Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle 1994

In the Prohibition era, the famed Algonquin Hotel becomes a sanctuary for the intelligent and witty members of the “Vicious Circle,” a collective of distinguished individuals united by their literary prowess. Among them is Dorothy Parker, a celebrated author who is wrestling with the chaos stemming from her troubled marriage to a substance abuser. Struggling to find her place in this tumultuous environment, she discovers a sense of comfort and friendship with Robert Benchley, her colleague at Vanity Fair.

The “Vicious Circle” soon decides to put on an impromptu theatrical performance, which introduces Dorothy to Charles MacArthur. This encounter paves the way for a complex relationship, marked by feelings of abandonment and heartache, culminating in a painful abortion that shapes Dorothy’s critique of the world around her, intensifying her sharp and skeptical outlook on life.

As the burdens of her emotional turmoil weigh heavily on her, Dorothy finds herself ensnared by the shadows of depression, battling against the darkness in a bid to find relief through self-destructive behaviors. Robert Benchley wisely steps back from romantic advancement, haunted by the fear of future heartbreak. Consequently, Dorothy and Robert embark on their own separate journeys, seeking solace in new experiences and relationships.

Despite their attempts to move forward, the passage of time offers little solace for Dorothy. It isn’t until 1945, upon hearing about Robert’s untimely death from cirrhosis of the liver, that her grief reaches new depths. In subsequent years, efforts at undergoing psychoanalysis provide little relief from the pervasive fog of despair that envelops her.

As the decades roll by, Dorothy finds herself increasingly isolated in the bustling expanse of New York City, her once vibrant spirit fading under the weight of time’s relentless march. Yet, in 1958, she finally receives a significant literary accolade, a long-overdue acknowledgment of her artistic contributions, bringing a glimmer of recognition to her enduring legacy.