Majolica in the Movies: "From the Terrace"

Who would have suspected that a steamy pot boiler from 1960 set in the business world of New York City with husband and wife acting team Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward would have a piece of majolica prominently placed in one of the sets?

From the Terrace is a big, expensive, Cinemascope movie with a first rate Hollywood cast including Patrick O’Neil, Barbara Eden and a drunken Myra Loy. It gives Joanne a chance to wear fabulous mid-century fashions complete with furs, turbans, pill box hats and, of course, platinum hair. It’s also a movie filled with glamorous backdrops, set in an era so far removed from the present it is now firmly an antique. It’s like traveling back in time or watching an episode of Mad Men.

For those who are not familiar with the storyline, Paul Newman is a young, ambitious man from a dysfunctional family who falls in love with, and marries, socialite Joanne Woodward. One thing leads to another and their relationship begins to sour.

Early romance

Cracks start to appear

Barely talking but Joanne at least has her tiara!

On a business trip to the coal country of Pennsylvania he is invited to the home of an associate for dinner. Well of course, this business associate has a lovely, unpretentious young daughter, played by Ina Balin who is as different from his wife as possible as well as a large rural home. It also has a majolica owl pitcher on the fireplace! It's love at first sight, not for Paul and the majolica but for Paul and Ina. They decide not to pursue their feelings because of Paul's marriage to Joanne… at least not at first.

Scene from On the Terrace with Paul Newman

The majolica shown is an odd choice for set dressing in this story. It's a figural English owl pitcher. I suppose the rustic quality of the pottery is intended to communicate that this home is in a rural part of Pennsylvania—a fictitious mining town called Mountain City—but it's really the only thing in the home, aside from a Staffordshire dog, that is the least bit "country-ish." The home is actually closer to a small mansion. (There are a lot of mansions in this movie.)

Owl pitcher designed by Shorter & Boulton but made by numerous potteries

As an aside, a better choice might have been a piece by the Etruscan Works because of the rural Pennsylvania setting, but I suppose we can't quibble. It's the only piece seen but it's always fun to spot familiar majolica in an unexpected place like this.

Oh, as a spoiler in case you are interested, the movie has a happy ending that doesn't involve Joanne but does involve the owl pitcher, at least by association.

Joanne ever stylish in emotional turmoil in a fabulous fur turban!

Paul has to choose between ambition and true love

To view the trailer for From the Terrace go here.