Wives and Lovers

I'm sure that Van Johnson had hoped this film Wives And Lovers would reignite his career after MGM let him go in the late Fifties as they did to all their contract players. Though he and Janet Leigh who worked together at MGM back in their salad days and they were good in this film together it never had the desired result for Van.

When we meet them Van and Janet and their little girl Claire Wilcox were living in a small apartment where Van can't even find enough garbage cans in the place. He's a writer working on his masterpiece and Leigh is supporting the family as a dental hygienist.

One day their ship comes in and it arrives in the form of Martha Hyer, Van's literary agent. His book is a smash and with all the money they now have they move to Connecticut and more expensive digs. Hyer has all kinds of ambitions for Van both professional and personal. They include a Broadway play with a Hollywood film star Jeremy Slate.

As for Slate he's cut quite a swath in Hollywood bedrooms of the rich and famous and he sets his sights on Leigh when Leigh starts feeling neglected. To make it all even more incestuous Slate and Hyer were once involved.

The code was crumbling with this comedy about proposed infidelity. In a few years Johnson and Leigh would have done the deed with other partners.

Some of the best lines come from new suburban neighbors Shelley Winters and Ray Walston. Ray is Shelley's house guest and Shelley has some sage advice being a member in good standing of the Hollywood first wives club.

Wives And Lovers got an Academy Award nomination for costume design and the literate wit of the script holds up well today. Do love all the trouble Johnson has with his new stereo set. How quaint that looks today.