A very gloomy Hal Wallis production based on the play by William Inge. The focus being on a couple of less glamorous people; Doc Delanely(Burt Lancaster) is a recovering alcoholic sharing a mundane life with his frumpy and unkempt wife Lola(Shirley Booth), who lives in anticipation of her runaway little puppy Sheba returning home. She also holds herself guilty for their troubled wedding twenty years ago. When Lola rents out a room to an attractive college student Marie(Terry Moore) Doc becomes bothered by her youth and her activities with a boyfriend(Richard Jaeckel).
The household already in stress changes its dynamic and the emotional disturbance causes Doc to wobble off the road of sobriety. Lola, precariously needy and a bit backward, all but completely comes unhinged. Doc and Lola in the need of each other suffer their nagging feelings of failure. This movie still packs a wallop. The characters draw you in rather quickly then hang your emotions out to dry. The role earned Booth an Oscar. Lancaster seems rather young for the role, but believable as Doc. Also in the cast: Philip Ober, Edwin Max and Walter Kelley.
The household already in stress changes its dynamic and the emotional disturbance causes Doc to wobble off the road of sobriety. Lola, precariously needy and a bit backward, all but completely comes unhinged. Doc and Lola in the need of each other suffer their nagging feelings of failure. This movie still packs a wallop. The characters draw you in rather quickly then hang your emotions out to dry. The role earned Booth an Oscar. Lancaster seems rather young for the role, but believable as Doc. Also in the cast: Philip Ober, Edwin Max and Walter Kelley.