Toys in the Attic

Heavy dramatics and a suffocating atmosphere make this a challenge at times. What it has to balance out all the weighty goings on is acting of the highest order. Dean Martin, Yvette Mimieux and Gene Tierney all contribute excellent work but the real fireworks is between Geraldine Page and Wendy Hiller as Dean's sisters.

While Gerry Page has the showier role it's Wendy Hiller who gives the film's best performance. With subdued delivery and subtle looks she conveys a wealth of background into both who she is and the history of the entire family's dynamic. It's a wise choice, if she had fluttered and extrapolated as Page's Carrie does the viewer would never be able to make it past the first five minutes of the film.

One step removed from a Tennessee Williams chamber piece this will be enjoyed most by fans of his work as well as fans of great acting.

Every performance in this haunting film is stellar, including Dean Martin's. Much has been said about him being miscast but I disagree. Despite his being a perennial loser, the character of Julian must be so attractive, charming and fun as a person that he can capture the hearts of fresh young things like Lily and older, more experienced women like his connected and moneyed benefactor alike. Part of Julian's problem is that his personal attractiveness has allowed him to skate through one catastrophic life choice after another while women, most often his older sisters, who also get all giggly at the very thought that he might come swinging through the door any minute, have always been there to bail him out and nurse him back to health.

His child-like and overly animated conversation with Lily's mother is a key indicator here. He is still very much a little boy at this point in the story, yet you can see his irresistible personal charm and attractiveness is also working on his own mother-in-law.

These are qualities that were intrinsic to Dean Martin's real life and his professional persona. And the film camera being as unforgiving as it is in revealing a certain "biology is destiny" truth about a person's look, manner and aura, I don't believe Jason Robards Jr., who created the role on stage and was a fine actor on both stage and screen, would have been able to pull it off in the movie. Yes, Paul Newman could have pulled it off. But so could Dean Martin. His performance is one of the things I enjoy most about watching this as I do every few years on my old TCM DVD-R copy of it (we really need an official DVD/Blu-ray release of this soon). His final scenes with Page and Hiller are standouts. It is thrilling to see Julian's growth into manhood for the first time in his life under these brutal circumstances as Dean Martin portrays him.

This is a dramatic performance that, IMO, surpasses his previous impressive dramatic performances in The Young Lions, Career, Some Came Running and Rio Bravo.

And on the issue of questions about the family resemblance (or lack there of) among the three siblings, I'm not sure that is such a critical oversight of the filmmakers considering the musical chairs heritage elements found elsewhere in the story. Questionable lineage/parentage is an openly discussed factor for at least two other characters. It wouldn't be a stretch to consider the possibility that the three siblings in this old New Orleans family might have been the product of two or more fathers. The two "old maid" sisters are overly conservative and averse to outsiders to an almost neurotic level. Was this the result of a mother who instilled this fear in her daughters in order to atone for her own wild youth? Possible. I just think the question of whether Dean Martin, Wendy Hiller and Geraldine Page look enough alike to be taken for siblings is not much of a distraction and, in its own way under the circumstances of this story, might even add something of value to consider.

As is pointed out in the acclaimed biography of Dean Martin by Nick Tosches, Toys In The Attic was the last serious role that Dino attempted on the big screen. His less than stellar reviews in comparison to Jason Robards, Jr. who did it on the stage probably convinced Martin to stick with what he knew best.

I don't think Dean was all that bad in the part, the problem was he did not have that much to work with. When you think about it the roles he played in Some Came Running and Ada could have been dress rehearsals for Julian Berniers in Toys In The Attic. I just don't think the play itself is up to the standards Lillian Hellman set for herself in The Little Foxes.

In fact the subject matter seems to be more Tennessee Williams than Lillian Hellman. Martin is the younger ne'er do well brother of spinsters Geraldine Page and Wendy Hiller. Page is kind of Blanche Dubois flighty type on the surface, but she really rules the Berniers roost. And she's got a nice incestuous thing for her brother.

Who is now married to Yvette Mimieux, a young, but even mentally younger child like bride. Dino's got a deal cooking with the wife of a big tycoon played by Larry Gates. Years ago he had a fling with his wife Nan Martin, but now they're just seeking to take the big guy for a big score.

On stage the Gates and Martin parts are not played, but talked about. When Lillian Hellman's play was on stage the sisters were played by Maureen Stapleton and Anne Revere. Revere in the part Hiller does won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress. The play ran 463 performances in the 1960-1961 season.

I think if the part Dino had was played by Paul Newman or Montgomery Clift, the film might have been marginally better. But even more so Lillian Hellman was poaching on Tennessee Williams subject matter and she should have kept off the grass.

Lillian Hellman's play "Toys in the Attic" was adapted for the screen in 1963. The story is reminiscent of Williams, as it concerns a southern family with lots of hidden secrets. Dean Martin stars as Julian, a man who's made a career out of losing jobs and money. He returns to the family home in New Orleans with his young bride (Yvette Mimieux) with a plan to make a quick fortune. Martin is ok in this role, and Mimieux plays her part as the naive bride very well. But the reason to see this is the powerful acting of the two ladies who play Julian's sisters. Oscar winners Wendy Hiller (Anna) and Geraldine Page (Carrie) are amazing in this picture. Anna is the more mature, careful sister, while Carrie is emotional and dramatic. Carrie's obsession with Julian is unhealthy, and Anna realizes this. And there is also some conflict with Julian's mother-in-law, and the people he's scheming to make money with. Honestly, unless Ms Hiller or Ms Page is onscreen, then this film bores me. As Carrie, Geraldine Page gave another of her incredible screen performances. From "little girl flirty" to "self righteously indignant", Ms Page doesn't strike a false note once in this picture. Carrie's obsession with her brother causes trouble for everyone else, and in some ways resembles the character Alma that Page played in "Summer and Smoke". As Anna, Wendy Hiller perfectly plays the older sister who's spent years worrying and caring for her siblings, yet all the time knowing what the deep secret is in her family's attic. Gene Tierney is impressive in a small role as Dean Martin's mother-in-law, as is Larry Gates as the vengeful businessman Martin deals with. But despite Dean Martin's top billing, this is a show for the talents of two gifted actresses, with Geraldine Page and Wendy Hiller making the most of this Southern gothic melodrama.

Despite its silly sounding title (which is never explained, by the way), Toys in the Attic is extremely heavy. It'll stick with you for years afterwards, and you probably won't ever want to watch it again. When the main character is so evil, and the actor or actress is so convincing, it makes your skin crawl. And when the performance is that good, chances are he or she will be honored at the Hot Toasty Rag awards. Geraldine Page had to wait until 1985 to receive an Academy Award, but she won a Rag award in 1963.

Geraldine plays a spinster living with her sister, Wendy Hiller. Geraldine takes up all the energy in the room, so much so that no one else can even breathe. Wendy just sits on the sidelines, observes, and tries to quietly prevent any damage from getting done. They both share a love of their baby brother, Dean Martin. Whenever he comes to visit, they're buoyed up for a brief time before his good intentions fall flat and leave them exactly as they were before. Expensive presents often turn out to be borrowed on bad credit. Promises are empty. He comes this time with a new wife in tow, Yvette Mimieux, and lots of money in his pocket. He buys them a refrigerator, fancy clothes, and tickets to a European cruise. Then why aren't they happy?

Lots of reasons, as you'll see if you rent this movie. As the older sister, Wendy has some great expressions as she observes and hopes for the best. Geraldine steals all the spotlight, though, with her frenetic energy and manic emotions. Jealous, cruel, possessive, demanding, and unhinged - it's Geraldine Page at her finest.

At the time of its release, Dean Martin was criticized for his performance; critics went so far as to say he had no business being in such a heavy drama. That was both unkind and not true. He was surprisingly good in this movie, and gallantly, both of his leading ladies came to his defense. Geraldine and Wendy said he was a pleasure to work with, and they were both proud of his performance.