In the 1952 melodrama "Paula", Loretta Young accidentally ran down a young child and fled from the scene in a panic. Here, it's Bette Davis's turn to be accused of a hit and run, and there's a twist. As the second wife of dashing older man John Williams (actor, not composer), Davis is struggling to fit into his social world and in with his college age son Ray Stricklyn. This anthology drama goes from their home life to a private party to the aftermath of the accident, and as usual, Davis commands the attention as only she can. She's not over the top, and the writers cleverly leave out the details of the accident until the final revelation. In just the half hour in which this is dramatized, Davis reveals much about her character, and the twist at the end puts a nice spin on the situation with much hope for the future of this troubled family.
3 Reviews
A problem with the truth
bkoganbing20 September 2020
Bette Davis and John Williams play a married couple with son Ray Stricklyn who is
about to go off to college in this short teleplay. The three make a party of it at their country club.
Davis is a woman who sadly is a compulsive liar. I was involved with someone like that many years ago. When you care about them you want to believe them, but can't. After awhile it can be maddening. But John Williams has another problem, he does love his wife.
After getting caught in a few fibs Davis and Stricklyn leave the club. All I'll say isthat Davis's problem with the truth might really be costly.
This is a fine short drama which packs quite a bit in for its short run.
Davis is a woman who sadly is a compulsive liar. I was involved with someone like that many years ago. When you care about them you want to believe them, but can't. After awhile it can be maddening. But John Williams has another problem, he does love his wife.
After getting caught in a few fibs Davis and Stricklyn leave the club. All I'll say isthat Davis's problem with the truth might really be costly.
This is a fine short drama which packs quite a bit in for its short run.
"Liar, liar...pants for hire."
planktonrules10 June 2018
Excuse me for using a quote from "Spongebob", but it feels very appropriate for this installment of "Schlitz Playhouse". In "For Better, For Worse", an older couple was recently married and the wife (Bette Davis) seems to be a serial liar. She lies about practically EVERYTHING and as a result, when something terrible happens she is assumed guilty....and she sounds exactly like a sociopath at times.
Having Bette Davis and John Williams playing spouses did seem odd...they just seemed so dissimilar. Regardless, it was a decent and enjoyable installment of the series...but nothing special.
Having Bette Davis and John Williams playing spouses did seem odd...they just seemed so dissimilar. Regardless, it was a decent and enjoyable installment of the series...but nothing special.
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