The Group (1966) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film spans multiple locations across the United States and Europe, primarily moving between Greenwich Village in New York, the American Southwest (Arizona), and various European settings. These diverse locales highlight the contrast between the characters' bohemian aspirations and their eventual paths toward conventional domestic life.

• settings
• locations
• greenwich village
• arizona
• europe

The story begins in 1933 with the characters' graduation from an elite private girls' school and follows them through the late 1930s up to 1940. The narrative is set against the backdrop of World War II's outbreak in Europe, which begins to affect the characters' plans and relationships.

• 1930s
• 1940s
• time period
• historical context
• world war ii

The film explores three central themes: sisterhood and the complex loyalty among eight friends navigating adulthood together; identity and authenticity, particularly through Lakey's revelation of her sexuality in a conservative era; and war and loss, as WWII disrupts the women's lives and culminates in tragedy with Kay's death.

• sisterhood
• friendship
• identity
• war
• loss
• themes

Lakey, played by Candice Bergen, is portrayed as the wealthy and poised leader of the group. She embodies independence and social savvy. After returning from Europe with a companion whose sexuality becomes a revealing truth, Lakey remains a stabilizing presence as the friends gather for difficult revelations at Kay's funeral.

• lakey
• candice bergen
• leader
• character

The sisterhood theme examines how eight women bound by their elite school friendship navigate marriages, careers, and personal quests. Their loyalty provides comfort through both joy and disappointment, while their differing choices create tension between competing desires and social expectations within their circle.

• sisterhood
• friendship
• women
• ensemble
• loyalty

The identity theme centers on Lakey's revelation of her sexuality, introducing a quiet struggle between living authentically and facing social judgment. The film explores how personal truth clashes with conventional norms in the conservative 1930s era, with relationships weighed against the risk of ostracism.

• identity
• sexuality
• lakey
• authenticity
• social norms

Dottie begins in Greenwich Village living a flamboyant, bohemian lifestyle but eventually settles into conventional domestic life by marrying a dull Arizona businessman. Her arc highlights the contrast between artistic aspiration and pragmatic compromise, showing the costs of pursuing happiness on her own terms.

• dottie
• joan hackett
• bohemian
• arizona
• character arc

The outbreak of war in Europe alters the characters' plans and accelerates their life choices. Personal happiness is interrupted by external upheaval, and the 1939-1940 conflict casts a shadow over their relationships and futures. The war serves as both a literal historical backdrop and a metaphor for the disruptions in their personal lives.

• world war ii
• europe
• 1939
• disruption
• historical context

Helena, played by Kathleen Widdoes, is a world traveler whose journeys fail to translate into lasting happiness at home. Her restless search for fulfillment reflects the broader tension in the film between exploration and adventure versus domestic contentment.

• helena
• kathleen widdoes
• traveler
• restlessness
• character

Libby, played by Jessica Walter, is characterized as catty and ambitious, climbing the literary professional ladder even as she sometimes lacks depth. Her professional success contrasts with personal vulnerability, revealing the price women paid for ambition in that era.

• libby
• jessica walter
• ambition
• literary
• career

Pokey, played by Mary-Robin Redd, juggles family life with two sets of twins, embodying the demanding reality of motherhood within the group's social circle. Her happiness centers on family and shared responsibilities, balancing personal ambition with caretaking duties.

• pokey
• mary-robin redd
• twins
• motherhood
• family

The war and loss theme shows how external historical upheaval alters the characters' plans and accelerates their life decisions. Personal happiness is interrupted by the larger world events, and tragedy strikes with Kay's death in 1940. Her funeral becomes a communal moment that cements their shared history and unresolved grief.

• war
• loss
• tragedy
• kay
• funeral
• grief