Books/Movies Dealing with Mid-to-Late-1960s Suburban "Cocktail Culture"

Cafe Society
41

I rented and just finished watching The Swimmer. Interesting film, indeed, although we didn’t see any indoor cocktail parties, there were plenty of pool parties and Martinis (perhaps one could devise rating for these types of films/books based on a “Martini” system – 5 Martinis for excellent, 4 for very good, etc.)

I liked it, overall. Stylish 60s cinematography (plenty of lens flares, shots reflected in eyeballs, etc.), big lush OTT Marvin Hamlisch score, Burt Lancaster in great shape, Janice Rule giving an excellent performance as a former mistress… much to recommend. Hell, even Joan Freaking Rivers is fine.

The rest of my comments will be spoilers, so don’t read if you don’t wanna know.

It was very very very obvious to me from about ten minutes in that Ned Merril was either flat broke, a liar, a psycho, or one and all. Perhaps in 1968, this went unnoticed until the “surprise” ending, but from a jaded 2004 perspective, it is obvious that the cross-county pool swim is a descent from on high to more humble digs each pool he passes, until he is arguing with a grocer or somesuch over a bill at a common public swimming pool. Plus, his story (the ages of his daughters, etc.) keeps changing, and we clearly know he has blanked out at least two years of his life. Nonethess, a very good film..

Best,

Sir Rhosis

42

Don’t be dissin’ the He-Skirt!

43

Maybe check out Peter De Vries? He’s actually maybe more early 50’s cocktail culture, but did it change that much in 10 years?

44

Absolutely John Updike!

I grew up in suburban Chicago in the 60s and my parents were a lot like Eve’s. There was Jack Jones, Barbra, Sammy, musicals, lots of sheath dresses, gin and tonic, the Hi-Fi, reel-to-reel if you were electronically savvy. Life Magazine was a part of most of our households. I believe the Sassoon hairdo was big in the mid- to late-sixties. Pantyhose were just coming into vogue. I believe my mom was serving rhumaki (sp?) at most of her parties. I didn’t see a lot of the republican thing back in those days. Our neighborhood always appeared to be pretty liberal.