"From The Terrace" is a nice, though long and cliched drama. Like many dramatic films of the late 50s and early 60s, it thrived on issues related to class, family duty, sexual frustration, honesty (most importantly, towards oneself), and wealth and ambition as the literal poison/obstacle to attain true love.
In many ways, while watching this, I found myself comparing it in my mind to other more successful, and perhaps better achieved films of its time like Robson's own "Peyton Place" (1957), Douglas Sirk's "Imitation of Life" (1959) and "All That Heaven Allows" (1955), and one of my personal favourites, the British masterpiece, "Room at the Top" (1959). Firstly, it seemed to me that the film was trying to replicate the aesthetics (in looks, scenery, colour, glamour, and even, music) of other melodramas, particularly Sirk's. Not to diminish Robson as a director at all, but there was something rather uninventive and shallow in his stylistic choices. Even Joanne Woodward (who I hugely admire), as Mary St. John, seemed a bit off in her looks to me - sort of like a bad imitation of Lana Turner. Ultimately, the film failed in its ability to fully grasp me, emotionally speaking.
Secondly, the film felt a bit too long; I even wondered at some point if it had needed some extra editing before its release. However, perhaps the screenplay in itself wasn't too exciting and rich to begin with. This realisation is what led me to compare it to "Room at the Top", as both films dealt with similar themes around young men trying to make something of themselves, and wealth and ambition getting in their way of love and happiness. "Terrace" however, falls quite short of depth and viability that "Top" had, particularly for a 144-min long film.
Don't get me wrong, though. There are very rewarding things in this film. I particularly enjoyed the work of Paul Newman, Ina Balin, and (oh what a joy!) Myrna Loy (even if her appearances in the film are rather brief). There are also a lot of "soapy"/over the top scenes as well, which are not only amusing, but also display the great skill of the cast at immersing themselves in their characters and completely pulling it off. Notably, I highlight Woodward's aptitude for portraying the sexually repressed and slutty nature of Ms. St. John, and I found myself oddly fascinated and attracted to Paul Newman's convincing role as an angry/fearless/hard-working young man (of course, very well-known territory for him).
Do give "From the Terrace" a chance if you like dramatic films from this era, but as I have made it clear above, I don't think it will seduce/move you as much as other similar films of the time. It has an amazing cast, it is well performed, decently executed, but the emotional power that it aims to convey, simply isn't there. Blame it on the lengthy novel that this is based on, the director's stylistic choices, or the film's overall banality, but never on the amazing talented cast.
In many ways, while watching this, I found myself comparing it in my mind to other more successful, and perhaps better achieved films of its time like Robson's own "Peyton Place" (1957), Douglas Sirk's "Imitation of Life" (1959) and "All That Heaven Allows" (1955), and one of my personal favourites, the British masterpiece, "Room at the Top" (1959). Firstly, it seemed to me that the film was trying to replicate the aesthetics (in looks, scenery, colour, glamour, and even, music) of other melodramas, particularly Sirk's. Not to diminish Robson as a director at all, but there was something rather uninventive and shallow in his stylistic choices. Even Joanne Woodward (who I hugely admire), as Mary St. John, seemed a bit off in her looks to me - sort of like a bad imitation of Lana Turner. Ultimately, the film failed in its ability to fully grasp me, emotionally speaking.
Secondly, the film felt a bit too long; I even wondered at some point if it had needed some extra editing before its release. However, perhaps the screenplay in itself wasn't too exciting and rich to begin with. This realisation is what led me to compare it to "Room at the Top", as both films dealt with similar themes around young men trying to make something of themselves, and wealth and ambition getting in their way of love and happiness. "Terrace" however, falls quite short of depth and viability that "Top" had, particularly for a 144-min long film.
Don't get me wrong, though. There are very rewarding things in this film. I particularly enjoyed the work of Paul Newman, Ina Balin, and (oh what a joy!) Myrna Loy (even if her appearances in the film are rather brief). There are also a lot of "soapy"/over the top scenes as well, which are not only amusing, but also display the great skill of the cast at immersing themselves in their characters and completely pulling it off. Notably, I highlight Woodward's aptitude for portraying the sexually repressed and slutty nature of Ms. St. John, and I found myself oddly fascinated and attracted to Paul Newman's convincing role as an angry/fearless/hard-working young man (of course, very well-known territory for him).
Do give "From the Terrace" a chance if you like dramatic films from this era, but as I have made it clear above, I don't think it will seduce/move you as much as other similar films of the time. It has an amazing cast, it is well performed, decently executed, but the emotional power that it aims to convey, simply isn't there. Blame it on the lengthy novel that this is based on, the director's stylistic choices, or the film's overall banality, but never on the amazing talented cast.