Strangers When We Meet (1960 Richard Quine)

An unexciting, uncinematic romantic tangle drama, but I like it a lot. Story of affair is given modern, adult feel as Kim Novak's husband doesn't seem very interested in her (we wonder if he is a closet gay) and Kirk Douglas's wife (Barbara Rush - Peyton Place, Bigger Than Life) is pushy. Story involves relationship between writer Ernie Kovacs and architect Douglas and the construction of a house, while innocent-seeming neighbour Walter Matthau starts behaving in a most unpleasant manner.

The always fabulous Novak is easy to understimate until you see her in a variety of different roles. Here she is, beautifully lit by Charles Lang in Eastmancolor:

 

Evan Hunter (The Birds) wrote it. Charles Duning's music is on the border of schmaltzy. Edited by that Charles Nelson again.

Shot it appears mainly on location.

"I get home from work angry" is a telling line....

Funny that film features Kim Novak, Nancy Kovack and Ernie Kovacs, making it I think the most Novak-Kovak film ever! Also led to this amusing exchange:

Q: Thanks for putting the pillow cases on.
Me: Stop talking about Kim Novak's bra.

Funny review from 26 May 2008: 'Mature and well-paced, like a stilton rolling down a hill'.