BY LEE PFEIFFER
When it was published in 1955, John O'Hara's novel "10 North Frederick" became not only a bestseller but somewhat of a "must-read" sensation. Not surprisingly, Hollywood studios began a bidding war for the screen rights. Ultimately, 20th Century Fox prevailed by offering O'Hara the (then) astronomical fee of $300,000 and also agreeing to hire him as a screenwriter for three forthcoming films, though, ironically "10 North Frederick" was not among them. Spencer Tracy was wooed for the leading role and production was delayed to accommodate his schedule. However, he later dropped out of the film in order to star in "The Last Hurrah" for director John Ford. Fox then hired Gary Cooper, who was enthused about taking on one of the most controversial roles of his career.
The film opens (a la "Citizen Kane") with media reporting on the death of a significant man who had wealth and widespread political influence. The year is 1945 and the man is Joseph Chapin (Cooper), a prominent lawyer who had once been feted by the rich and powerful. Chapin was a mover and shaker and held significant sway over politics in the state of Pennsylvania. As dignitaries gather at his mansion to express their condolences to his widow Edith (Geraldine Fitzgerald), a more controversial scene is taking place upstairs in the bedroom of his son Joby (Ray Stricklyn) who is inebriated. His sister Ann (Diane Varsi) is trying to persuade him to join the mourners and express his love and admiration for their father. It's clear, however, that both Joby and Ann hold a substantial grudge against their mother, who they accuse of manipulating their father to improve her own ambitions and social status. The film then switches into flashback mode to unveil a story of an outwardly stable family that is, in fact. beset by dysfunction. Chapin is a soft-spoken, dignified man who is bamboozled by his wife to enter the race for Lt. Governor, calling in favors from the officials he has supported over the years in order to get the nomination. Chapin is in a loveless marriage but is unable to free himself from the willful Edith. Joby is pushed by his family to attend Yale and become a prominent lawyer but the young man rebels, drops out of school and ultimately finds a career in the military, much to the displeasure of his parents. Ann also rebels against the strict social structure her mother has kept her in and ultimately marries a charismatic musician (Stuart Whitman), having become recently pregnant. Edith persuades her husband to intervene and Joe alternately threatens and bribes the new groom into deserting Ann. The problem of her giving birth to a child conceived before marriage poses a problem for Edith's reputation among the lifted pinky set but the situation is resolved when Ann suffers a miscarriage. She ultimately moves into an apartment she shares with her good friend Kate Drummond (Suzy Parker). Things become even more complicated when Kate is seduced by Tom. The couple fall madly in love and Joe promises to divorce Edith before circumstances arise that throw these plans into disarray. The film concludes with Joby's emotional dressing down of his mother and her motives in front of her high society friends.
"10 North Frederick" was directed by Phillip Dunne, who also wrote the screenplay. He was a great enthusiast of O'Hara's novel but was accused of watering down controversial aspects (Ann's loss of the baby was due to an abortion in the book) as well as overplaying the love affair between Joe and Kate, a development that takes up the latter part of the film although on the printed page, it was a minor plot point. This is at heart a soap opera, although an admittedly engrossing one. It is packed with devious, scheming characters and if they all had southern accents, it might fit well into the canon of works by Tennessee Williams. Cooper gives a fine performance, playing against type as a man manipulated by his cold hearted wife. He's a decent fellow at heart who nonetheless doesn't always have the courage of his convictions. A key distraction is the fact that Cooper plays a 50 year-old man. In fact, he was 56 at the time and could easily have passed for being a decade older. The supporting cast is first-rate throughout but the production is hampered by the surprisingly cheesy production values. There are virtually no exteriors and the drab studio settings can't be saved by the crisp B&W cinematography of the esteemed Joseph MacDonald. There was also plenty of drama behind the scenes when Diane Varsi had to be hospitalized for a nervous breakdown, though she did manage to complete the film and managed to provide an excellent performance. For Cooper, the idea of playing a married man in a torrid affair must have brought back memories of his own relationship with actress Patricia Neal, who in real life suffered her own nervous breakdown when Cooper ultimately told her he would not leave his wife.
There are plenty of plot twists and devious goings-on among the principal characters, but "10 North Frederick" never rises to the heights it might have, given the talented people involved, which is why it might have deemed a commercial and critical failure. Still, it's never dull and makes for compelling viewing.
The Twilight Time Blu-ray provides an excellent transfer. The region-free disc has no bonus extras other than an isolated track for composer Leigh Harline's score. There is also an illustrated booklet with fine production notes by Mike Finnegan.
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