Not to over-analyze why it is, but this film is extremely dated. Like a lot of "adult" movies from this era, it tackles the dynamics of a male/female relationship with non-stop innuendos about sex. By today's standards of good drama, the lack of candor seems immature, phony, and just plain boring. It's not even fun to mock.
You can tell "Period of Adjustment" was adapted from the stage because the direction is static and the script is nothing more than a 112 min. blabathon. At times it tries to be cutesy. At other times it tries to be serious. A lot of the time it's impossible to tell if it's trying to be one or the other. I found the overall effect to be unnerving at times.
The lead actors are terrible. Each scene drags along with dialogue awash in phony Southern accents. Jane Fonda fluctuates between giddy and obnoxious (the scene in which she's shrieking hysterically while her father's on the phone is unbearable). And Anthony Franciosa chews scenery like it is a bad piece of meat. Holy crap, save the gristle to give to the dog!
By the time it finally stopped, I wondered why "Period of Adjustment" was filmed in the first place. Someone must have thought it would be profitable. After all, it was based on a Tennessee Williams play, whose work was popular in the 50's. Audiences considered him a controversial American writer, important because he dramatized sordid subjects that were usually swept under the rug during the 50's. Today his work just seems like more flabby trash.
You can tell "Period of Adjustment" was adapted from the stage because the direction is static and the script is nothing more than a 112 min. blabathon. At times it tries to be cutesy. At other times it tries to be serious. A lot of the time it's impossible to tell if it's trying to be one or the other. I found the overall effect to be unnerving at times.
The lead actors are terrible. Each scene drags along with dialogue awash in phony Southern accents. Jane Fonda fluctuates between giddy and obnoxious (the scene in which she's shrieking hysterically while her father's on the phone is unbearable). And Anthony Franciosa chews scenery like it is a bad piece of meat. Holy crap, save the gristle to give to the dog!
By the time it finally stopped, I wondered why "Period of Adjustment" was filmed in the first place. Someone must have thought it would be profitable. After all, it was based on a Tennessee Williams play, whose work was popular in the 50's. Audiences considered him a controversial American writer, important because he dramatized sordid subjects that were usually swept under the rug during the 50's. Today his work just seems like more flabby trash.