The last film from director Robert Rossen, who also adapted the screenplay from J.R. Salamanca's book, concerns the new intern at a mental hospital in Maryland who has an affair with one of his patients, a beautiful but deeply disturbed young woman. Handsomely shot by cinematographer Eugen Schüfftan, the drama is thoughtfully, carefully mounted by Rossen, whose artistic flourishes--and portentous thunder-in-the-distance affects--are too often heavy-handed. The picture ultimately feels dour and ponderous, and some scenes don't work at all (a gathering of the patients in a circle for a session, for instance, comes off looking like an improv class in a dramatic workshop). The strong cast includes Warren Beatty and a hypnotic Jean Seberg in the leads, Kim Hunter (excellent), Peter Fonda and Gene Hackman in support. Kenyon Hopkins supplies the dreamily dangerous background score. The film isn't a success--it doesn't have the courage to tackle the intricacies of its own subject--however select moments (such as Seberg greeting two little boys at the fair) are quietly bracing and intense. **1/2 from ****
Review of Lilith
