Vincent (Warren Beatty) is a vaguely troubled Korean War vet who seems to have trouble fitting back into society. He has returned to his small hometown in Maryland where his grandmother still lives, and where his mother committed suicide some years ago. At odds, he applies for a job as an occupational therapist at Poplar Lodge, a local mental institution where the head administrator, Dr. Brice (Kim Hunter), is impressed enough with Vincent to train and hire him. The grounds are very open and most of the patients are fairly calm; Brice tells Vincent that Poplar Lodge is largely a place for wealthy families to send problem relatives, and that many of them are people who are just too "fine," too sensitive, for real life. Vincent soon becomes caught up in the lives of two young inmates: lovely Lilith (Jean Seberg), who spends most of her time by choice in isolation, and gentle Stephen (Peter Fonda) who develops a liking for Lilith, as does Vincent. Lilith comes out of her shell a bit, and Vincent gets permission to take her and Stephen for outings. Though she flirts a bit with Stephen, it's Vincent whom Lilith sleeps with, though Vincent is upset to notice that Lilith is on the verge of inappropriate behavior with a young boy on one of their outings. Though I don't think the word "nymphomaniac" is ever used, that is clearly how we're supposed to think of her, despite her innocent and placid demeanor. If you look at Poplar Lodge as Edenic, you can take Vincent's affair with Lilith as the act that destroys their paradise, and indeed sad or tragic endings overtake the central trio of characters.
In an era when psychological issues were more open to being examined in Hollywood films, this feels almost like a step backwards. The black & white cinematography makes some of the scenes look vague and misty, as are the issues presented, few of which are discussed openly. In addition to suicide and impulsive sexual behavior, incest, homosexuality, and adultery are brought up or hinted at. The director, Robert Rossen, was a Hollywood pro whose previous picture The Hustler was nominated for several Oscars, but this has the look and feel of an indie movie, for better or worse. Perhaps because of the potentially edgy subject matter, the acting is mostly low-key. That works for Jean Seberg as the title character, kept mostly indistinct, and even for Peter Fonda, perhaps the most sympathetic character here. But Beatty has the same passive presence, leaving us with three lead characters who seem barely formed. More interesting are members of the supporting cast. Kim Stanley's Dr. Brice doesn’t always act logically, but she does get to build a presence, as does James Patterson as another doctor. Jessica Walter (as Beatty's old flame) and Gene Hackman (as her husband) are standouts even though they only get one short scene, and Anne Meacham is fine in a similarly limited role as an older, higher class patient. The pace is a bit sluggish, and the climax a bit incoherent, with an unsurprising final shot. I started this film a few weeks ago and gave up 20 minutes in, but I was egged on by a film buff friend to finish it. I did and I'm not sorry, but I don't think that I'd egg anyone on to watch it. Pictured are Fonda and Seberg. [Criterion Channel]
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