From the Terrace (1960)

Wanted it all, when he got it, the price was too high and the reward empty.

This is one of my all-time favorites of Paul Newman (Alfred Eaton) and Joanne Woodward (Mary St. John). They play off each other magnificantly, she the upper crust, wealthy, spoiled socialite, he the forgotten son of a steel mill owner with a desire to prove his worth in money and business success because his father deprived him of self-worth and love. Newman does a great job early in the movie of communicating the pain of knowing his father loved his brother most and never really loved him. He was driven to prove he didn't need his father, he would show him he was worth something, his goal was to achieve great business success, be richer and more successful than his father ever was. The MacHardie character (head of the Wall Street firm of J.D. MacHardie) portrays the businessman who has put the success and the reputation of the company ahead of family, personal relationships, and success in one's personal life. Nothing matters more than the company--it's first, last, and foremost always, all else is to be sacrificed for the sake of the company. His comment about marriage to an adulterous wife is less the sin than divorce because divorce breaks a contract and breaking a contract is condemnation on the reputation of the company. As MacHardie said, adultery is just between man and wife and God, this so exemplifies the all-encompassing appetite of big business--globbling up people and lives and using them up, nothing matters more than the company, lives are lived based on what's best for the company.

The tenderness between Newman (Alfred now David to Natalie) and Balin (Natalie)is touching, it's love at first sight for her, even though she denies it. Alfred sees the warmth and tenderness of a loving close family with Natalie and her father/mother; he has never experienced this family bond--not in his own family or in his marraige. The relationship is wrong, but Natalie pursues Alfred without the sleazy feeling of an illicit affair. Ina Balin plays this role perfectly--innocent, caring, loving and kind, there is an instant bond between Alfred and Natalie and you feel the pain of their decision to end it but the relationship haunts them both.

Mary meantime has decided her socialite, partying life is just what she likes, and she flouts her affair with her old flame and fiancee in Alfred's face. She's confident Alfred will never give up his career and compromise his business success. Mary and Alfred grow completely apart and Alfred has to choose between his goal of bettering his father or giving it all up for the love of his life.

The music from Elmer Bernstein is beautiful for this movie. And Joanne (Mary) is dressed to the nines--such a contrast in her beautiful dress designs and the simple clothing of Natalie, all pointing to Alfred's stark choice between his high-flying career and love.

There is something special about this movie over others Newman and Woodward have done (however, I do like The Long Hot Summer very much, lots of real romance between Newman and Woodward in that one since they were married just after that movie's release). Newman has other great movies, such as Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and The Verdict, but I have watched From The Terrace many times and enjoy it each time. It's a good one to add to a Newman/Woodward collection. June 20, 2008

From The Terrace

For rail buffs this movie has some fascinating railroad scenes. The opening scene says Philadelphia 1946 . The scene was actually filmed at the Central RR of NJ Jersey City Terminal. There are views of Reading RR steam engine 2124 arriving at Jersey City. This large T-1 steam engine was used on the Reading RR Iron Horse rambles steam fan trips around the time of the filming. The engine was too large to fit through the trainshed at Reading's Philadelphia terminal but it could fit into Jersey City Terminal so this section of the movie was filmed there. The late rail photographer Don Wood was at Jersey City Terminal during the filming and gave me some nice photos of Myrna Loy and Joanne Woodward posed on front of Reading Steam engine 2124 and the two actresses meeting with Reading RR PR people. There are some other train scenes throughout the movie with a different locomotive at different locations. I like the movie it reminded me of the classic movie The Best Years of Our Lives. May 4, 2008

Good Stuff!

Though I'm sure this was Quite racy in its day, the ideas and ideals expressed are just as relative to today's world and people. What priorties do we set in our own lives? Who suffers from our failures? And are we prepared to accept the consequences of our actions and desicions?

Good stuff! May 7, 2007

Gift for Grandma

My grandmother mentioned that she loves this film. Of course, I had to find it for her. She called me as soon as she received it and said she was watching it that very moment and she couldn't thank me enough. March 30, 2007

Striff

From The Terrace is excellant. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are always great together, but Ina Balin is sexy and very much in love with Paul. Joanne really plays the spoiled wife at her very best, and Paul drops everything for Ina. A good story, will keep you interested from the first glance. (I am a romantic!) This movie was a gift to a friend, she thanked me highly!! January 19, 2007

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