Review of The Happy Ending

Jean Simmons portrays a woman feeling trapped in a routine marriage to John Forsythe as she depends on drink, drugs, and the romanticism of classic movies to keep her sanity. I'll stop there and just say that I found this quite a compelling drama full of cynical humor addressing the personal problems of many middle-aged women feeling restless during the late-'60s concerning their desirability and satisfaction of their lot in life. And many of the supporting roles of the fairer sex like those of Nanette Fabray, Teresa Wright, Tina Louise, and especially Shirley Jones hit the right notes in their respective characterizations. And while those roles of Forsythe, Lloyd Bridges, and Robert (Bobby) Darin seem to be afterthoughts compared to the ladies, they also provide some fine moments when showcased. And I loved the way Michel Legrand's score provides a mix of musical genres at the beginning as they overlap and also his song with Alan and Marilyn Bergman, "What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" being sung during some parts. In summary, Richard Brooks' The Happy Ending is a powerful examination of the way certain women start to feel stifled after a certain age.