Les liaisons coupables

The eminent director George Cukor did The Chapman Report for Warner Brother. It's based on the book by Irving Wallace, which was inspired by the Kinsey report about sexual activity.

The Warner Brothers actors cast include Efrem Zimbalist as one of the interviewers who works for Mr. Chapman (Andrew Duggan), Ray Danton as a libidinous film director, and Ty Hardin as someone Glynis Johns meets on the beach. According to film lore, George Cukor was impressed enough with Hardin's good looks and physique that he ended up with a showy role in the film. Look for Chad Everett as a water delivery man in the beginning of the film.

But the women are the real stars: Jane Fonda, Glynis Johns, Clare Bloom, and Shelley Winters, all of whom are terrific.

Chapman and Paul Radford (Zimbalist) come to a town to do interviews with women for their statistics on sexual activity. That's all pretty dated. The film focuses on four women: Fonda as a widow of a bad marriage who thinks she's frigid and becomes involved with Radford; Bloom as a nymphomaniac; Winters as a cheating wife; and Johns as a woman who wonders if she's getting enough from her marriage, which seems happy enough. She's the comic relief, and she's a blast.

The best scene in the film occurs when Johns goes to Hardin's place to pose nude for her, with the idea of seducing him. Fonda, Bloom, and Johns are all gorgeous. Winters by this time was doing the more housefrau type of role. She's excellent as a desperately unhappy woman involved in an illicit affair with Danton.

This is the '60s idea of an adult film so everything is talked around, in half sentences, or shown as a fadeout. The only one who takes his clothes off is Hardin.

It's trash, but it's high-class trash and one does become involved with the characters.

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.

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.

I think sone viewers will be offended by the archaic views of women's sexuality and putting them into categories. Why bother. It was trash 60 years ago. Fun trash if you view it as such. Have fun with it. Whether you are male or female, which character do you identify with?

Clair Bloom the nymphomaniac Jane Fonda FRIGID Shelley Winters the cheater Glynis Johns, obsessed with a Himbo

Enjoy! Sometimes you can find a copy on YouTube.

Daryl Zanuck and his son Richard Zanuck left 20th Century Fox and produced this film at Warner Bros. For the elder Zanuck it was a return to the studio he gained fame under Jack L. Warner.

I read that the Zanuck's cast the female leads while the film was in development at 20th Century Fox. Cast are Jane Fonda, Claire Bloom, Glynis Johns, and Shelley Winters the film is an adult expose of the morals of the 4 women the aforementioned stars portray. Lifting the film from the "B" Category is the fact legendary director George Cukor directed this film and Cukor's style and emphasis on Art Direction are obvious. George Cukor cast Warner Bros. stars Ty Hardin, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, and Ray Danton to be the male leads; Chad Everett has a small role. George Cukor is said to have been overwhelmed with Ty Hardin and threw much of the picture to that Warner Bros. star. Of all the players both male and female, it is Mr.Hardin who is presented most scantily clad. For an early 60's film Ty Hardin is showcased in brief bathing suit. Ms. Fonda known for her intelligent performances shines in this film, and I never recalled Glynis Johns-she of the unique voice-to be very attractive but in this film Ms. Johns is drop dead gorgeous. Glynis Johns scenes with Ty Hardin are the best in the film. George Cukor would remain at Warner Bros and direct My Fair Lady and win that long sought Oscar.

PS For all of Cukor's direction of Ty Hardin, the Men never worked together after this film.