The film is based on Mary McCarthy's bestseller about eight Vassar College graduates of 1933 who enter adult life with high hopes and ambitions. The story follows these young women as they confront the harsh realities of life in Depression-era America, dealing with disappointing marriages, troubled careers, unwanted pregnancies, and the general erosion of their youthful idealism. Instead of becoming pioneers in the arts, sciences, and literature as they dreamed, the friends find themselves burdened by societal expectations and personal failures. Kay Strong, the central figure of the group, gradually unravels as the world around her darkens with the approach of World War II. The film features an ensemble cast including Candice Bergen, Joan Hackett, Elizabeth Hartman, Shirley Knight, Joanna Pettet, Mary-Robin Redd, Jessica Walter, and Kathleen Widdoes, each embodying a distinct personality within the circle of friends. Filming took place in New York, with production conveying the atmosphere of 1930s Manhattan through appropriate sets and costumes.

Filming Locations:

St. Mark's Church

In the Movie

Scene where Kay Strong's wedding takes place, highlighting the bond among the eight Vassar graduates as they gather to celebrate their friend's marriage and set the stage for the story of their diverging lives and fading idealism in Depression-era New York.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the historic Episcopal church built in 1799, one of the oldest active church buildings in Manhattan. It is located at the intersection of East 10th Street and Second Avenue in the East Village and has long served as a cultural center for poetry readings, dance performances, and community events in addition to religious functions.

Astor Place Subway Station

In the Movie

Scene where characters appear at the subway station during their daily commutes around Manhattan, reflecting the routine and grounded reality of their post-college lives as they navigate the city and confront the gap between ambitions and actual circumstances.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a New York City subway station on the Lexington Avenue line, originally opened in 1904 as one of the first 28 stations of the Interborough Rapid Transit system. Located at the intersection of East 8th Street and Lafayette Street, the station features distinctive ceramic tile work and has been an East Village landmark for over a century.

Washington Square Park

In the Movie

Scene where the group of friends gathers in the park, a place closely associated with the bohemian and intellectual aspirations they brought from their Vassar days, serving as a backdrop that contrasts their youthful dreams with the more sober realities each faces after graduation.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the famous public park in the heart of Greenwich Village in Manhattan, covering nearly 10 acres. Dominated by the iconic Washington Square Arch, the park has served as a meeting place for artists, musicians, activists, and students since the 19th century and is located at the foot of Fifth Avenue, surrounded by New York University buildings.