Strangers When We Meet (1960)
Overview
A suburban architect loves his wife but is bored with his marriage and with his work, so he takes up with the neglected, married beauty who lives down the street.
Cast
Kirk Douglas
Larry Coe
Kim Novak
Margaret 'Maggie' Gault
Barbara Rush
Eve Coe
Ernie Kovacs
Roger Altar
Walter Matthau
Felix Anders
Virginia Bruce
Mrs. Wagner
John Bryant
Ken Gault
Kent Smith
Stanley Baxter
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When successful architect "Larry" (Kirk Douglas) meets bored "Maggie" (Kim Novak) at the school bus stop after dropping off their respective children, you can just tell that things are going to start smouldering! He's married to "Eve" (Barbara Rush) and she to prominent writer "Roger" (Ernie Kovacks) and it's the latter man who has employed the former to design and build a new hilltop home for his family. So far, it's all just a routine family melodrama that, for my money anyway, Douglas brings very little to. Luckily for us, though, we also have the presence of the rather odious neighbour "Felix" (Walter Matthau) who says very little but sees everything. Of course, the grass is always greener and the cheating couple gradually realise that though there is certainly gratification to be had, happiness is a completely different thing. Their secret, shallow, lives have brought them a sort of love, but it's hollow and unsustainable and the innocent amongst them start to pay the price for their infidelities. There is a degree of chemistry between Douglas and Novak, Ernie Novaks is also quite effective but it's really down to Matthau who features sparingly, but very potently, with even an hint of menace towards the end. It ends with more of a whimper than a bang, which I felt was a bit underwhelming after two hours of a rather stringy score and lots of coastal cinematography. I might have enjoyed this more had Douglas been replaced by a stronger, more characterful actor- but as it is, it's still quite an interesting take on the ramifications of the so called "easy win".
