No Down Payment (1957) is a gripping ensemble drama that explores the lives of four couples living in a suburban housing development, revealing the darker undercurrents of the American Dream. Directed by Martin Ritt, the film portrays the intertwined struggles of these young families as they face financial pressures, marital conflicts, and personal insecurities. The couples include Jerry (Pat Hingle) and Isabelle (Barbara Rush), who grapple with Jerry's drinking problem and ambition; Jean (Sheree North) and Troy (Cameron Mitchell), dealing with Troy's frustrated dreams of advancement; David (Jeffrey Hunter) and his wife, Barbara (Patricia Owens), adjusting to their new life; and the more affluent Herman (Tony Randall) and Leola (Joanne Woodward), whose dynamic reveals unexpected tensions. As their stories unfold, the veneer of suburban perfection begins to crack, exposing themes of ambition, jealousy, and societal expectations. No Down Payment offers a raw and thought-provoking look at mid-20th-century suburban life, underscored by stellar performances and Ritt’s incisive direction.