MovieChat Forums > From the Terrace (1960) Discussion > Ina Balin

Ina Balin

posted 15 years ago by malcolmjames
7 replies | jump to latest

I showed tis film as a projectionist in 1961 and enjoyed it very much. Being a film buff I have to say that my taste in pictures ended in the late 60s. I am surprised to see there is more comment here about the picture itself than the stars. My own personal opinion being a serious Ina Balin fan is that she stole this picture completely. Her acting, feelings and playing the part far outweighed the parts that Newman or Woodward played. Newman was a fine actor but was lost in this picture. I watched the new dvd last night I just purchased and again after all these years still was memorised by Ina's part she played.
I got the feeling that Fox just did not know what to do with this after buying it. But having worked for TCF years ago I must accept that this was the end of the Golden Age of Cinema. Wonderful score by Elmer Bernstein still makes this watchable today.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thbryn 11 years ago

but was lost in this picture

He was at the height of his powers as an angry young man "type." Balin was good but everybody I thought was ok even if they were written as soulless (like Woodward). I thought the Young Philadelpians was better but it probably had a better script.

Kisskiss, Bangbang

[–] liscarkat-2 10 years ago

Balin was fine, but certainly didn't "steal the picture". I'm still wondering why, since Balin was American and the character she was playing was American, she had a slightly European accent.

[–] sim7396 10 years ago

Fully agree with you. I found the plot really wonderful and interesting, but the script poorly written. I was only marginally interested in the movie and considering turning the TV off until the beautiful and talented Ms. Balin came on screen. Wow! I was suddenly fully interested in the movie.

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

Balin is indeed delicately lovely in this movie, and she owns the second half, when Woodward, as the shrewish tramp Mary St. John Eaton, gets lost in the shuffle.

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

Balin is indeed delicately lovely in this movie, and she owns the second half, when Woodward, as the shrewish tramp Mary St. John Eaton, gets lost in the shuffle.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 9 years ago

Paul Newman was very good at playing the heel in these early 60s films.

Thankfully he became more selective later in his career. It pains me to see an actor like Robert DeNiro appearing as "Dirty Grandpa." Newman would never have done such crap.