Der Chapman-Report

Vapid, profoundly trashy film, somewhat redeemed by fair performances and glossy production values. Jane Fonda's acting, however, is indeed surprisingly weak; it's hard to believe that the same actress gave such a powerful and moving performance in "The Chase", only four years later. The film is both sleazy and tame; it deals exclusively with the subject of sex, but it is very un-sexy, and never says anything meaningful, either. At least it's painless to watch.

The director was male. The screenplay was co-authored by two men. The story adaption was by two men. The source material was a book written by a male. The producers were two men. The music, cinematography, editing, and makeup were done by men. How many red flags do I have to wave before you get the point? (BTW, this reviewer is a male in his 50s.)

Even the costuming was done by a man. Yes, I'm going there, because it's important. The non-lead males wore boring shirts and ties; but the allegedly sexy, virulent men is another story. Hardin wore shorts that barely covered his manhood. Danton wore shirts and sweaters unbuttoned to the naval. Allen shows up in a plunging V-neck that showcased his chest hair. And Everett wore a tight, tailored work uniform.

This film is drenched with a testosterone-driven point of view. If you don't like those 50s and 60s movies where everything is the woman's fault, you'll want to skip this.

What you ultimately have is the story of four women and their sexual mores and behavior as presented solely by men. Based on the Kinsey Report made famous in the 1950s revolving around sexual behavior amongst its volunteering interviewees, it's ironic that Alfred Kinsey, himself, eventually was accused of having sex with both the female and male volunteers. Even some of his staff were accused. The Kinsey Foundation eventually issued a formal, public apology.

Approach this with the lowest of expectations. That way, maybe you'll find some redeeming quality in it. I did; and it was the performances of the female leads, despite the pathetic, ridiculous script.

almost as good as Janes other 62 release, A walk on the wild side, chapman Report is what passed as an adult film in 1962. Janes storyline is as flat as her acting, and Shelleys is only fair. This is definitely the British Mssrs Bloom and Johns film. Glynis' comic take with Ty Hardin is very hilarious, while the stunningly beautiful, superbly talented Bloom rises above the material, giving an Oscar worthy memorable performance as a nymphomaniac.If you can get this on DVD, and fast forward through Jane's sequences, except for the flashback scene("I'm not! I'm not!) you will have a great picture, with equal amounts of laughter and tears.

The Chapman Report is about sex and how it plays into the life of an average suburban housewife. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is a pollster for the survey, and he meets Jane Fonda, by way of interviewing her and then taking a liking to her. While they look like they make a good couple, they became boring with all their talk. Claire Bloom is interviewed, but she is anything but normal. While I knew that Claire Bloom is an exceptional actress, her plot ultimately disinterested and depressed me, despite the fact she has some Oscar-worthy scenes. Shelley Winters, another good actress, is another housewife. Her plot held some interest for me, as she becomes disloyal to her husband. But I ultimately felt unmoved by her plot and grew tired of it. The only person who really shines in this movie and gives it its only charm and bright spot is Glynis Johns as an artist. She sees Ty Hardin on the beach and is enamored by his body. She befriends him and convinces him to pose for her, but then, when she tells him what she really wants, something happens she didn't expect. At least, not in the way she wanted. If you're a Glynis Johns fan, then you must see this film. If not, don't bother. If you want to learn about sex, buy a book, ask a parent or better yet find a partner. Don't watch this.

A few notes about this film. Apparently, director George Cukor was unhappy with the finished product. The studio (Warner Brothers) and producer (Darryl Zanuck) caved to pressure from the Catholic Legion of Decency and altered the ending in order to provide a morally-correct resolution for the main characters (and audience).

It would certainly be interesting to see a director's cut of this film, or at least a shooting script to get a better idea of what Cukor and Zanuck intended. Probably Zanuck's goal was to create a film where people more openly discussed sex. However, America was not quite ready to do that yet in 1962, and with the Legion of Decency hovering over the scene, it would be nearly impossible.

I do think there are some excellent performances in this film, namely Glynis Johns and Claire Bloom who prove that British actresses often surpass their North American counterparts.