Jean Simmons made her first starring appearance in several years in this story written and directed by her husband, Richard Brooks.
It’s a glossy, women’s magazine-type story with Jean playing Mary, the wife of Fred Wilson (John Forsythe). Mary has always liked happy endings and in 1953, when the two married, it appeared they were all set to live happily ever after.
But now it’s 1969 and their 16th wedding anniversary is in the offing, yet somewhere along the way, things have sadly gone wrong for them.
They live in a suburban house in Denver, Colorado, and Fred is a successful tax consultant. Because he has sometimes flirted around – and because Mary thinks her marriage is on the rocks – she becomes something of an alcoholic and has attempted suicide.
She recalls their anniversary party last year, which was a fiasco, and is now making every effort to be away from home on their coming anniversary. Unable to obtain money from her mother, she has pawned her watch and bought a one-way ticket to Nassau.
En route, Mary makes a phone call home to her furious husband whose guests have left in embarrassment at the lack of a hostess. Her call also upsets their 15-year-old daughter, Marge (Kathy Fields) who remembers Mary’s earlier suicide attempt.
Mary meets Flo (Shirley Jones), an old college chum, who has also journeyed to Nassau to meet her latest lover, Sam (Lloyd Bridges). Flo is amazed that Mary has never indulged in an affair, although this is about to be remedied when Franco (Bobby Darin) – pretending to be a journalist – lures Mary onto a boat borrowed for the occasion.
When she reveals she’s far from wealthy, he loses interest and confesses he’s a phoney.
Mary decides to go home, but can she ever find happiness with Fred?
Mary Wilson
Jean Simmons Fred Wilson
John Forsythe Flo Harrigan
Shirley Jones Sam
Lloyd Bridges Mrs Spencer
Teresa Wright Harry Bricker
Dick Shawn Agnes
Nanette Fabray Franco
Bobby Darin Helen Bricker
Tina Louise Marge Wilson
Kathy Fields Divorcee
Karen Steele Betty
Gail Hensley Ethel
Eve Brent Minister
William O’Connell Handsome Man
Barry Cahill Cindy
Miriam Blake
Director
Richard Brooks
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