The first half of the movie annoyed me for several reasons. My favorite movie is Trainspotting, so this ‘50s version of drug addiction is at times laughable, but I’m sure at the time it was very groundbreaking. I was not blown away by the acting. The screenplay (based on a play) was well written and as the actors said their lines, I could picture it being said differently and better, more realistic and less theatrical. The entire thing felt more like a lesson than art – “Come watch how evil drugs destroy a veteran and his family.” However, by the second half of the movie I really did care what happened to Eva Marie Saint and Anthony Franciosa.