The Group (1966)

After graduating from a prestigious Eastern university, eight devoted women friends go their separate ways: one leaves for Europe, while the others experience troubled relationships. Sadly, they get to meet one last time as a group.

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
Joan Hackett	...	Dottie
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Priss
Shirley Knight	...	Polly
Joanna Pettet	...	Kay
Mary-Robin Redd	...	Pokey
Jessica Walter	...	Libby
Kathleen Widdoes	...	Helena
James Broderick	...	Dr. Ridgeley
James Congdon	...	Sloan Crockett
Larry Hagman	...	Harald Peterson
Hal Holbrook	...	Gus Leroy
Richard Mulligan	...	Dick Brown
Robert Emhardt	...	Mr. Andrews
Carrie Nye	...	Norine

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 | child raising | marriage | playwright | artist | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Hackett (Dottie Renfrew Latham) and Richard Mulligan (Dick Brown) were married in real life from 1966 to 1973.

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Goofs

When one of the characters falls to her death from a hotel window on the 20th floor, the group must plan her funeral. One of them asks if there is to be an "open casket." If someone plummeted to their death from that height, the damage to their remains would be severe enough that displaying the corpse would not be a realistic option.

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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 The Facts of Life: Graduation: Part 2 (1983)

User Reviews

Wonderful Entertainment!

Widescreen, Technicolor and the best round up of girls since "The Women". What more could you ask? All the girls are great, but Jessica Walter is outstanding as she changes from self-assured sexy-romantic to a gossiping sexually repressed Bitch! No one else at that time could have played that part so beautifully. The movie addresses some women's issues that were not commonly discussed back in the 60's. Abuse, mental illness, pregnancy, drugs. Candice Bergen, Shirley Knight, Elizabeth Hartman, these are all stage trained actresses, and the lovely Joan Hackett who died much too soon but while she was here always gave a top notch performance. Script/dialogue, camera work, all first class.

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

Runtime:

150 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1