Toys in the Attic

Hellman speaks her mind brilliantly but opens her heart rarely. When the moment requires feeling, she too often offers irony; when the theme invites tragedy, she resorts to melodrama.

Toys in the Attic is a somewhat watered-down version of Lillian Hellman's play, but enough of the original emotional savagery has been retained to satisfy those who prefer their melodramatic meat raw and chewy.

Somebody out there in Hollywood has made even more of a wreck of Lillian Hellman's Toys in the Attic than was made of it on the stage. I would say the responsible party is the director, George Roy Hill.

Page was brilliant and Hiller, in a less showy role, was excellent.