MovieChat Forums > The Caretakers (1963) Discussion > Sugar-coated fluff

Sugar-coated fluff

posted 17 years ago by Rand-o
6 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this film for the first time last night (on TCM) and thought it was very poorly done. Robert Stack and Joan Crawford practically phoned in their respective performances, while Polly Bergen gave a more credible performance as a woman driven to the edge after losing a child. Janis Paige was simply over-the-top.

Another thing about the film: all the women inmates - Bergen included - were perfectly made-up and coiffed in every scene. And the state mental hospital was unrealistically presented in that it was clean, well-run and had enough doctors and nurses to properly care for all the patients. Care for them more-than-adequately, which is simply not reality when it comes to state run institutions - even, I'm sure - in the early 1960's.

We're desperate, get used to it. It's kiss or kill...

[–] OhmsLaw 17 years ago

For such a well-run institution,there were too many scenes of a lack of supervision-like on the psychotic men's ward,that Bergen easily slipped into.

Not to mention all the good looking doctors and gorgeous nurses.

[–] hilljayne 17 years ago

I couldn't get over the big lashes, perfectly ironed outfits, and the wonderful make up.........on the PATIENTS. I guess their make up artists came to the mental institution every morning before therapy.

Professional Jayne Mansfield fanatic/lover™ since 1980.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rachelpendle25 14 years ago

I am watching this right now. I agree with a lot of what your saying especially that Polly Bergen is very good, but when she breaks down in group therapy and brings her hands to her face all I could think about was her perfectly manicured nails.

[–] Devinm1978 14 years ago

Lorna (Bergen's character) explains to her husband when he visits that one of the fellow patients was a hairdresser before she was admitted to the hospital, and that this woman "experiments" on them by doing their hair. I don't think it's such a stretch that perhaps the woman also does their nails, makeup, etc.

[–] lilypad183 12 years ago

"I don't think it's such a stretch that perhaps the woman also does their nails, makeup, etc."

devinm,
i do think it's a stretch because they wouldn't have been allowed to have access to cosmetics, nail files, hair spray, etc. since they are potentially dangerous.