By Love Possessed (film)
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| By Love Possessed | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Sturges |
| Written by | Charles Schnee |
| Based on | By Love Possessed by James Gould Cozzens |
| Produced by | Walter Mirisch |
| Starring | Lana Turner Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Jason Robards George Hamilton |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Edited by | Ferris Webster |
| Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
By Love Possessed is a 1961 American drama film distributed by United Artists. The movie was directed by John Sturges, and written by Charles Schnee,[1] based on the novel by James Gould Cozzens.
Lana Turner, Jason Robards, George Hamilton and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. head the cast. Hamilton called it "an Ivy League Peyton Place".[2]
The theme song is performed by Vic Damone. This was director Sturges' first film project after his Western classic, The Magnificent Seven.
On July 19, 1961, this became the first in-flight movie to be shown on a regular basis on a scheduled airline flight, by Trans World Airlines to its first-class passengers.
Plot[]
In a Massachusetts law firm, Arthur Winner, Julius Penrose and Noah Tuttle are equal partners. Each has an ongoing problem in his personal life.
Clarissa, married to Arthur, feels unloved. Marjorie feels unsatisfied because her husband, Julius, has been impotent since a car crash. This leads to a romantic affair between Marjorie and Arthur.
Warren Winner, irresponsible son of Arthur, is expected to marry Noah's wealthy ward, Helen Detweiler, but he is not in love with her. Warren instead loses himself in a fling with a prostitute, Veronica Kovacs, who angrily reacts to his ending their relationship by accusing him of rape. Warren flees rather than face the charges in court. Helen is so distraught, she commits suicide.
The firm has represented Helen's financial affairs, but when Arthur looks into it, he discovers that Noah has embezzled $60,000 from Helen's account (although for a worthy cause: to keep the town's struggling streetcar operation afloat). One by one, everyone is confronted about owing up to their responsibilities, beginning with Warren, who on Marjorie's advice turns himself in to the law to fight the accusations against him.
Cast[]
- Lana Turner as Marjorie Penrose
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Arthur Winner
- Jason Robards as Julius Penrose
- George Hamilton as Warren Winner
- Susan Kohner as Helen Detweiler
- Thomas Mitchell as Noah Tuttle
- Barbara Bel Geddes as Clarissa Winner
- Everett Sloane as Dr. Reggie Shaw
- Yvonne Craig as Veronica Kovacs
- as Mr. Woolf
- Frank Maxwell as Jerry Brophy
- Carroll O'Connor as Bernie Breck
- Jean Willes as Junie McCarthy
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "By Love Possessed". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ George Hamilton & William Stadiem, Don't Mind If I Do, Simon & Schuster 2008 p 148
External links[]
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- 1961 films
- English-language films
- 1961 drama films
- 1960s romantic drama films
- Adultery in films
- American romantic drama films
- American films
- Films scored by Elmer Bernstein
- Films based on American novels
- Films directed by John Sturges
- Films produced by Walter Mirisch
- Films set in Massachusetts
- United Artists films
- 1960s drama film stubs