MovieChat Forums > Ordinary People (1980) Discussion > The party scene

The party scene

posted 9 years ago by newt_man2003
9 replies | jump to latest

One of the under-appreciated scenes in this movie is the party scene where Calvin gets too drunk and talks about Conrad's therapy to another woman at the party. Before this, however, Redford gives you the sincere impression of being present at the party and eavesdropping on all the conversations. The way he isolates little snippets of conversation here and there, splices together one group singing at the piano juxtaposed to another group listening to a gentleman telling a joke gives a herky-jerky feel to the events consistent with what a party feels like in real life. Also, the subject of conversation and behavior is always polite, banal, and reflective of upper middle class mores. This is Beth's world on display, interrupted only by Calvin's discussion of Conrad's behavioral issues.

This attention to technique and detail was certainly not lost on members of the Academy, who awarded Redford with the Best Director prize for that year. But it gets lost on others who try to make the case that Raging Bull was a technically superior production.

[–] Eyebrows 9 years ago

Out of the directors nominated that year I think Lynch deserved it the most, but I agree with you. Films like Ordinary People have a subtle style of direction to match the tone of the narrative and sometimes people think there's less to it than a more overt style of direction.

I think Scorsese does something quite similar at the society parties in The Age of Innocence.

[–] greycashmere22 8 years ago

In a film full of perfect scenes, the party is one of my favourites. I love how Cal and Beth seem to be dreading it, but as soon as they arrive, it's obvious Beth is in her element. She works the room, gliding from one group to another and joining in or even dominating their conversations, thriving. "Everybody loves Beth" Cal tells Dr Berger later on. It's because she's made (trained from birth probably) for this kind of social interaction within affluent suburbia: the kind of giddy, boozy and yet still sophisticated fun, singing show-tunes around the piano and jovially asking why someone wasn't at the lunch the other day. Everyone knows her and responds to her warmly.

Contrast this with Cal, who probably genuinely doesn't want to be there. We know he doesn't like to leave Conrad alone. But he's making the most of it anyway. His conversations are quieter, and one-on-one. This is most obvious with Annie on the stairs. Annie who is shown, in such brief moments, to be quite lovely. I get the impression with Cal that he really values deeper chats with a person he feels close to, rather than groups where the focus is on whoever is the most charismatic. (I see this also in the scene where he talks to his co-worker "it's like you're not here" and most clearly when he's with Dr Berger and realises he wants to talk about his own feelings).

As soon as Beth hears he's opening up to someone, the facade has cracked and she's no longer in control over how they as a couple appear and behave. I wonder - was she threatened by that someone being another woman? She asserts with her body language when she goes over to them; she's annoyed, but she drapes her arm around him and calls him darling.

The whole party segment is so brilliantly portrayed. In every party I've ever been to, there have been people who own the room and are the life and soul, and there are people who drift off in pairs to have a deeper talk. Either way is fine, but Cal getting in trouble for doing it his way gives the scene so much bite.

[–] daverindone 8 years ago

Same here! I'm close to Cal's age (maybe older!) and Redford just nailed how people of this class act. I'm more the type to hang back in the kitchen (as all good parties end up) just taking it all from a distance. The little pieces, seemingly innocent, give some insight to what Cal and Beth are really about about. You had Beth sort of admonishing someone else for missing a lunch/brunch while ordering another woman to show off her hair. All the while another guy is telling a bad joke (which I personally think is funny), a BMOC guy is going on about his son and a macho factor, another follows someone trying to explain golf to an an uninterested member, rumors of mergers, singing, piano, etc. Cal's confused response to the other guy happily saying he's not taking to him, another guy saying someone from his firm has left - without another job in line all have an ominous tone of bad luck. Even him sitting there on the stairs while Annie innocently asks about Conrad just reeks of authenticity.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 7 years ago

One of the under-appreciated scenes in this movie is the party scene where Calvin gets too drunk and talks about Conrad's therapy to another woman at the party. Before this, however, Redford gives you the sincere impression of being present at the party and eavesdropping on all the conversations. The way he isolates little snippets of conversation here and there, splices together one group singing at the piano juxtaposed to another group listening to a gentleman telling a joke gives a herky-jerky feel to the events consistent with what a party feels like in real life. Also, the subject of conversation and behavior is always polite, banal, and reflective of upper middle class mores. This is Beth's world on display, interrupted only by Calvin's discussion of Conrad's behavioral issues.

This attention to technique and detail was certainly not lost on members of the Academy, who awarded Redford with the Best Director prize for that year. But it gets lost on others who try to make the case that Raging Bull was a technically superior production.

I re-watched the scene just today and couldn't agree with you more. I love too how Beth politely, if firmly, interrupts Cal's conversation with their friend.

[–] LadyDi4476 7 years ago

To me Calvin was never drunk. Maybe he had a drink or two, but he was simply just talking about Conrad's therapy in a casual manner. He never saw it as something embarrassing or shameful. He wanted Conrad to seek more help and was glad he was doing it. Beth saw it as this distasteful vile act that should be kept hidden away and therefore she blamed it on Calvin being drink. Why else would he blurt out such a thing in public?

It's a fabulous scene and it shows brilliantly the characters of Beth and Calvin.

-Di

[–] KMR 7 years ago

Agree with this post, 100%. It's an anthropological glimpse into not only an upper middle class social event, but also into the dynamics of Beth and Calvin's marriage. The more you watch Ordinary People the more you notice these nuanced sequences/moments.

[–] Who (5146) 2 years ago

The scene at the start where they’re at the play is also a hint about the state of their marriage. On stage the actors are playing a middle aged couple reflecting on things they know and don’t know about each after 24 years of marriage. It looks like a trite, boring play but Beth is attentively following it, while Calvin is dozing off.

[–] xanthas (3215) a year ago

I think the play was "Same Time, Next Year" about a couple who've been having an affair one day per year for the last 20+ years. And now I want to go back and watch that scene again!

[–] CalvinJarrett (262) 3 years ago

Loved the party scene too. Done in a very cinema verite kind of way. I got a real kick out of the guy with glasses 'mansplaining' the rules of golf to a clearly uninterested female guest. He says something like, "If a player, his equipment, or [something else] comes in contact with the ball ... ," and the woman heads over to the buffet table completely unwilling to let this dork delay her from getting some of that carved ham (or whatever she had her eye on).