Once Is Not Enough (1975)

Once Is Not Enough is the kind of glossy, grown-up 1970s melodrama they don’t really make anymore: a high-society Hollywood soap with real bite, handsome craftsmanship, and the nerve to let its characters be messy, vain, and heartbreakingly human. Guy Green directs with an old-school studio polish that makes every party, penthouse, and power play feel like it’s lit from within, while the cast—anchored by Kirk Douglas’s worn-down producer swagger and a commanding central turn from Deborah Raffin—keeps the emotions pulsing beneath the couture. The vibe is decadent and bittersweet, equal parts romantic yearning and sharp-edged disillusionment, the sort of film you watch for the atmosphere as much as the drama. If you’re allergic to sudsy, larger-than-life relationship tangles, it may feel like too much, but if you want a stylish, entertaining time capsule of ambition, desire, and fallout, it delivers.

Once Is Not Enough is clearly aiming for glossy, grown-up Hollywood melodrama—sex, money, power, and damaged relationships all crashing together in a big, soap-operatic swirl. The problem is it takes itself so seriously that the overheated plotting and blunt “shocking” turns can land as unintentionally campy, making it hard to feel the emotions it’s reaching for. Performances from a strong cast can’t fully overcome the clunky material, so what should be tragic often plays more like a high-budget cautionary tale with awkward pacing and thin character motivation. If you enjoy 1970s scandal dramas, glamorous misery, and the occasional “is this for real?” moment, you might have fun; if you want grounded romance or genuinely affecting drama, this will likely test your patience.