Was anyone else disturbed by the lack of seriousness people treated the rape and wife beating? I swear, the reaction to the rape was more about protecting the college boy, Jeffrey Hunter, getting his feelings hurt than a woman being violated. The neighbors watched Joanne Woodward's character, Leola Boone, get slapped around like they were watching someone blow their nose. I guess they figured it was a "private matter".
In those days women were not encouraged to report rape or any abuse. It was very, very hush-hush. One did not discuss private matters such as alcoholism, affairs, verbal or physical abuse. I watched that movie again after many years and could identify with the households. Being a child born in the sixties, living in a California suburb of white, upper-middle class families, I can remember my parents being at neighbors' homes, drinking and dancing.
shareI'm very happy that so called private matters can now land someone's ass in jail. Where they belong so they can be brutalized by someone else. Then maybe they'll understand that raping or beating someone is no joke.
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either way he still violated her she did not want his advances, i could not stand that Troy guy and he got what he deserved too...
shareYes, it was disturbing. The problem in those days is often they would blame the victim as if she was "asking for it". A charge of rape would involve a trial and the victim would be put on the stand and questioned as if she welcomed or brought this on herself. It was such a terrible ordeal that it served as an example to others not to go forward with calling the police. As for a woman being abused by her husband, that was considered more of a private matter and again justified that she deserved it. Terrible and horrible times, while things have improved in the US now, in some countries this sadly continues to go on.
shareAnytime somebody talks about the good old days of the 50s and how much better things were back then, just remember this.
When the car fell on him and they came running to help, I was hoping they'd both jump on the hood and bounce up and down a few times.
If you're too old to cut the mustard, you can always lick the jar.
spoiler lol!
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Oh, you are MEAN! I was hoping that Jeff Hunter couldn't figure out how to operate the bumper jack. Geez, Troy, sorry. bet that hurts like hell, huh?
shareI agree incompletely. Normally I will revisit old films, but this one was so revolting and depressing because of thosr two scenes have no desire to see it again. I found it very disturbing.
shareI have to disagree. The number one concern was about how she was doing. Yes, women were treated horrifically at that time when those things would happen, but the neighbors had no hesitation in believing and supporting her. SHE is the one who told them to not call the police. Should they have called anyway? It's a matter of opinion, but again, it wasn't as if it was no big deal.
shareIt's odd that cinematic wife-beating and rape (or animal cruelty or racism) repulse us (myself included) more than cinematic murder -- screen murders outnumber rapes by roughly 1000 to 1! We're OK with movie murder! Not with movie rape!
shareThat's because most everybody condemns murder. But not everyone condemns rape. "She was asking for it" is still a rationalization of many rapists, even today.
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You wrote your comment 50 years after the movie was made. Times were different!
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