The Misfits (1961)

Hey Gisele – I finally got around to watching this movie. Thank you for lending it to me! 

Synopsis: Deep conversations ensue after two creepy older men convince hot divorcee to live rent-free in an abandoned house somewhere outside of Reno. 

Blurb From the DVD Jacket: “Divorced and disillusioned, Roslyn Tabor (Marilyn Monroe) befriends a group of ‘misfits’, including an aging cowboy (Clark Gable), a heartbroken mechnanic (Eli Wallach) and a worn-out rodeo rider (Montgomery Clift). Through their live-for-the-moment lifestyle, Roslyn experiences her first taste of freedom, exhilaration and passion.” 

What Did I Learn?: Back in the early 1960s, Nevada ranchers paid $80 each to eliminate those pesky eagles, and routinely sold wild horses to the local dog food manufacturers. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You’ll watch anything with the word “Misfits” in the title. 

Really?: 1) I realize this film takes place in the early 1960s, but weren’t there any laws against drunk driving back then? Did everyone get behind the wheel after downing a quart of bourbon? 2) See “Synopsis”... holy shit, Roslyn just met these guys, and the place doesn’t have electricity or running water! I had a hard time believing: a) she would agree to immediately drive out to see the house without finishing her first drink, or b) that she would entertain even the thought of moving all of her possessions out there.

Rating: *Sigh* I wanted to like this movie a lot more than I did. The Misfits boasts an impressive cast (the last performances of Gable and Monroe!), and it’s character-driven, which I generally appreciate. Unfortunately, none of these characters are all that interesting or likeable (early on, Roslyn is coached by her landlady to falsely claim she was beaten by her husband), the story doesn’t go anywhere, and everyone wildly overacts. Maybe – like The Maltese Falcon or Crimes of the Heart, or Gosford Park, The Misfits is actually a good film, but I couldn’t get into it. 6/10 stars. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055184/?ref_=rvi_tt