Perhaps this made compelling drama on the stage, but as a film Lillian Hellman's TOYS IN THE ATTIC is not particularly good. Dean Martin is the ne'er do well brother of southern spinsters Wendy Hiller and Geraldine Page. He arrives home with child-like bride Yvette Mimieux and all hell breaks loose. Martin's involved in some shady real estate dealings along with the wife of a local land baron. Director George Roy Hill moves things along swiftly (it's a very brief movie) but it's simply not very involving and the acting is really odd. Martin is completely out of sync with acting grand dames Page & Hiller and Memieux is just awful. It's tough to tell if it's her or the character, but she's really off-putting. Very studio bound and pretty much devoid of any real style. Gene Tierney has an interesting late career cameo.
Review of Toys in the Attic
