from this film at University of Denver almost 41 years ago when I was a student there. Just saw the film tonight for the very first time in a TCM tribute to her . Turned out to be the very last scene in the film when she walks towards and enters a building on campus. Very touching film, quite melancholy. RIP Jean Simmons.
shareI was watching it too tonight. Caught it in the middle and had to keep with it to the end. I wish I saw the whole thing. She was excellent. I was surprised at the rest of the cast too. An interesting lineup of stars. And Bobby Darin? That was a surprise. That's cool that you saw her shoot a scene from this. And to see the movie 40 years later, that's really neat to have that memory. I met her on steet in NYC once about 10 years ago and she was really nice. She grasped my hand tightly as I told her how much I enjoyed her movies and she said thank you and really meant it. Most stars say it like a robot because they've said it thousands of times, but she was genuine.
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Melancholy, almost depressing film...and probably more true to life than many of us would like to think...particularly for those who grew up at that time...the late '60's...when so many things were changing. Jean Simmons was excellent in the part. It's nice to hear a good story about her. What a beautiful woman.
I DVR'd "The Happy Ending" but watched it last night almost until 1 a.m. The film's script does have a real late 1960's feel to it (especially regarding feminism, or lack of same in this instance), I agree but the look of it (shot by the wonderful cinematographer Conrad L. Hall - a warm-up to "American Beauty" perhaps?) is a classic one. Richard Brooks could have used many more 1960's stylistic excesses, but on the whole did not. It was also poignant that he featured clips from "Casablanca" in the film as he was a friend, and directed, Humphrey Bogart.
Jean Simmons' performance was a wonderful one. What an actress she was!
It was also good to see location shots of Denver, Colorado - I visited there in 1973, not too many years after the film was shot.
Re: Bobby (then Robert) Darin's performance - it was a reminder of why I liked him so much when he went counterculture on us before his demise at a too-young age.