice Bergen is in an early role as member of an elite group of Vassar graduates. Joan Hackett, Joanna Pettet, Larry Hagman (as her alcoholic husband), Hal Holbrook, James Broderick, Jessica Walter (as swinging single gossip in the NY publishing world), Kathleen Widdoes, Carrie Nye, Elizabeth Hartman and several other notable appearances make for an interesting cast. Some of the dialog will take you back to a different time. The controversy of breast over bottle feeding, Republican vs. FDR Democrat (there are some pretty amusing scenes between Priss (Elizabeth Hartman) and her pediatrician husband, a Republican, who says after her second miscarriage this will give him a bad reputation in the hospital (!). Obviously, the book may be more interesting, and less histrionic. Jessica Walter is very good, and amusing; wish she had done more films in the 80's and 90's (She was great in "Slums of Beverly Hills", with Alan Arkin, as well). I do not watch regular television although several have mentioned she is very good in the Ron Howard comedy "Arrested Development". At any rate, a good escapist film, which I would not completely dismiss as soap opera, since there are skilled actors and some worthwhile dialog. 8/10.