Bus Stop (1956)

William Inge’s play BUS STOP has been retooled for Marilyn Monroe on its way to the screen. The play takes place entirely at the bus stop but the film doesn’t get to the bus stop till almost halfway through the movie. Characters that were in the play have been eliminated in order to give more time for the set up for Monroe’s character and new characters created for the film that weren’t in the play to aid the exposition. Truthfully, BUS STOP is one of Inge’s minor works so it’s an inconsequential loss. A brash cowboy (Don Murray, and quite inauthentic) in his first trip to the big city meets a hillbilly “chantooze” and decides he must have her for his bride. The fact that she is repulsed by the idea doesn’t faze him. He’s determined even if he has to kidnap her. Monroe is terrific here. Funny, vulnerable, feisty and real. If only the movie were equal to her. Joshua Logan’s direction is phlegmatic. Aside from Murray’s unacceptable performance, the other actors are quite good including Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart, Arthur O’Connell, Betty Field and Robert Bray.