Rent The Children's Hour (1961)

Includes Spoiler. - The Children's Hour review by Steve

Powerful heartbreaker from Lillian Hellman's 1934 play about two female teachers who are destroyed when a young student falsely accuses them of being lovers. It is an ominous film with a taste of horror. The girl who makes up the lie out of spite (Karen Balkin) is a pretty convincing villain and the rich, small town bigots who victimise the pair make up a sinister and vengeful mob.

Audrey Hepburn is well cast as Karen, the slandered teacher who must give up her planned marriage. But the heart of the film is the response of Shirley MacLaine as Martha to the realisation that she actually is a lesbian. Her denial. The girl's lie is a scandal, but Martha's ignorance of her sexualty is a tragedy.

Shirley MacLaine is magnificent. Her performance burns you and not just because of her anguish in having to confront reality, but because she sees her true identity as degenerate and unendurable. Her pain is so powerful, and pitiful. By killing herself, Martha sets Karen free, which I suppose is the ultimate expression of love, and makes the end even more  devastating.

This was still a controversial story in 1961 but time hasn't dulled its impact. Homosexuality is no longer scandalous, but the emotions are still relevant. The capacity for onlookers to cheapen, malign and offend is greater than ever. It is an extremely moving work, including one of the great film performances and a fine example of Wyler's cinematic artistry.