''By Love Possessed'' is a 1961 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

distributed by

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stud ...

. The movie was directed by

John Sturges John Eliot Sturges (; January 3, 1910 – August 18, 1992) was an American film director. His films include ''Bad Day at Black Rock'' (1955), '' Gunfight at the O.K. Corral'' (1957), '' The Magnificent Seven'' (1960), '' The Great Escape'' (19 ...

, and written by Charles Schnee, based on the novel by

James Gould Cozzens James Gould Cozzens (August 19, 1903 – August 9, 1978) was a Pulitzer prize-winning American writer whose work enjoyed an unusual degree of popular success and critical acclaim for more than three decades. His 1949 Pulitzer win was for the WWI ...

Lana Turner Lana Turner ( ; born Julia Jean Turner; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized pe ...

Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (November 30, 1918 – May 2, 2014) was an American actor known for his starring roles in the television series ''77 Sunset Strip'' and ''The F.B.I.'' He is also known as recurring character "Dandy Jim Buckley" in the se ...

, Jason Robards Jr., George Hamilton and Susan Kohner head the cast. Hamilton called it "an Ivy League '' Peyton Place''".George Hamilton & William Stadiem, ''Don't Mind If I Do'', Simon & Schuster 2008 p 148 The supporting cast features Thomas Mitchell, Barbara Bel Geddes, Everett Sloane,

Carroll O'Connor John Carroll O'Connor (August 2, 1924 – June 21, 2001) was an American actor, producer, and director whose television career spanned over four decades. He became a lifelong member of the Actors Studio in 1971. O'Connor found widespread fame a ...

, and

Jean Willes Jean Willes (born Jean Donahue; April 15, 1923 – January 3, 1989) was an American film and television actress. She appeared in approximately 65 films in her 38-year career. Early years Willes was born Jean Donahue In Los Angeles. She spent pa ...

. The theme song is performed by

Vic Damone Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018) was an American traditional pop and big band singer and actor. He was best known for his performances of songs such as the number one hit "You're Breaking My Heart", and ...

. This was director Sturges' first film project after his Western classic, ''The Magnificent Seven''. On July 19, 1961, this became the first in-flight movie to be shown on a regular basis on a scheduled airline flight, by Trans World Airlines#1960s, Trans World Airlines to its first-class passengers.

Plot

In a Massachusetts law firm, Arthur Winner, Julius Penrose and Noah Tuttle are equal partners. Each has an ongoing problem in his personal life. Clarissa, married to Arthur, feels unloved. Marjorie feels unsatisfied because her husband, Julius, has been crippled and depressed since a car crash and believes his wife no longer finds him desirable. This leads to a romantic affair between Marjorie and Arthur. Warren Winner, irresponsible son of Arthur, is expected to marry Noah's wealthy ward, Helen Detweiler, but he is not in love with her. Warren instead loses himself in a fling with a prostitute, Veronica Kovacs, who angrily reacts to his ending their relationship by accusing him of rape. Warren flees rather than face the charges in court. Helen is so distraught, she commits suicide. The firm has represented Helen's financial affairs, but when Arthur looks into it, he discovers that Noah has embezzled $60,000 from Helen's account (although for a worthy cause: to keep the town's struggling streetcar operation afloat). One by one, everyone is confronted about owing up to their responsibilities, beginning with Warren, who on Marjorie's advice turns himself in to the law to fight the accusations against him.

Cast

as Marjorie Penrose *

as Arthur Winner * Jason Robards Jr. as Julius Penrose * George Hamilton as Warren Winner * Susan Kohner as Helen Detweiler * Thomas Mitchell as Noah Tuttle * Barbara Bel Geddes as Clarissa Winner * Everett Sloane as Dr. Reggie Shaw *Yvonne Craig as Veronica Kovacs *Gilbert Green (actor), Gilbert Green as Mr. Woolf *Frank Maxwell as Jerry Brophy *

as Bernie Breck *

as Junie McCarthy

References

External links

* * * 1961 films 1961 romantic drama films American romantic drama films 1960s English-language films Films about adultery in the United States Films scored by Elmer Bernstein Films based on American novels Films directed by John Sturges Films produced by Walter Mirisch Films set in Massachusetts United Artists films 1960s American films {{1960s-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links