MovieChat Forums > Town Without Pity (1961) Discussion > Underrated powerful film with mature sub...

Underrated powerful film with mature subject matter

posted 17 years ago by burt_hamil
9 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this film for time and couldn't believe how great and contoversial this film was. The dealing of the rape of this beautiful german girl by American soldiers and the taut language in the film, so frank for the time, that it blew me away. Kirk Douglas is always amazing and IS one of the greatest actors ever. He took that role as the defense attorney and gave one of his best performances ever. The subject matter is very true even today.

I think the only downfall, and it's a big one, is the relentless playing of Gene Pitney's "Town Without Pity" theme over and over during the scenes. The song is a bit corney for such a serious subject.

It really is a downbeat, undiscovered classic.

[–] mozli 16 years ago

This and another film produced by Kirk's buddy Burt Lancaster both dealt with the troubled youth theme and what do we as "adults" do to help them into adulthood and what we definitely should not do. Yes, Mr. Douglas is one of the best to act in motion pictures. Kudos Kirk!!

[–] ilahilda 15 years ago

I just saw the classic film of TV, I can understand why the subject matter was shocking in the early 60's. I felt bad for the girl. Although that was stupid of her to exercise in the nude wihout closing her curtains, she did not deserved to be raped or slandered, but she should have used a little bit more common sense regarding flaunting herself in front of her neighbors. The soldiers were sick and twisted, they deserved jail time. I enjoy some of the late Gene Pitney's songs. I did not know he was of Italian descent.

[–] zachanscom 10 years ago

blaming the victim. doesn't matter if she was flaunting anything(that was never fully proven, in fact implied to be false by the film's end). it's like that argument rapists and just world fallacy abusers use: "but she was wearing a revealing dress, how could i help myself?"

i think the most morally feeble character in the film was actually the defense lawyer. he was essentially defending people he knew were guilty. i didn't think he suffered enough at the end. he caused the girl's death, then puked, and left town?

see, one of the soldiers that he got off should have paid his daughter a visit.

[–] bcamphome 7 years ago

Agree about the song. It had the wrong tone for a movie of this type and seems like a commercial gesture to pump up young people's interest in this otherwise adult film. (The song was, after all, a huge hit.)

[–] db20db (16206) 5 years ago

I agree with both that it's underrated and has a great performance by Douglas.

[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 5 years ago

I saw this film for the first time yesterday (TCM). I agree it was amazing and infuriating. Today, rape shield laws, the whole issue of investigating the victim’s sexual history would not have been allowed.

[–] db20db (16206) 5 years ago

I lived in Germany as a military brat on two separate occasions during the 50s & 60s. This movie was very realistic to me and even struck a nostalgic chord. I can remember reading occasional accounts of rape involving an American soldier and a German citizen in the Stars & Stripes, the newspaper for U.S. military personnel and their families.

[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 5 years ago

That much have been a fascinating experience. Were you in the service too?

[–] db20db (16206) 5 years ago

Yes, it was, but I didn't fully appreciate the benefits of that lifestyle until later in life.