University of Virginia Library

Distinct Images

"Lovers and Other Strangers" is,
inescapably, episodic in nature, and
its strength lies not so much in its
whole as in certain parts. There are
some glorious moments in the film,
poignant flashes of humanity,
distinct images which stand out
above all else.

For instance, the seductive
gleam in Bonnie Bedelia's eyes as
she walks (actually, she seems to
sort of glide) fetchingly toward her
marital bed having decided to start
her honeymoon the night before
the wedding: the straight-forward
way Richard Castellano tells
Joseph Hindy that not being
happy is no reason to get a divorce,
that he himself has not really been
happy in life, only content; the
calm, mature manner in which Gig
Young reassures his scared future
son-in-law and convinces him to go
through with the wedding: the
booming and brassy voice of Anne
Meara as she argues with husband
Harry Guardino about their sex life;
and the pathetic look of despair on
Anne Jackson's face as she sits
alone in a bathroom, beginning to
realize that her lover (Mr. Young)
will never leave his wife for her.

These are small pleasures,
perhaps. But they add up and, in
the end, more than compensate for
the film's weaknesses. "Lovers and
Other Strangers" is not a witty
comedy, nor is it a serious drama.
Rather, it is a little of both - and
given the clean direction of Cy
Howard and the talents of a gifted
cast, the mixture works - not
perfectly, but for the most part,
well enough.

Bonnie Bedelia and Michael Brandon Are "Lovers"