Lovers & Other Strangers

LOVERS & OTHER STRANGERS (15)

D: Cy Howard

Cinerama / ABC (David Susskind)

US 🇺🇸 1970

104 mins

Comedy

W: Joseph Bologna, David Zelag Goodman & Renee Taylor [based on the play by Joseph Bologna & Renee Taylor]

DP: Andrew Laszlo

Ed: David Bretherton & Sidney Katz

Mus: Fred Karlin

Michael Brandon (Mike Vecchio), Bonnie Bedelia (Susan Henderson), Beatrice Arthur (Bea Vecchio), Richard Castellano (Frank Vecchio), Bob Dishy (Jerry), Harry Guardino (Johnny), Anne Jackson (Kathy), Gig Young (Hal Henderson)

Lovers & Other Strangers is a candid comedy of manners following the events building up to and surrounding the marriage between Mike & Susan, though this bond only highlights the problematic relationships of their own respective families and friends.

It’s a conservative farce for its time, far removed from some of the smuttier sex comedies from the previous decade, and though some of the attitudes and mannerisms feel incredibly dated, the screenplay does feature some witty dialogue, interesting characters and it all breezes along nicely at a mere 104 minutes.  The performances from the ensemble cast are all great, but the two leads are certainly upstaged by both Bea Arthur & Richard Castellano, who hog the spotlight in every scene that they’re in.

The love theme, “For All We Know”, won the Oscar for Best Original Song & became a hit for The Carpenters. 

7/10