The Group is a 1966 American ensemble film directed by Sidney Lumet based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Mary McCarthy about the lives of a group of eight female graduates from Vassar from 1933 to 1940.
The cast of this social satire includes Candice Bergen, Joan Hackett, Elizabeth Hartman, Shirley Knight, Jessica Walter, Kathleen Widdoes, and Joanna Pettet. The film also features small roles for Hal Holbrook, Carrie Nye, James Broderick, Larry Hagman and Richard Mulligan. The film touched on controversial topics for its time: free love, contraception, abortion, lesbianism, and mental illness.
Plot
After their days at a prestigious Eastern university, eight devoted women friends go their separate ways. Wealthy and very beautiful Lakey, always regarded as their leader, leaves for Europe to begin a new life on her own.
The domestic lives of the others go mainly awry. Priss marries an overbearing, controlling doctor and has two miscarriages before she gives birth to a son. Kay, who was Lakey's pet and was always less sophisticated and wealthy than the other members of the group, marries an abusive playwright who cheats on her. After an unhappy affair with a cold, sarcastic painter, Dottie gives up a flamboyant lifestyle in Greenwich Village to marry a dull Arizona businessman. Pokey has her hands full with two sets of twins. Helena travels the world, but is unable to find happiness at home, while catty and ambitious Libby becomes successful in the literary world despite lacking depth. Polly has an affair with a married man, but later finds real happiness with a kind doctor.
With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, Lakey then returns home. When the others discover that the woman with her is more than just a traveling companion, they realize that she is a lesbian. After a tragedy that results in the death of Kay in 1940, Lakey joins them at the funeral for one last time together as the group.
Cast
Main
Candice Bergen as Elinor "Lakey" Eastlake
Joan Hackett as Dottie Renfrew Latham
Elizabeth Hartman as Priss Hartshorn Crockett
Shirley Knight as Polly Andrews Ridgeley
Joanna Pettet as Kay Strong Peterson
Mary-Robin Redd as Mary "Pokey" Prothero Beauchamp
Jessica Walter as Libby MacAusland
Kathleen Widdoes as Helena Davison
James Broderick as Dr. James "Jim" Ridgeley
James Congdon as Sloan Crockett
Larry Hagman as Harald Peterson
Hal Holbrook as Gus Leroy
Richard Mulligan as Dick Brown
Robert Emhardt as Henry Andrews
Carrie Nye as Norine Blake
Supporting
Philippa Bevans as Mrs. Hartshorn
Leta Bonynge as Mrs. Prothero
Marion Brash as Radio Man's Wife
Sarah Burton as Mrs. Davison
Flora Campbell as Mrs. MacAusland
Bruno Di Cosmi as Nils
Leora Dana as Mrs. Renfrew
Bill Fletcher as Bill, the Actor
George Gaynes as Brook Latham
Martha Greenhouse as Mrs. Bergler
Russell Hardie as Mr. Davison
Vince Harding as Mr. Eastlake
Doreen Lang as Nurse Swenson
Chet London as Radio Man
Baruch Lumet as Mr. Schneider
John O'Leary as Put Blake
Hildy Parks as Nurse Catherine
Lidia Prochnicka as The Baroness
Polly Rowles as Mrs. Andrews
Douglas Rutherford as Mr. Prothero
Truman Smith as Mr. Bergler
Loretta White as Mrs. Eastlake
Cameo appearance/Uncredited
Arthur Anderson as Pokey's husband John Beauchamp
Ron Charles as Dr. Jones
Richard Graham as Rev. Garland
Edward Holmes as Mr. MacAusland
Brian Sands as Steven Crockett (aged 4)
Music
Songs used: Landlord, Fill the Flowing Bowl, traditional. The Cannibal King, traditional. Liebeslieder-Walzer (Wie des Abends schöne Röte, Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft), Johannes Brahms Come, Ye Sons of Art!, Henry Purcell
Release
The film grossed $6 million at the box office, earning $3 million in US theatrical rentals. It was the 25th highest-grossing film of 1966.
Home media
The Group was released to DVD by MGM Home Video on January 15, 2011, via the MGM Choice Collection as a Region 1 manufacture-on-demand DVD.