MovieChat Forums > All That Heaven Allows (1955) Discussion > The culture of country clubs

The culture of country clubs

posted 5 years ago by ajr01 (52)
8 replies | jump to latest

As mentioned before here, the cocktail party was a very amusing scene, in that it showed the hostility of the country club set towards Cary and her new beau Ron, who happened to be a gardener! Aside from the hosts Sara and her husband George, who very kindly told Ron he had known his father, and what a great guy he was! (Also in response to some rude comments, said to him, "Come and have a drink at the bar, you've earned it"). I am not somebody of any great means, so I have little empathy with people in that kind of a world, but I just wonder if the portrayal of these upper class types, is a fair one. In 2009, I was invited by a friend in the USA to the country club in St Louis, Missouri, with some other people. I honestly got the impression that this country club anyway, made visitors, (regardless of their backgrounds) extremely welcome. Certainly my host understood I only had a few dimes to my name, (I was staying with her for a couple of days) but what she has v what I have, was never a part of our friendship, God rest her soul as she has since deceased. Class warfare has always been an interesting topic in stories, but is it fair to say, the average person with a bit of money, is a snob? I am not so sure this is the case. Or could it be that since the 1950's (and presumably the movie is meant to be a reflection of America then) to where we are now, class distinctions are not so emphasized as much?

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17735) 5 years ago

The social hierarchy and adherence to conformity was far more rigid in the 1950s than today. Hell, segregation was still in vogue and WASPs remained leery of Catholics.

[–] ajr01 (52) 5 years ago

Well the last point you make is very interesting, because I happen to be a Catholic! Isn't it ironic that Jane Wyman who had the principal role in the movie as Cary in what could be described as a "waspish set" (although that never comes out in the story) converted to Roman Catholicism in 1953, two years before this? Of course, the election of John F Kennedy as president in 1960, only a few years later was evidence at least in some areas of America (and Kennedy of course was from New England where I believe the movie is set too), that anti Catholicism was on the decline.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17735) 5 years ago

Yeah, the changing social mores is always fascinating.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Indeed.

[–] liscarkat (18373) 5 years ago

Every girlfriend I ever had, all of which were during the 1970s, came from families with more money than my own. From first-hand experience, I can tell you that distinctions and blatant snobbery based solely on money were still the rule rather than the exception at that time.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Indeed. And probably in plenty of circles today.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

In real life, such people would probably be polite to someone's not-one-of-us date, and bitchy behind his or her back.

And openly bitchy to whoever brought him or her.

[–] ajr01 (52) 5 years ago

So your saying when I came to the country club in St Louis, they were polite to my face, but after I left, I was the butt of some commentary! Fair enough, life often seems to go down that path. But remember my hostess (a member of the club) let me stay in her home for a couple of days, so I take it I was there on approval.