History YMMV / APlaceInTheSun

* DesignatedHero: George is presented as a sympathetic and tragic character despite the fact that at the very least, he's cheating on Alice with Angela or vice versa, and even worse, using Alice for sex until he and Angela are married. Then he does everything possible to avoid his responsibilities when Alice tells him she's pregnant and plans to ''kill her''--even if he changed his mind at the last second, something that's still incredibly ambiguous, it doesn't change what he originally had in mind--so that he can secure his place in high society.

* JustEatGilligan: All George has to say at the trial to have a fighting chance is that if he was guilty, he would be denying every single thing he was asked about and therefore, confirming everything except killing Alice should put more doubt in the jury's minds.

* ValuesDissonance: Alice's desperation to marry George to avoid the stigma of being an unwed mother. Obviously a major taboo for the time, but wouldn't be a big deal today.

* JustEatGilligan: All George has to say at the trial to have a fighting chance is that if he was guilty, he would be denying every single he was asked about and therefore, confirming everything except killing Alice should put more doubt in the jury's minds.

* ValuesDissonance: Alice's desperation to marry George to avoid the stigma of being an unwed mothers. Obviously a major taboo for the time, but wouldn't be a big deal today.

* Unintentionally Sympathetic: Alice. She was shy and sweet but as soon as it becomes apparent that she can't get an abortion, she is relentless in nagging for a marriage. It was suggested that the script made her seem unlikable to test the conscience of audiences who are moved to agree with George, there is also the era to consider. Abortion was not legal or safe, she was not well-educated, unwed mothers were pariahs, in the end all she is guilty of is urging George to stop chasing his dreams of wealth and start appreciating "the little things in life".

* JerkassWoobie: Alice. She was shy and sweet but as soon as it becomes apparent that she can't get an abortion, she is relentless in nagging for a marriage. It was suggested that the script made her seem unlikable to test the conscience of audiences who are moved to agree with George, there is also the era to consider. Abortion was not legal or safe, she was not well-educated, unwed mothers were pariahs, in the end all she is guilty of is urging George to stop chasing his dreams of wealth and start appreciating "the little things in life".