Based on Penelope Mortimer's novel, perhaps about her relationship with her husband John, adapted by Harold Pinter, whose slightly absurd approach suits the material well. Example: scene between husband and wife about a young woman who's staying with them:
JO . The children said she fainted yesterday.
JAKE . I don't know. Did she ?
JO . They said you caught her.
JAKE . Me ?
JO . Yes.
JAKE . Why would I catch her ?
JO. To stop her . . . banging her head on the .
JAKE. What head ? What are you talking about ?
JO . Did you catch her when she fainted?
JAKE (a shout). How do I know ?
And people who repeat themselves - James Mason's oily man who tells everyone exactly the same thing about himself, or Jo's mum's repetitions. (It's a very good screenplay, actually, worth reading - it's in Pinter's 'Five Screenplays' and others.)
Jo, by the way is brilliantly played by Anne Bancroft, a woman on her third husband who cannot stop having children, suspicious he is having affairs. He is Peter Finch, and it's a well acted film, Bancroft's depression making it not that easy to watch, brilliantly photographed by Oswald Morris (winning BAFTA).
Jim Clark's editing is noticeable, especially in angry fight between the couple; and there's that famous track across a room they decided to reverse, giving the effect of the smoke going back into the cigarette!
Features some truly obnoxious people, such as Yootha Joyce's nutter in hair salon. The children, as you'd expect from Clayton, appear entirely natural. Early appearance from Maggie Smith.
Loved Bancroft's outburst to psychiatrist. "Why are you going to Tenerife!"
Music by Georges Delerue. Good sound.
Filmed in Turville, and at Jim's house in Bourne End, and St Peter's Square Hammersmith (now a much desired location).
Bancroft and Pinter also won BAFTAs.
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