Toys in the Attic (1963)

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The first must-see film of the year.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Lillian Hellman wrote some amazingly raw films about screwed up Southern families. She was, in many ways, like a female version of Tennessee Williams--with stories having many of the same themes and even some of the stories set in the same locales--such as Louisiana. Several of her plays went on to become movie classics--the most famous of which was Bette Davis' splendid "Little Foxes". Others, such as "Toys in the Attic" didn't exactly become classics--but they are worth seeing. My advice with this movie, however, is that you force yourself to keep watching. The first portion isn't particularly distinguished and the craziness all begins later in the movie.The story begins with Julian (Dean Martin) working on some business deal. When he and his wife, Lily (Yvette Mimieux) arrive back to see their families in Louisiana, things sound great. Julian has announced that one of his deals went through and he is now rich. He lavishes gifts on his two spinster sisters (Geraldine Page and Wendy Hiller). During this phase of the film, Page's character is REALLY, REALLY annoying. She talks non-stop and the tone of her voice could incite murder!! My advice is to grit your teeth and stick with it--all sorts of nasty craziness is to follow! What? Well, see the film for yourself.The film is NOT perfect--and it's obvious when you see an Italian-American (Martin) playing the brother. The casting just didn't make much sense, though his acting was just fine in the film. As I mentioned above, Page's acting also seemed to be a bit too much at times. But, the story is golden if you keep watching. Don't believe me--see it for yourself! It gets pretty icky!

Perhaps this made compelling drama on the stage, but as a film Lillian Hellman's TOYS IN THE ATTIC is not particularly good. Dean Martin is the ne'er do well brother of southern spinsters Wendy Hiller and Geraldine Page. He arrives home with child-like bride Yvette Mimieux and all hell breaks loose. Martin's involved in some shady real estate dealings along with the wife of a local land baron. Director George Roy Hill moves things along swiftly (it's a very brief movie) but it's simply not very involving and the acting is really odd. Martin is completely out of sync with acting grand dames Page & Hiller and Memieux is just awful. It's tough to tell if it's her or the character, but she's really off-putting. Very studio bound and pretty much devoid of any real style. Gene Tierney has an interesting late career cameo.

Lillian Hellman may be the most overrated playwright of her era. For every interesting or provocative thought, there's a ton of symbolic cabbage and sticky milieu to wade through. This too-handsome filming of her play stars Geraldine Page and Wendy Hiller as unmarried sisters living in New Orleans welcoming home their ne'er-do-well brother, who arrives bearing gifts and ill-gotten cash. It's an overheated piece of would be-Gothic melodrama, given a luxurious sheen and a swooning, romantic score (both incongruous to the material at hand). Well-cast Hiller and Page are excellent, trading niceties which quickly turn to hurtful revelations and stinging truths, but Dean Martin seems out of place as their beloved sibling. Working very hard in a part which might have been perfect for George Hamilton, Martin brings with him too much charismatic star-baggage to the already-phony surroundings. George Roy Hill directs poorly, indifferently, and the opening scenes are so confusing that patience and interest are both enormously tried even before Hill gets to the second act. ** from ****

For starters, Yvette Mimieux is terribly miscast as Dean Martin's not-too-bright wife. The sex kitten has more than she can contend with up against such pros as Geraldine Page and Dame Wendy Hiller.Dean Martin most likely landed the role of the brother of the two acting legends because of his phenomenal performance five years before in "Some Came Running." Problem is that "Running" was a far better film.Geraldine Page steals the film as Carrie, another great spinster role for the emotionally charged actress. Both she and sister, Anne, have been tending to the needs of their chronic failure brother for years. With dreams of selling the house and going off to Europe, the two spinsters live in a dream world. It is Anne who eventually comes out of the dream and sees for herself what a vicious character Page can be. Page is domineering and so full of herself.What exactly was the business enterprise of Larry Gates with Martin? We do know that Martin had a thing going with the wife of Gates.