Strangers When We Meet

"Strangers When We Meet" is a poor attempt at creating lush melodrama and cashing-in on the successful soap opera-type film genre that was so popular and saturated cinema in the late-1950s and early-1960s. With this experienced cast, one would expect a lot more than this movie actually provides. Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak are both attractive Southern Californians, but trapped in boring marriages. They meet one day while they are dropping-off their respective children at the school bus stop. They soon embark on an affair risking the tranquility of their domestic lives. Maggie (Novak) isn't too sure about this at first, but apparently Larry's (Douglas) chiseled features are all it takes for her to forget about her guilt and participate in their days of steamy trysts. The storyline, plot points, soundtrack, and acting are, for the most part, uneventful. The exception is Douglas is manages to give a tough, intense performance up against the extraordinarily drab Novak. Walter Matthau also manages to pull-off a good performance as Felix, Douglas' sleazy neighbor, with what little he's given to do. The last twenty minutes of this sudser are actually decent. Too bad the rest of this borefest couldn't follow suit.

Kim Novak was the quintessential movie star of her era and this film a heartbreaking drama directed by Kim Novak's then beau Richard Quine showcases the great star. Co starring Kirk Douglas, and Walter Matthau the film is well acted, and I love seeing it every time it is on TV. Kim Novak at the time of the filming was #1 Box Office Female Star in the world and incredibly beautiful. Kirk Douglas rugged manliness plays off the sultry Novak well, and Walter Matthau in an early role is wonderful. Matthau years later would compliment Novak saying he learned more about Movie Acting from Kim Novak then from any other actress or actor. Quite A compliment. This is a great movie and I wish they made movies like this today. Strangers When We Meet is the apothesis of the career of Kim Novak.

This film has it all:comedy and real acting on a love affair that becomes too much. Kim Novak and Kurt Douglas were reportedly Majorly at odds during film but the relationship was terrific. Wonderful comedy from Virginia Bruce and Walter Matthau!

If viewed from the morality of the period, this is actually quite a good movie. It attempted to tell a story about and comment on American family life, particularly on repressed desires and wedded relationships in the suburbs just before the "swinging 60's" exploded. Hearing Walter Matthau sum up his marital role as merely being considered "furniture in his own home" speaks volumes about what this film is about. Kim Novak is the sexy wife and mother to one family. Living down the manicured street is Kirk Douglas, the virile husband and dad in another - both living their lives against the backdrop of 1950's-60's morality. You do the math... Is it worthy of awards? No. Is the conflict entertaining? You bet! Definitely worth a look to those who like films from this era.

What a HOT movie. Lord, how could this gem be overlooked. When, for the first time, Kim is wearing that red dress and Kirk looks at her with his Kirk Douglas eyes, are you kidding? OMG. What a film. This is a treasure and yes, other than the scene with Jean Simmons in Spartacus, this reigns supreme. Ernie Kovacs is wonderful, simply a joy to watch. Walter Mattheau plays the slime to the 10's. The cast is stunning. Barbara Rush is always beautiful and hard to imagine that a man would be bored with a wife like her but that makes a story. Men, what can I say. But it's a fantasy to imagine meeting your love match dropping your child off at school. Watch out. Loved this film and just had a copy delivered.

I echo the sentiment of the other reviewer. This is so much more than a soap opera... I caught this movie on the late show about 20 years ago and if recall correctly, was going through the end of a relationship at the time. The movie struck a chord, though frankly I'm not sure why I received it's message so deeply. This is my favorite Kirk Douglas movie by far. Kirk is not known for subtlety but he's great here. I typically judge movies by their ring of truth, and this one has it in spades. A must see...

What I liked in this movie was the way the screenplay, as well as the director, gets close to what happens in real life. I mean, the doubts that assault many people when they think they have already got what society makes us consider as the right stuff: a job, a wife, sons. People in this situation one day realize that their life is empty in many senses, and they search for understanding in someone else outside their home inner circle. Only one thing annoyed me: the ending leaves the character played by Douglas in a very comfortable situation, considering he's the real motor of all the thing; besides, Maggie's (Kim Novak) husband (John Bryant) disappears from action in a very important, in my opinion, moment. Leaving apart these last things I consider as faults, the whole movie deserves to be watched; I think it's profitable and can make all of us take a minute or two for a meditation.