A Rage to Live

A Rage to Live, directed by Walter Grauman and released in 1965, is a melodramatic exploration of desire, lust, love, and the battle between respectability and passion. The film is an adaptation of the best-selling 1949 novel of the same name by John O'Hara, bringing to life the characters and drama that enthralled readers across America.

Suzanne Pleshette plays the lead - Grace Caldwell Tate, a beautiful, well-to-do young woman who seems on the surface to have everything anyone could ever want. She's the blueblooded scion of a Pennsylvania family of the dignified old order, embodying the high society elegance of the mid-20th century. Pleshette’s performance is commendable and moving, engrossing the audience in Grace’s turbulent emotional journey.

However, lurking beneath her cool exterior is an intense and vehement passion that becomes an uncontrollable force driving her actions throughout the movie. Grace is noticed for her physical attractiveness, and she yearns for physical relations in return. However, the repercussions of her carnal desires drive the plot, creating a cascade of dramatic events that define the film.

Bradford Dillman and Ben Gazzara share the billing with Pleshette, playing pivotal roles in Grace's life. Dillman perfectly portrays the wealthy, aristocratic, yet naïve Sidney Tate, who falls in love with Grace without full comprehension of the force of her raging passions. On the other side, Gazzara brings to life the thrilling and dangerous character of contractor Jack Hollister, a man fully capable of matching and challenging her intense desires. Their performances create a triangle of love and desire that provides the film’s dramatic backbone.

The story is just as much about the societal expectations and strictures of the time as it is about the characters' inner battles. As Grace navigates her tempestuous feelings and high society's pressure to conform, we can't help but be drawn into the depth and complexity of her struggle. The film skillfully captures this tension, reflecting on societal norms while presenting an enthralling narrative.

The passionate tone of the film finds an ideal backdrop in the cinematography with carefully crafted shots that encapsulate the turbulent emotion. Moreover, the score by Nelson Riddle deftly complements the charged atmosphere, driving the emotional beats of the film forward.

Alongside Pleshette, Dillman, and Gazzara, A Rage to Live boasts a talented supporting cast including Peter Graves, Bethel Leslie, and James Gregory, all of whom bring life to their characters and add secondary narratives that fill out the world of the film. Walter Grauman's direction effectively balances the major and minor plotlines, allowing for a richly layered narrative.

With the screenplay by John T. Kelley and the hand of veteran television and film director Walter Grauman, the story of A Rage to Live is a compelling adaptation that stays close to O'Hara's book. This faithful adaptation is both a strength and a challenge. The daring exploration of sexuality and the frank discussion of desire was groundbreaking for the time of the release. Yet, it also required careful handling to translate to the screen without losing the essence of the original work.

Throughout A Rage to Live, Grace’s character consistently defies the clichés and expectations usually associated with female characters of her time. The film's exploration of the mid-century woman's struggle to balance societal restrictions, personal desire, respectability and passion offers a fascinating view into an era of change. It paints a vivid and emotionally charged picture of this significant historical period, with an unflinching focus on the complexities of human relationships and the constraints imposed by society.

A Rage to Live is a thought-provoking drama, driven by a strong and multifaceted female lead. Its bold examination of desire, lust, and relationships challenges prevailing conventions, making it a piece of cinematic history worth revisiting for enthusiasts of classic 60's cinema. The impressive cast, emotionally charged plot, and the director's skilled interpretation of O'Hara's work blends into a cinematic experience that is equally entertaining and thought-provoking.