The Chapman Report 1962

In 1962 Hollywood was still turning out 1950’s fluff and nonsense while struggling at the same time to turn out serious adult fare, that by and large were mostly mediocre and doomed to failure.  The Chapman Report directed by George Cukor was one of those films that failed to pull in audiences and was indeed a flop. Cukor was trying to make an entertaining and adult film about a group of women who take part in a sex survey, which will remind viewers of Kinsey. He was hindered not only by the vapid material but also by the censors who were still very active in the early 60’s and studio interference. 
                        Based on a best selling titillating novel by hack writer Irving Wallace, Cukor had his work cut out for him, and all his skill and talents just couldn’t surmount the dreadful source material. The film covers the problems and indiscretions of four suburban women who are friends and  take part in the survey ranging from Jane Fonda’s (looking like a kewpie doll and simply dreadful) frigidity to Claire Bloom’s raging sex drive (read nymphomania) along with alcoholism. 

                            Also schlepping along is Shelley Winters blowsy and doing her usual over acting shtick  as a cheating wife having a torrid affair with Ray Danton tasty and dark as a chocolate brownie, and for some comedic relief Glynis Johns as a culture driven wife of an art gallery owner who piddles around with poetry and hankers after a beach bum hunk played by Ty Hardin, who shows more flesh than any of the women.  Cukor brings his strong sense of color and design to the film using his usual creative team to add shades and darkness to the 60’s decor and cinematography  which greatly help the crass proceedings.

                     He also used the great costume designer Orry-Kelly to tint the character’s personalities with what they wore, so in one scene frigid Fonda with her hair so tightly pulled back in a bun that I worried that all her bodily functions must have been shut down is dolled up in a stunning white dress with a matching white wide brim hat that suggests her coldness and her problems with sex.  I even thought that all that white might be indicating that although she is a widow she may still be a virgin. 

                   The only interesting woman and the best performance is Claire Bloom who plays Naomi the nympho and again her clothes, set design and lighting indicate her personality. Bloom is so good in this trash, that one could learn about great acting by just watching her move across a room, slightly soused and highly horny, and of course being the most vulnerable and tainted of the lot, she has to meet a terrible fate while the three other women live happily ever after with very few bumps and bruises.  The men are for the most part a vapid and dull group and includes Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as an unethical assistant to Dr. Chapman who falls in love with Fonda and starts to melt her frozen soul, which is underlined by showing us Jane letting her hair down and brushing her locks with loving sensual care, as Efrem looks on. The movie is so long that I thought I would cry.