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      By Love Possessed

      Released Jul 19, 1961 1h 55m Romance List
      50% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 38% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score After his wife, Clarissa (Barbara Bel Geddes), accuses him of being incapable of love, prominent Massachusetts lawyer Arthur Winner (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) begins a torrid affair with the alcoholic spouse (Lana Turner) of his sexually disabled business partner Julius Penrose (Jason Robards Jr.). Arthur also struggles in his attempts to persuade his wayward son Warren (George Hamilton) to become a lawyer like him -- even though his own career brought him neither fulfillment nor emotional stability. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member I like Susan Kohner and Lana Turner, that is why I watched it. What was suprising was the line "Even tramps can be raped", said by the lawyer Efraim Zimbalist plays. In the early 1960's, the general Idea was that if you were "easy" you have yourself to blame. Great acting by Barbara bel Geddes and Jason Robards. I like melodramas with Lana Turner, but prefer Immitation of life and Madame X better than this film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Well mounted but a rather tepid soaper about Lana Turner having an affair with her impatient husband's law partner. There's also romantic intrigue with George Hamilton and Susan Kohner, but none of it all that interesting or compelling. This film was directed by John Sturges, who's best know for action/adventure films like "The Magnificent Seven" or "Bad Day at Black Rock" or "The Great Escape" and I'm not sure how well suited he is to these type of material. This type of film seems more suited to Douglas Sirk or Vincente Minnelli and I'm guessing they could have done more with this material and made the type of over-the-top soaper that are wildly entertaining. The film looks great and there is a strong cast that also includes Jason Robards, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Thomas Mitchell, Everett Sloane, Yvonne Graig, Carroll O'Connor, and Barbara Bel Geddes. Elmer Bernstein also gives the film a fine score, but overall this film is rather disappointing considering the talent involved. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member all the characters in "by love possessed" are boring. not a single interesting character to root for. i found myself checking my watch a bunch of times, not just cause i couldn't wait for it to end, but also cause it was more interesting to watch the seconds go by. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Well appointed soaper is enjoyable if you're a fan of the genre but if you want something deep and meaningful this is not the place to look. Latter day Lana is right at home here and is chic and beautifully gowned but isn't really the focus even though she's top billed. Susan Kohner was always an unusual and interesting actress in her brief career but she's saddled with a rather pathetic character, she does what she can with it but her mooning over the selfish git that George Hamilton plays is a head scratcher. Everybody else is as good as they can be within their thinly drawn roles and the whole thing is professionally done but the suds are very thick. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      By Love Possessed

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      Critics Reviews

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      Variety Staff Variety James Gould Couzzen’s thoughtful novel has been reduced to a complex soap opera. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review A.H. Weiler New York Times he power, insight and heart of Mr. Cozzens' By Love Possessed seems to have eluded the scenarist, principals and director of this expertly made but superficial drama. May 9, 2005 Full Review Penelope Gilliatt Observer (UK) The clichés about love and loyalty drag one senseless below the surface like reeds in the Sargasso Sea. Mar 6, 2024 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Aug 14, 2005 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 Superior soap, a touch Sirkian... Sturges's absurdly plush family drama is full of histrionics and clinking decanters. May 24, 2003 Full Review Kevin Hennessey Movieline The movie neatly combines the two pressing questions answered by all Bad Movies We Love of this vintage: What Happens When Animal Passion Rears Its Head In A Small New England Town?, and, Can Lana Be Had? Nov 6, 2001 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis After his wife, Clarissa (Barbara Bel Geddes), accuses him of being incapable of love, prominent Massachusetts lawyer Arthur Winner (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) begins a torrid affair with the alcoholic spouse (Lana Turner) of his sexually disabled business partner Julius Penrose (Jason Robards Jr.). Arthur also struggles in his attempts to persuade his wayward son Warren (George Hamilton) to become a lawyer like him -- even though his own career brought him neither fulfillment nor emotional stability.
      Director
      John Sturges
      Screenwriter
      Charles Schnee, Ketti Frings
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      Mirisch Corporation
      Genre
      Romance
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jul 19, 1961, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 30, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 55m