Two For The Seesaw (1962)

A soon to be divorced attorney (Robert Mitchum) from Nebraska moves to New York City to start a new life and becomes romantically involved with a neurotic beatnik (Shirley MacLaine). Based on the Tony award winning play by William Gibson (MIRACLE WORKER) and directed by Robert Wise, the play doesn't translate well to the screen. It's one thing to have a one set, two character play under the proscenium but as cinema, it's pretty monotonous unless the dialogue is scintillating or poetic (like Tennessee Williams). Gibson's isn't. For almost two hours, the Mitchum and MacLaine characters banter back and forth and eventually come up with what we knew from the beginning. They're a mismatched couple. Director Wise makes a few half-hearted attempts to "open up" the film but to no avail. Fortunately, it helps that the two characters are played by Mitchum and MacLaine, two bona fide Stars with strong screen presences. It's always a pleasure to watch them but it's a pity the material isn't better. It's the kind of play that's outdated which might account for why it's rarely revived today. There's a nice bluesy score by Andre Previn and the crisp B&W Panavision cinematography by Ted D. McCord (THE SOUND OF MUSIC). With Ken Berry and Elisabeth Fraser.