I don't understand why the character of Molly is so APPALLED by her father and Mrs. Hunter divorcing so they can marry each other. She's already admitted in one of her first scenes she knows her mother doesn't love her father or herself, and asks how he possibly could have married her.
So why is she so bent out of shape when he divorces that cold fish, Helen??
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I thought Molly was kinda ungrateful too, when they gave her that cool bedroom. She was lucky to have a caring stepmom. But I can understand her loyalty to her mom, even though her mom did not deserve it.
share It was an odd time --to say the least -- in the way the country liked to project itself. Keep in mind that the period -- late 50's-- of this movie the big deal in the country was whether a Catholic should run for President? Oddly Repressed.
Divorce was a big deal. You couldn't even get one --in some states-- without proof of adultery. So they made an extra big deal out of it in this film which carried on to an almost insane level about everything.
I saw three dusters...inside the dusters were three men, inside the men were three bullets.
Yes, divorce was a huge deal back then. And the scene where Molly is writing a letter to Johnny - the "scandal" at Pine Island was in newspapers, and Molly told Johnny that she was embarrassed that at school people were gossiping and whispering about it.
I felt both her and Johnny's attitude towards Ken and Sylvia got tiresome after a while, but of course at the end of the movie, it's all reconciled.
Ten years later, when I was in grade school, there were a couple of families at my school where the parents were divorced. I didn't know until I was an adult - my Mom knew about them but it was VERY hush hush because of scandal... and that was middle class, small town Jersey.
shareDivorce and adultery should become bigger things, it's almost written off today as an expectation. Children, especially girls, are really traumatized by it. But of course adults don't want to think about that, they got hot pants, male menopause and 'feelings of inadequacy and unfulfillment' so to hell with the minor children.
shareDivorce was a big deal...So they made an extra big deal out of it in this film which carried on to an almost insane level about everything.This made me laugh...so true! I guess this movie isn't subtle about much : )
Good thread! This film was made when the Production Code (Hays Code) was in the process of being phased out -- or was about to be. Molly and Johnny's condemnation of his mother and her father's actions may have been a way of honoring the code. If the "children" were rooting for Ken and Sylvia to get together, the filmmakers may have been concerned about the film being considered as too scandalous by some moviegoes/groups who were still in favor of the code.
I agree with you, though, that Molly's attitude towards Ken and Sylvia didn't seem to entirely add up. On the other hand, perhaps ultimately Molly was devastated by the fact that her parents had to get a divorce. Maybe even she didn't realize how difficult it would be to accept.
I agree, I thought that was out of line.
And Molly asking whether or not Ken and Sylvia "make love" --wasn't that in the papers, duhhhhhhhhhhh???
A nod to the Production Code and the times. I must read this book. The one that Rome Holiday was based on is out of print, dammit. I have read Susan Slade and the 3 Tammy books, though.
I thought Molly was such a butthead, she had such a good relationship with her dad you would think she would have been happy that he found happiness with someone else, even if it did cause a bit of a scandal and embarrassment for her. I mean her dad even got her a mink coat! After a while all she did was complain every chance she got! She seemed like the selfish one! On the other hand Johnny seemed frustrated about the whole situation but he seemed to at least care a little for his mom and respect her, especially when his Dad was trash talking about her.
shareMovie girl: I don't think Molly is a "bitch" as you call her. She is very apalled at her dad and MRs. Hunter because it is shocking to her. Though her mother never seemed to love her dad or herself, Molly had an inate sense of family; wanting to stay together as John had with his parents.
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