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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worthy of a large audience, September 25, 2005
"All Fall Down" is a drama laced with occasional comedy and whimsy that examines the effect that a spoiled, irresponsible drifter named Barry Barry has upon his well-meaning family and upon the innocent young woman who unfortunately falls in love with him.
Barry Barry is a young man in his twenties who has never had a steady job. But because of his killer good looks women (especially those who are lonely) throw themselves at him. Barry Barry uses these women as meal tickets. He regards them as pathetic, and he treats them indifferently or cruelly.
Barry Barry is self-loathing. His well-intentioned parents have over-indulged him. They tolerate and enable his reckless and sometimes violent behavior. He returns home at Christmas time after his parents bail him out of jail for assaulting a woman. There he meets Echo whose parents are friends of his parents. She is there for a brief visit.
Echo is a vivacious, single woman about 10 years older than Barry Barry. She is self-sufficient and has a career. She is also recovering from the tragic suicide of an alcoholic man whom she befriended.
Barry Barry is immediatly attracted to the beautiful and warm-hearted Echo. But when he finds out that she is pregnant with his child, he runs away from her leading to events that change the attitudes and lives of those who love him.
"All Fall Down" has fine performances from an extremely talented cast which includes Warren Beatty as Barry Barry, Karl Malden and Angela Lansbury as his adoring parents, and a teenage Brandon De Wilde as Barry Barry's idealistic younger brother who has himself fallen in love with Echo. The highly respected John Frankenheimer directs this movie crisply and effectively.
"All Fall Down" is an excellent production worthy of a large audience.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some of the Most Interesting Characters in Film History, October 16, 2006
"All Fall Down" combines the best elements of "Come Back Little Sheba" and "Splendor in the Grass"; which should not be a total surprise given that all three come at least in part from the mind of William Inge. It is interesting that while "All Fall Town" is the most ambitious of the three, it is also the least known. Probably because Director John Frankenheimer made something that is more art film than box office blockbuster (or academy darling).
The storytelling technique is much like "Days of Heaven", both told from the point of view of the youngest member of their casts-in this case Clint (Brandon de Wilde-"come back Shane"). The film even goes so far as to cut in shots of Clint watching the other characters through windows and doorways, and then writing down what he has observed in a journal. This is very effective because the story has coming of age elements involving Clint and the viewer is meant to strongly identify with his character. Unfortunately Frankenheimer pulls his punch at the end and limits things to the traditional process of disillusionment found in this film genre. A much more satisfying ending was possible.
I've never shared the view that "All Fall Down" lacks sympathetic characters. Clint is certainly likable as is family friend Echo (Eva Marie Saint), and even father Ralph (Karl Malden) to a certain degree. Mother Annabell (Angela Lansbury) is not but her purpose is to provide some explanation for this dysfunctional family.
Older brother Berry-Berry (Warren Beatty) is not likable but is certainly interesting. Smothered by his mother he has a phobia about ending up like his parents. Which has sent him on the road where he lives by his wits and good looks. Beatty really doesn't seem to know how to play Berry-Berry and his performance is mostly a repeat of his "Splendor in the Grass" character. But the uncertainty in his performance ultimately works to his advantage, as Berry-Berry is a conflicted mess of mixed motivation. His behavior is compulsive and contradictory, a sociopath with a conscience. And he is concerned with the welfare of his little brother, who idolizes him (as do his parents).
Starting out in Key West, where Clint meets his brother's ex-girlfriend (played by Frankenheimer's real life wife Evans Evans) in a strip club. In a great scene she tries to get the underage Clint to buy her a drink-but her debilitated coughing spoils any superficial sex appeal.
The action soon shifts to an older middle class neighborhood in Cleveland. Beatty appears briefly in the beginning and is mostly unseen until after the midpoint of the film. De Wille has far more screen time and introduces us to the remaining three characters.
Saint's character is a spinsterish free spirit of 31 (another contradiction) who Clint falls in love with until his older brother claims her. Saint was always difficult to cast. Not earthy enough for the Julie Harris-Elizabeth Hartman type of roles and not sexy enough for the standard starlet stuff she was limited to icy librarians or dowdy girlfriend stuff until Hitchcock drew her out in "North by Northwest". She is physically perfect for the Echo O'Brien role, someone confident and playful, yet very fragile; pretty enough to make Berry-Berry's attraction credible.
This is a slick little film but only if you like productions that could easily transfer to the stage.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beatty on Beatty!!, January 31, 2004
This is one of the small group of films Mr Beatty made after " Splendor in the Grass" and before " Bonnie and Clyde" I think its important to appreciate that after " Splendor...when Mr Beatty was very much in demmand..he did not make programmer types of films. In my opinion he choose very carefully and came up with a thought provoking group of films that live on today as " what might have been" " Lillith" and " All Fall Down" are two of these films.
" All Fall Down" written by William Inge( Splendor,,,Picnic etc)
is an artistically unique film about people and their needs and detachments. Berry Berry( Beatty) and Brandon De Wilde play off each other very well as two brothers totally different( where have we seen that before). The film is well acted from all that include Karl Malden, Ms. Lansbury who turns in another fine tectured performance as the mother..and a very fragile and hopeless Eva Marie Saint John Frankenheimer's direction and editing is put to good use when there is so much to say visually and very little time to do so. A Real Gem!
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