"The Chapman Report" starts out with promise but plummets with sickening velocity to a painful finish.
Dr. Chapman, renowned compiler of The Chapman Report--a survey of the sexual habits and mores of American women--plans to revolutionize the country by exposing the truths about women. He has an assistant played by Ephraim Zimbalist, Jr. and together they seek women who are willing to reveal their most private thoughts, as they sit behind a screen to protect their anonymity.
The film is really about four women, three of whom become subjects for the Chapman men. Otherwise, the report has no bearing on the story.
Kathleen (Jane Fonda) is a young widow who fears she is irrevocably sexually frigid. Sarah (Shelly Winters) is having an extra-marital affair because her marriage lacks romance. The kooky Theresa (Glynis Johns) and her husband consider themselves artistic and she is willing to go to great lengths to stretch her artistic "muscles". Naomi (Claire Brown) is a boozy brunette who hates herself for her lack of discipline and her nymphomaniacal ways.
We see Fonda emoting with great talent, especially since this is only her third film role. The characters develop, and it seems as if this will be a solid film. But gradually, the wheels fall off. The acting becomes very melodramatic. The characters act in ways not true to their natures. And the number of ways this film speeds past mediocrity into the abyss become too numerous to mention. Most of it is driven by horrible writing. I have never seen a film get progressively worse like this film does.
I suppose if you know that upfront, can you just enjoy its cheesiness. And you can try spotting some other talents: Cloris Leachman, for example. And Orison Whipple Hungerford, Jr. (aka Ty Hardin), whose biography in IMDb is more entertaining than this film.
The stories end predictably, due in part to Legionnaires disease, which is to say the efforts of the Catholic Legion of Decency. The film has no lessons to impart. Well maybe...no, I can't think of even one.
Dr. Chapman, renowned compiler of The Chapman Report--a survey of the sexual habits and mores of American women--plans to revolutionize the country by exposing the truths about women. He has an assistant played by Ephraim Zimbalist, Jr. and together they seek women who are willing to reveal their most private thoughts, as they sit behind a screen to protect their anonymity.
The film is really about four women, three of whom become subjects for the Chapman men. Otherwise, the report has no bearing on the story.
Kathleen (Jane Fonda) is a young widow who fears she is irrevocably sexually frigid. Sarah (Shelly Winters) is having an extra-marital affair because her marriage lacks romance. The kooky Theresa (Glynis Johns) and her husband consider themselves artistic and she is willing to go to great lengths to stretch her artistic "muscles". Naomi (Claire Brown) is a boozy brunette who hates herself for her lack of discipline and her nymphomaniacal ways.
We see Fonda emoting with great talent, especially since this is only her third film role. The characters develop, and it seems as if this will be a solid film. But gradually, the wheels fall off. The acting becomes very melodramatic. The characters act in ways not true to their natures. And the number of ways this film speeds past mediocrity into the abyss become too numerous to mention. Most of it is driven by horrible writing. I have never seen a film get progressively worse like this film does.
I suppose if you know that upfront, can you just enjoy its cheesiness. And you can try spotting some other talents: Cloris Leachman, for example. And Orison Whipple Hungerford, Jr. (aka Ty Hardin), whose biography in IMDb is more entertaining than this film.
The stories end predictably, due in part to Legionnaires disease, which is to say the efforts of the Catholic Legion of Decency. The film has no lessons to impart. Well maybe...no, I can't think of even one.