Period of Adjustment

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Period of Adjustment

Released Oct 31, 1962

1h 52m

Comedy

Drama

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71%

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7 Reviews

50%

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100+ Ratings

Veteran George Haverstick (Jim Hutton) meets nurse Isabel (Jane Fonda) while in hospital and soon marries her. However, Isabel is disappointed to learn that George drives a hearse and has booked them a dingy motel for their honeymoon, during which he falls asleep drunk. The next day, the couple visits George's friend Ralph (Tony Franciosa), who originally married Dorothea (Lois Nettleton) for money but now loves her. Dorothea wants to leave Ralph, and the Haversticks try to help him.

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Brenda Davies

Sight & Sound

Adapted by Isobel Lennart and directed by George Roy Hill... Together they have composed a lead-in sequence which fulfils [Tennessee Williams's] intentions and neatly matches his wit.

Mar 17, 2020

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Variety Staff

Variety

Period of Adjustment is lower case Tennessee Williams, but it also illustrates that lower case Williams is superior to the upper case of most modern playwrights.

Mar 26, 2009

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

All in all, it's an appealing mix, even if the shifts in tone seem to unsettle cast and director alike. First-rate performances, though, especially from Fonda, as a wide-eyed Southern belle.

Jun 24, 2006

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TV Guide

If anyone else but Williams had written this stage play, it might have been hailed by everyone.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 22, 2013

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Based on Tennessee Williams first conscious effort to write a straight conventional comedy, this verbose screen version, starrig the young Janes Finda, is disappointingly directed by George Roy Hill.

Rated: C

Apr 28, 2012

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It veered wonderfully between adult comedy and poignant tender moments.

Rated: B+

Jan 6, 2010

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Kalissa H

A lot of toxic masculinity in this movie, but it had a nice ending.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

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Amy A

The only funny parts in the movie are with the Christmas carol drunks and the in-laws.😅🤣 This is a terrible romance. Just name it drama.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

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Blu B

Not Bad honestly especially for a directorial debut. It's a screwball like comedy mixed with a Christmas movie so can't say I've seen too many of those. It's got some charm too it and a nice happy ending for all those involved which was nice. Everything is half decent about it. The only real issues is some of the acting is a bit wooden and over the top at points especially with Fonda and her husband. Some of the humor could be better also as most does fall flat but it makes up for tha with a decent amount of heart. I''m not sure why this is in black and white either as it really doesn't add anything and not much of this pops visually. On top of that it can feel like it comes a bit out of nowhere how it sets it up as it's going to be about Fonda and her husband but becomes more about them and his best friends couple also. It does flow and make sense though but it could be a bit more tighter. Overall if your a big fan of off beat Christmas flicks, any actors in this, or the director than give this a shot. It's not half bad actually.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/23

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steve d

A lesser Tennessee Williams but still Tennessee Williams,

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

This would be much better as an on-stage-screwball play, but it works out OK in this adaptation with Jane as the wide-eyed newlywed who's not getting those honeymoon surprises she was expecting.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

all they do is yell thru the whole thing so boring

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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George Roy Hill

Director

Anthony Franciosa

Ralph Baitz

Jane Fonda

Isabel Haverstick

Jim Hutton

George Haverstick

Lois Nettleton

Dorothea Baitz

John McGiver

Stewart P. McGill

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Synopsis

Veteran George Haverstick (Jim Hutton) meets nurse Isabel (Jane Fonda) while in hospital and soon marries her. However, Isabel is disappointed to learn that George drives a hearse and has booked them a dingy motel for their honeymoon, during which he falls asleep drunk. The next day, the couple visits George's friend Ralph (Tony Franciosa), who originally married Dorothea (Lois Nettleton) for money but now loves her. Dorothea wants to leave Ralph, and the Haversticks try to help him.

Director: George Roy Hill
Producer: Lawrence Weingarten
Screenwriter: Isobel Lennart
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Marten Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 52m

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