Suburban Roulette is a 1968

1968 in film

The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :...

 American film by Herschell Gordon Lewis

Herschell Gordon Lewis

Herschell Gordon Lewis is an American filmmaker, best known for creating the "splatter film" subgenre of horror...

. In a surprisingly engaging drama that stars, among others, William Kerwin and Allison Louise Downe who are involved in wife swapping

Swinging

Swinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...

 to overcome the boredom of living in the suburbs. It was produced as an independent film

Independent film

An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...

 by Herschell Gordon Lewis and was shown in Chicago area movie theaters during the summer of 1968. It contains implied sex, boozing, adult themes, fighting, but is without nudity (which would have prohibited mainstream movie theater distribution).

It was filmed in Wood Dale, Illinois

Wood Dale, Illinois

Wood Dale is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,535 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wood Dale is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...

, a suburb of Chicago during the summer of 1967. The motel scene was probably at the Addison Motel, Addison, IL, but this needs to be confirmed.

Plot

The Fisher family moves into the seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood to get away from the city, Bert's drinking problem, and wife Ilene's propensity for males. They meet the neighbors, the Conleys and Elstons, and soon they're having cocktails, cookouts, and hitting on each other's mates, but not without guilt

Guilt

Guilt is the state of being responsible for the commission of an offense. It is also a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has violated a moral standard, and bears significant responsibility for that...

and repercussions. The Fishers fall into a dangerous game of wife swapping with the two other two swinging couples until the unwilling Bert can't take it any more.

Cast

Lewis was known for using everyday people instead of actors in his films

• Elizabeth Wilkinson as Ilene Fisher
• Ben Moore as Bert Fisher
• Ione Rolnick as Fran Conley
• William Kerwin aka Marty Conley as Thomas Wood
• Allison Louise Downe aka "Matress Back" Margo Elston as Vicki Miles
• Tony McCabe as Ron Elston
• Debbie Grant as Cindy Fisher
• Richard Mark Oliver as Conley Child
• Joseph Trucco as Conley Child
• Michael Shallop as Conley Child
• Paul Shallop as Conley Child
• Ray Woods as Police chief
• Bob Roth as Card Buyer