How Much Affection? (1958)

★★★★★ · Actually suggests that we are now living in reactionary times. · idealtypical · 2011-07-17

I see this film rather differently than some of the other respondents: Although this cautionary tale about coping with teenage hormones, produced in 1958, is unquestionably clunky and lacking in verisimilitude, what took me by surprise is that it is nowhere close to being as shrill, preachy, and condescending as its 2011 analogue would surely be. Whereas "How Much Affection" might strike the contemporary viewer as quaintly conservative and hopelessly naive, I would contend that these impressions derive mainly from its stylistic features. In substance, this film is probably less naive—and…

★★★★★ · "...Cucumber, cucumber....gotta get my mind off the cucumber..." · JayKay49 · 2012-12-12

The sexual tension at the end of this movie is so thick you could cut it with a knife. And whenever I saw headlights go off and the sounds of chirping crickets became audible, I held my breath in suspense. It's interesting to note how freaked out a young girl in those days could get once she's actually seen (maybe touched) the BF's "blessed sacrament" (I guess that's what happened). Mom was very cool calm and collected though. Judging from the way she talked, she obviously swung from a few of 'em in her day. Brings to mind that right about the time this film was made, while I was snooping…

★★★★★ · Early Marriage Looks Miserable · Mr. Snout · 2004-02-17

Entertaining and well made. My personal high-light was when they ran into the girl who had to leave school because she got pregnant and had to get married. (And, of course, she was the "artistic" girl.) While she glowingly describes married life we see visuals of the ugly truth: the deadbeat husband sleeping in as she tells them how much he enjoys his job, etc. The ending is superb ... they come home to an empty house, each managing to suppress their lust with the help of voiceovers. If they just hold out, they'll have their happiness ... a world where he can come home and she can make him A…

★★★★★ · A true classsic · WTAbernathy · 2003-03-14

This one has it all. Teen angst, questioning, guilt, approval. And what inspired dialogue! "Oh, mother... I don't know what to do. I'm so messed up!" "Mother, is it wrong to feel warm and affecionate?" "When you're able to slow down and say no, that's when you truly will become a woman." "Imagine marrying someone who HAS to marry you..." And plenty of implied pearls of wisdom, such as: Teenage pregnancy means you can't become a lawyer. Double dating: Reliable birth control? Maybe yes, maybe no... depends on who you are doubling with. Excellent filmography, good lighting... a winner all…

★★★★★ · Brave Old World · Film Fan · 2004-06-05

One powerhouse of a movie! Thoughtful. Intelligent. What a difference 4 decades have made! Were this film made today, mother would have given Laurie a fresh supply of condoms (that is, if Laurie confided in Mom at all). The voiceover would describe how to apply a condom while showing Laurie and Jeff practicing on a cucumber in sex ed class. People were more civil then. There were only two major STDs, both easily curable with antibiotics. Sex mostly meant pregnancy--not death by AIDS. The advice given in this movie--that you should keep your clothing on and zipped before marriage--was common…

★★★★★ · How Much Hormones? · autoguy · 2006-05-18

Mary wait! Oh mom, things seemed to happen, my panties got soggy, we nearly... *gasp* It was so CLOSE! Was is really Jeff's fault Mary? Mixed up are you? Well, mom understands. You see, she had soggy panties herself you know, like mother like daughter it would seem. Yes, mom admits being twisted, and no Mary, it's not wrong. It's not always easy to stop, but mom will help work out Mary's own best way of working things out in the back seat of that awesome '57 Dodge! But gee Mary, Jeff thinks you're swell, and.. and.. he would sure hate to ruin everything. Not just some stuff, EVERYTHING! I…