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The third and final episode of the Sarah, Plain and Tall series is a 1999 production reuniting stars Glenn Close and Christopher Walken withoriginal director Glenn Jordan. Taking the story eight years beyond theoriginal tale, Winter's End is set in a harsh Kansas winter of 1918, with the specter of death everywhere: soldiers are dying overseas duringWorld War I, influenza is at epidemic proportions in the U.S., and an old manhas returned to the Witting farm with an uncertain reception. He's JohnWitting (Jack Palance), father of Jacob (Walken), and the two men have notseen each other since John abandoned his son years ago. Reconciliation comeshard, punctuated by cliffhanger disasters (Jacob breaks his leg and burnswith a fever, Sarah almost dies in a heavy snowstorm), but this most brutal of trial periods for the Wittings still invites a viewer to yearn for a moreinnocent--perhaps mythical--time in America. A worthy and rewarding finish toa trilogy fit for families yet sophisticated enough for all ages,Winter's End may be one of the last network television classics in an era of audience relocation to multichannel cable. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Not up to par.
The movie opens in March of 1918. The long, bitter winter has yet to come to an end. There is an epidemic of influenza in town and the war has taken Anna's boyfriend overseas. Much as Jacob and Sarah did, Anna waits for every letter from him while tending the sick in town. Back home on the farm, an unexpected visitor will soon rock Sarah's family to its core.

Although 'Winter's End' sounds exciting, its frightfully dull and unprofessional. The acting is just not up to par with the first two. Glen Close, Christopher Walken and the entire cast shine in 'Sarah Plain & Tall' and 'Skylark.' After seeing those, I suppose I was spoiled. I expected that high quality when I bought 'Winter's End' and thus, I was shocked and dismayed by this poorly acted out movie. I've seen these actors/actresses at their best and they are very talented. Now, I am left baffled as to what happened here. Did they just not care this time around? Was it the director? A low budget? What? So many questions, so little answers. What really got me was when, 'Sarah' (Glen Close) was caught out in a blizzard and almost froze to death. The depth of emotion put into that scene wouldn't fill a tea spoon. 'Jacob' (Christopher Walken) put the most into it, but his acting was stilted, unreal and unnatural. Yet, the all time award for stiffness and unnatural acting would be a tie between, Jack Palance (Jacob's wayward father) and Christopher Bell (Caleb) They did a terrible job. To make matters worse, it looks as if the 'honeymoon' is over for Sarah and Jacob in 'winter's End.' There is no more of that 'spark' we enjoyed in, 'Sarah Plain & Tall' and 'Skylark.' There might be one or two scenes where they shine as they once did, but for the most part, the chemistry is dead.
The biggest highlight of the film was Sarah and Jacob's little girl 'Cassie,' played by Emily Osment. She seemed to be the only one who took her role seriously. She was a natural, and very 'real' in her part. She did a great job. But sadly the rest of the cast lost the magic that was, 'Sarah Plain & Tall.'

A 5-star trilogy, well worth a look
Christopher Walken and Glenn Close headline the cast in this excellent series of three Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.

In the first movie of the series, "Sarah, Plain and Tall," Walken plays a widowed Kansas farmer who desperately needs someone to help him rear his children while he tends to providing for the family via his farm in the early 1900s. Glenn Close plays Sarah, a woman from Maine, who responds to Walken's newspaper ad search for a wife. The rest of the story focuses on the developing relationships between Walken, Close, and the children. An excellent story and great movie -- 5 stars all the way.

In the second movie, "Skylark" (sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall), the story of Walken and Close's life continues as they face a severe drought, possible failure of the farm, and stresses those things place upon the family. Top-notch, equal in emotional impact and believability with "Sarah, Plain and Tall" -- definitely another 5-star movie.

The third movie, "Winter's End" finds an unexpected guest in Walken and Close's home -- Walken's father, long absent from any family interactions. In this movie, the children have grown considerably (I believe that all the members of the original cast are still together). While an enjoyable movie, this one is not in the same class as the first two, and hovers someplace around 3.5 to 4 stars.

I awarded the set 5 stars on the collective strength of the first two movies.

Just in case you hadn't noticed, Walken is often cast in somewhat quirky roles, but this is probably my favorite work of his. He plays a devoted father dealing with a range of believable real-life issues. These movies also underscore the incredible talent of Close, who can pull off roles as diverse as Sarah's and that of Disney's Cruella DeVil!

Do yourself a favor...if you haven't watched these movies, watch them. They are wonderful.

Have a great day!

Alan Holyoak

Excellent Family Viewing
This is excellent family viewing. It gives one a sense of how tough it was to grow up in the 1800's and early 1900's. People had to work hard for everything, certainly much different than our world where people are pampered by modern-day conveniences.
Glenn Close is one of the great actresses of all time, no question here. If you like Close, check out her excellent performance in "World According to Garp." She is also capable of playing evil as well...in "Fatal Attraction."

Watching the Sarah Plain and Tall series is a great way to help your family grow closer together.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Sarah has become family!
By the time you watch all of these (there are three) Sarah and her bunch are family. You watch the kids grow up and there are these marvelous stories and it's just good entertainment. Sarah comes to Kansas to marry a widower farmer to "make a difference" to him and his two children. The first movie concerns their meeting and eventually marrying, the second movie shows their life through a drought and forced separation and the third brings them into WW1 and some personal family problems. Everything is done perfectly and you'll enjoy these time and again. I've watched them all several times.

I love it.
I loved all three of these movies. It is nice to find a movie that you can watch with the whole family. I think the 3rd movie stayed close to the book. I wish there were more of these type of movies. ... Read more

Reviews (122)

A poetic story about love and family
"Sarah, Plain and Tall," by Patricia MacLachlan, received the 1986 Newbery Medal, a distinguished honor in the world of literature for young people. The honor was well deserved. "Sarah" is a warm, moving story.

"Sarah" is a story told in the first-person by Anna, a young farm girl who lives with her widowed father and younger brother, Caleb. Anna's father sends by mail for a prospective new wife: Sarah, a woman from the Maine seacoast. As the story unfolds, Sarah arrives on the farm and gets to know the family.

MacLachlan writes in a simple but poetic style that expertly conveys the emotions of her characters. MacLachlan is wonderful at catching the details of farm life, which the reader discovers along with Sarah. I also like the way MacLachlan evokes the Maine coastal landscape through Sarah's dialogue. There is a subtle suspense to the story: will Sarah decide to stay and become a part of the story?

I won't give away the ending. But I will say that "Sara" is a gentle and compassionate book for readers of all ages.

I may be a kid, but I have big thoughts!
Sarah, Plain and Tall is about a girl named Anna who's mother dies from giving birth to Anna's brother Caleb. Leading a very lonely life, Anna's father has no choice but to remarry. So, he puts an ad in the paper. A few days later, he gets a reply from a lady named Sarah Wheaton. She wants to take the place of Anna's mother. When Sarah arrives, Anna and Caleb can't help but noticing how very sad Sarah is. "I love the sea." she says. Will Sarah stay? With 4(and 1/2)stars what do you think? Read this book to find out!

Boring, Terrible, Not Good At All
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a short and boring book. I, an eleven-year-old boy, had to read it for Accelerated Reader, and as the story progressed it became worse and worse. I thought Sarah's letters to her brother in Maine sounded like letters a four-year-old would write to their parents from camp. The book might have been better if it had been told by another character in the story, such as Caleb or Papa. I would never recommend this book to anyone, unless they are absolutely desperate for AR points. I am very surprised that it won the 1986 Newbery Medal. No offense to the author.

Review Of
This book was a book that I did not care for. The plot was poorly developed. There is very little detail. The story goes nowhere fast. My last comment is the book is too short. If you're a person who likes short books basically about the colors blue, gray, and green, and your between the ages of 7-10, knock yourself out.

Sarah, Plain, and Tall
Sarah came to the prairie, from Maine, to marry Papa (Jacob Witting). At firs it seemed like alot to us (Caleb Witting,and Anna Witting,or Jacobs childern) to have a new mother, years after our born mother had died.

These are the words of the spirt filled, child, Anna Witting.
Her mother died the day after her younger brother, Caleb Witting was born.To Caleb a mother was a mystery, unit Sarah came into there life. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Refurbished Streetcar rides better than the original
I was age two in 1951 when Tennessee Williams's A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE had its first Silver Screen incarnation. I don't recall seeing this film during the 50s as part of a twenty-five cent, Saturday, kiddy matinee double feature. Well, we would have been bored with such grown-up tempests-in-a-teapot anyway. As an adult, I can now view both the original and this 1995 version, and reap the benefit of improved film-making technology and relaxed censorship, though both versions are substantively identical - no surprise, since they're both working off the same script.

Blanche Dubois arrives in post-WWII New Orleans from Mississippi to visit her younger sister Stella, who's married to Stanley Kowalsky. Both women were the products of a genteel, Southern upbringing, and Blanche is appalled by Stanley's brutishness and the sweltering, seedy, French Quarter apartment in which her sister happily lives. Early in life, Blanche was psychologically devastated her young husband's death. He'd committed suicide after Blanche had discovered his homosexuality and confronted him. Stella having departed the family estate, Belle Reve, for the Big City, the widowed Blanche was left to deal with the deaths of parents and the eventual loss of Belle Reve to creditors. Now, at the edge of sanity, Blanche perceives herself as a classic Southern lady fallen on hard times. But she has another side which Stanley, a male "pig" if there ever was one, immediately perceives. It's their tense interaction over several months that provides the story's conflict and seals Blanche's fate.

How do the players compare?

Alec Baldwin's 1995 Stanley is more than adequate. OK, he doesn't have the animal presence of Marlon Brando's original, but at least the former doesn't talk as if through a mouthful of cotton. And if I hear the 1951 Stanley screech his high-pitched "Stella!" one more time, I'll lose it.

The role of Blanche is better served by Jessica Lange than Vivien Leigh. To me, Leigh's version came off with a touch of spoiled brat, while Lange's embodied more of the vulnerability and residual gentility that comprised the essence of Blanche. In that persona, Leigh's illusions and delusions seemed overacted, while Lange's seemed inherently genuine. (Do I suffer from being too infatuated with Jessica's role in TOOTSIE?)

John Goodman as Mitch, who becomes smitten with Stanley's sister-in-law, is more of a flawed-yet-sympathetic figure than was Karl Malden's original. Perhaps it's because Goodman's more massive physique contrasts better with his (initial) gentleness.

Played by Diane Lane (1995) and Kim Hunter (1951), Stella is a toss-up. I give Ms. Lane the nod simply because she's a superb, contemporary actress that I fondly recall from LONESOME DOVE and UNFAITHFUL.

Purists will rage, but if I had to recommend one version over another, it would be this one. Filmed in color, it provides more atmosphere and depth than the B&W original. And the viewer no longer has to cope with the early-1950s censorship that muddied dialog and scenes having to do with homosexuality, rape and nymphomania. This is a half-century later; let's move on for Chrissakes! After all, the "classic" story is Williams's original play. (Who knows? In 2050, a third screen edition may do it even better. Perhaps it'll be a holographic presentation.)

For me, the best scene in both is at the end when Blanche is gallantly treated like the lady she believes herself to be, and she poignantly remarks, "Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." To get through life, we all do.

Simply Perfect
I've never seen the original, but this TV version was truly mezmerizing. I love Jessica Lange so I am biased when it comes to her performances. However, I had such compassion for her portrayal of Blanche. She portrays the character as such a lost and troubled soul. You feel a sence of impending doom building throughout the film which is satisfied by the film's explosive climax. The entire cast is first-rate and seem to compliment each other's performance. I could watch this one over and over.

Jessica is truly amazing!
It's hard for anyone to believe that Jessica Lange could outshine Vivien Leigh in one of the latter's signature role, but she did. Alec Baldwin is no match for Marlon Brando. However, this new version is more faithful to the original. And it's worth seeing even only for Lange's magical performance. Her final scene is truly heartbreaking.

Jessica' s best performance?
I always thought that Vivien Leigh's interpretation of Blanche will be the definitive performance for this role. I am not so sure after I watched Lange's heart-breaking performance in this version. She is truly amazing. ALthough this actress given tons of great performance in her career ('Frances', 'Country', 'Sweet Dream', 'Music Box', 'Blue Sky'), she very likely gives the performance of her career in a made for TV movie.

Excellent Version of Williams' Masterpiece
While it will not replace the classic 1951 Kazan film version, this television production of Tennessee Williams' "Streetcar Named Desire" comes textually closer and remains more faithful to what Williams actually wrote (with the exception of a few minor deletions). The most noticeable restoration is the issue of homosexuality in regard to Blanche's dead husband, which in 1951 had to be sidestepped. The performances are all quite good. Diane Lane as Stella and John Goodman as Mitch are more human and less deliberate than their Kazan counterparts, Kim Hunter and Karl Malden. Alec Baldwin does quite well, especially considering the shadow of Brando which hangs over the role of Stanley Kowalski. Baldwin may lack the complete rawness and animal sexuality, but he improves over Brando in giving Stanley a sympathetic edge; another advantage is that Baldwin does not mumble.

Which brings us to Jessica Lange, whose portrayal of Blanche is both delicately shaded and strongly characterized; she is heart-breaking and luminous. Comparing her to Vivian Leigh, it is impossible to rank one over the other, as both performances seem "definitive" (now if we only had the performances of Jessica Tandy, Uta Hagen, and Tallulah Bankead preserved). The production design for once truly emphasizes the squalor in which Stella and Stanley live and which so shocks Blanche upon her arrival. Worth purchasing, especially for devotees of Williams. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Very Realistic Story
I found this film to be a very realistic example of lifes issues that a family sometimes experiences.A husband and wife drifting apart,teenage children growing up.All of a sudden a tradgedy happens and the blaming and anger and other emotions start to pile up and the pressures of people who don't really know each other as good as they thought they did starts to surface.Can they keep it together and pull through?Well I'll just say I recommend people watch it,because in our present daily lives maybe everyone can be inspired by this great film!Go ahead and see for yourself--the whole cast was great,especially Ms.DeMornay!

Truly inspirational
I was really touched by this movie and think it's one of the best movies I've ever seen! The range of emotions and realistic family problems was so real to me.But it goes to show how tradegy can be overcome when people don't give up on each other! I thought Ms.DeMornay and the rest of the cast were great but especially Ms. DeMornay but I think all her characters and movies are great! I very highly recommend this movie for the whole family! Jim.

A great story about a family devastated by tragedy.
Well, this movie starts off with the Mahler family, Nora(Rebbeca DeMornay), the mother, Neal(Keith Carradine), the father, Clea(Thora Birch), the daughter and Simon, the son, all living in a ranch ran by Nora herself, where she shares her love of horses (which are raised by her too)with Clea and especially Simon,but Neal has never really liked living there,which makes him live after her wife's wishes, and which is tearing them both apart little by little. Then tragedy strikes the whole family, when an accident happens(which I will not reveal), leaving all the family, especially Nora heartbroken and devastated, her devastation and heartbroke blinds her of everything, she doesn't realize that the other family members are suffering too, and are devastated too, when her mother Maggie(Ellen Burstyn) arrives to the "rescue" the family from tearing apart more than they already are after hearing the terrible news,she makes Nora realize she's not the only sad person and that she should pay more attention to what's going on with the family after the accident, especially Clea(Thora Birch), which is hiding a terrible feeling which is destroying her little by little.

After hearing all this you probably wonder why the movie is called NIGHT RIDE HOME, well, it is called NIGHT RIDE HOME because of a line Maggie(Burstyn)mentions to Nora while talking to her about her ride to the ranch after hearing the devastating news and realizing that Nora has never needed her help because she always only listened to her(Maggie's)mother.

Well, I liked this movie(and recommend it) because it really gives you a look on how something terribly innocent can turn into a tragedy with you not even knowing it is happening and because it shows how families should react and deal with problems and try to solve them and that not everything in your life has to be for yourself, you have to be giving and appreciate everything and realize you are not alone in this world and have to care of others, especially your closest.

I gave the movie 4 stars because although I loved it,for me it was missing a little bit more action and I really thought the actor who played Clea's boyfriend was completely inappropiate for her, he looked awfully young for Thora Birch, and he just didn't fit into the character completely.

In addition of being a great story, this film contains the talent of Ellen Burstyn and the talent and beauty of American Beauty's Thora Birch.

A great story about a devastated family.
Well, this movie starts off with the Mahler family, Nora(Rebbeca DeMornay), the mother, Neal(Keith Carradine), the father, Clea(Thora Birch), the daughter and Simon, the son, all living in a ranch ran by Nora herself, where she shares her love of horses (which are raised by her too)with Clea and especially Simon,but Neal has never really liked living there,which makes him live after her wife's wishes, and which is tearing them both apart little by little. Then tragedy strikes the whole family, when an accident happens(which I will not reveal), leaving all the family, especially Nora heartbroken and devastated, her devastation and heartbroke blinds her of everything, she doesn't realize that the other family members are suffering too, and are devastated too, when her mother Maggie(Ellen Burstyn) arrives to the "rescue" the family from tearing apart more than they already are after hearing the terrible news,she makes Nora realize she's not the only sad person and that she should pay more attention to what's going on with the family after the accident, especially Clea(Thora Birch), which is hiding a terrible feeling which is destroying her little by little.

After hearing all this you probably wonder why the movie is called NIGHT RIDE HOME, well, it is called NIGHT RIDE HOME because of a line Maggie(Burstyn)mentions to Nora while talking to her about her ride to the ranch after hearing the devastating news and realizing that Nora has never needed her help because she always only listened to her(Maggie's)mother.

Well, I liked this movie(and recommend it) because it really gives you a look on how something terribly innocent can turn into a tragedy with you not even knowing it is happening and because it shows how families should react and deal with problems and try to solve them and that not everything in your life has to be for yourself, you have to be giving and appreciate everything and realize you are not alone in this world and have to care of others, especially your closest.

I gave the movie 4 stars because although I loved it,for me it was missing a little bit more action and I really thought the actor who played Clea's boyfriend was completely inappropiate for her, he looked awfully young for Thora Birch, and he just didn't fit into the character completely.

In addition of being a great story, this film contains the talent of Ellen Burstyn and the talent and beauty of American Beauty's Thora Birch. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Apropos
What better movie for a priest to review than 'Mass Appeal'? Directed by Glenn Jackson, and co-starring veteran actors Jack Lemmon and Charles Durning with relative newcomer Zeljko Ivanek, this story has influenced me in interesting ways.

Lemmon plays Father Farley, a jaded, settled Roman Catholic rector of a prominent parish, ultimately dis-satisfied with his lot in life but terrified nonetheless of losing it. Into this comfortable world steps an upstart seminarian Dolson (played by Ivanek), who has more principle than tact, and more passion than people skills.

The rector and the seminarian end up being placed together in a mentoring situation by the seminary dean, Mons. Burke (Durning), an autocratic moralist with strict rules on priestly formation. Various issues resound in the relationships of each of these characters with each other, the seminary, the congregation, and ultimately with their own destinies. Farley's issues with past abuse, Dolson's life on the wild side prior to seminary, and Burke's paranoia all enter the interplay of church politics and the discernment of a spiritual calling.

Farley is both irritated by and inspired by the seminarian. The seminarian takes a stand for honesty which costs him his appointment. The dean refuses to listen to anyone, including his friend Farley, and begins to question Farley's integrity as a priest as well.

Farley learns that it is never to late to hear a call, and that what he thought was his call in fact was a facade. Dolson finally realises that the in-your-face approach to public relations is not very pastoral, but his listening skills far exceed those around him, and he becomes trusted by Farley. Alas, the dean--what becomes of him? We never know.

Where God leads is a difficult question, with no easy answers, and we can spend much of our time following our version of that vocation without really ever touching the substance of it (as did Father Farley). We can be so overzealous for it that we might burn it out before it comes into being, rather like a forced hot-house flower that blooms prematurely and then dies too soon (similar to Dolson's experience).

This is an interesting film which brings up issues of polity, morality, reconciliation and redemption, themes that are far more prevalent in life than we would ordinarily think. This movie may not have mass appeal but can be enjoyed and, perhaps, give insight to all viewers, be they Roman Catholic, other denominations of Christian, of other religions, or even no religion at all.

Lemmon at his sourly best.
Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, Spencer Tracy, Montgomery Clift, Jack Lemmon--what do they have in common? All played priests, but no one more convincingly than Lemmon in this story about a popular, "bourgeois," crowd-pleasing conservative priest who is suddenly challenged by a young liberal seminarian representing honesty, forthrightness, and social change. The "message" primarily concerns the old dog, popular priest learning to change his ways, while the radical young seminarian also absorbs lessons about the real world and dealing with people. But forget about the story and its themes. As a movie, "Mass Appeal" is 3 stars; as a script 4; as a vehicle for one of the screen's most colorful, personable, irresistibly charismatic actors, it's 5 all the way. Here's proof positive: though the story calls for Lemmon to play the part of the rather "bad" guy--someone who lies and schmoozes and sugar-coats the Gospel in order to fill the offering plates each Sunday--it's his character and not the seminarian's who rivets our attention, maintains our interest, and inhabits our memories long after the film is over. The truth-telling, liberal, activist seminarian, on the other hand, is little more than a "generic" character cast from a late 1960s mold. The point is that neither of the parts is especially distinguished on the basis of the writing alone; rather, it's Lemmon's unique ability to give a "face" to his role that makes both his character as well as the film work.

Simply Amazing!
This is one of the finest films I've ever seen. As a seminarian myself, I am convinced this film should be required viewing for all seminarians, priests, and all formators in the pre-seminary and seminary systems. Jack Lemmon and Zeljko Ivanek give poweful performances as Father Tim Farley and Deacon Mark Dolson; Lemmon's character is a wildly popular but complacent parish priest. Ivanek, in the role of a newly ordained transitional deacon, plays the idealistic and brash seminarian who conflicts with Fr. Farley's "song and dance" theology. As the two interact, a friendship is forged and the aging priest rediscovers his priestly vocation from the prodding of the young deacon. Ultimately, Fr. Farley finds himself in the position of defending young Dolson against the homophobic attack of the seminary rector.
While the theology of this film is not 100% sound, the overall theme is absolutely solid and gives you a lot of truth to think about. Whether it be Deacon Dolson's sordid past or the laziness of Father Farley's priestly ministry, the issues addressed are poignant and powerful. You simply must see this film!

Mass Appeal? Massive Lawsuits!
Unfortunately too many Catholic dioceses took the advice of this movie. Now they're being sued by the victims of homosexual priests,who seduced them when they were teenagers.

Splendid Comedy About Church & Homosexuality
***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***

Father Farley (Jack Lemmon) is certainly the most popular clergyman around. His congregation adores him and his dialogue sermons are well attended. So he is not exactly thrilled when young seminarian Mark Dolson (Zeljko Ivanek) takes the word "dialogue" literally (Should women become priests?) and transforms his church into a political platform.

Mark is something of a problem, for himself and others. He would give anything to become a priest, but his moral is sometimes selective: He is filled with indignation that his sister is in love with a married man, yet his own past is not immaculate...

Being popular, providing "mass appeal", father Farley can permit himself an occasional slip of tongue and little weaknesses ("It's only wine. Making wine was Jesus's first miracle"). Yet, he owes much of his comfortable life-style (playing golf, driving a mercedes) to his unique ability to crawl, especially before Monsignor Burke (Charles Durning). And it's so easy to find excuses: a broken marriage or a potential abortion are always at hand when he isn't in the mood to spend an evening with his superior. Harmless little lies...

But now Monsignor Burke is concerned about two seminarians who apparently maintain homosexual relations, and instructs Farley to , well, spy ont them. Farley is furious at the thought of having to do this dirty work, but his fear to be pushed off to Iowa or some other province is a stronger driving force.

Just watch the following sequence to understand why Lemmon is considered by so many people (including me) as the greatest actor who ever lived. While Mark reproaches Burke with homophoby ("St. John always referred to himself as the one whom Jesus loved. Jesus was also a man! And he asked for love!"), Farley tries at once to be in and out of the room, to mediate and to be invisible, to help the boy, but without falling into disgrace himself.

The only consequence of Marks outburst of fury is, that Monsignor Burke now suspects him of being gay himself. Still, he is willing to postpone his exclusion from the seminary for a month, under the condition that father Farley takes him under his wings. In Farleys opinion, Mark is sincere but needs guidance. But Mark is not enthusiastic: "You're popular. That doesn't mean you can teach me what I have to learn."

Before Farley allows Mark to give a sermon to his congregation, he has to learn "charm" and "technique". What if he doesn't please the audience? As a precaution, Farley introduces him as a "new James Dean", an appropriate comparison, since Mark manages to scandalize many church-goers ("I come here because of you. I don't want to be preached to" says a lady to Farley).

Farley's lessons about what a priest has to learn (How to console mourning relatives?) glide imperceptibly into a confession. The moment when Farley reveals that he was a beaten child is a shock for the viewer ("My mother remarried. I hate her new husband. I cry myself to sleep because I think that she will go to hell"). But now his lonely life as a young priest ("Men ignored me. Women were painfully polite to me") is over! Never will he sacrifice his comfortable home, HIS people. Not for Mark, not for anyone!

One evening, during dinner, he draws Mark out about his sexual past ("Have you ever seen Paris?"). Mark cannot lie to Farley, and he cannot lie to Monsgnor Burke (although Farley implores him to). Burkes reaction is what was to be expected: He throws Mark out. Father Farley has now to make the decision of a lifetime. Can he rise above himself?

The screenplay (Bill C. Davis, from his play) is nothing short of brilliant. Funny, yet touching, filled with humor, but not for the dumb and dumber but for smart and discriminating viewers. The beautiful music is by Bill Conti.

The performances are impeccable, all actors shine, but it's really the star who makes this film. I have been exposed to method-acting during my whole life now. I hear them mumble. I see them stare. The most famous exponent of this species has just two facial expressions: either teeth clenched or mugging, but this with great self-assurance. So, if I want to see REALLY great acting from time to time I have to rely on Lemmon. Just watch the expression in his eyes, when, at some point, he is driven to slap the boy in the face: this moment he is overwhelmed by his own, sad childhood memories. Or, when his "dutch courage" (from wine) enables him to confront Monsignor Burke with the words: "Celibacy is celibacy. Even if your thing is goats!". It's such a finely tuned and precise performance, so colourful, dazzling and full of verve, that I still cannot understand why this film was so overlooked, by audiences and academy-members alike.

I can recommand this film to everyone. It's a masterpiece. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The most-watched made-for-television movie of the 1990s (50 million viewers upon first broadcast in 1991), this fine adaptation of Patricia MacLachlan's novel stars Glenn Close as Sarah, a Maine schoolteacher who responds to a Kansas farmer's newspaper ad seeking a bride. Set in 1910, the story followsSarah's trial run as stepmother to the children of the widowed Jacob Witting(Christopher Walken). The tough part of the experiment is the conflictingexpectations the would-be couple have over Sarah's role in the household.The kids, too, have their doubts about a substitute for their mother, andJacob isn't ready, emotionally, for a new beginning. But in short order the strong-willed Sarah brings happiness and vitality into the house, and loveand understanding eventually blossom between the two lonely adults.Everything is right about this Hallmark production, from a bright scriptcowritten by MacLachlan to Glenn Jordan's sensitive direction and a pair of first-rate leads making every moment worth watching. A wholesome tale fromthe heartland, this is a good movie for any viewing situation, from anaudience of one to an entire family. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (122)

A poetic story about love and family
"Sarah, Plain and Tall," by Patricia MacLachlan, received the 1986 Newbery Medal, a distinguished honor in the world of literature for young people. The honor was well deserved. "Sarah" is a warm, moving story.

"Sarah" is a story told in the first-person by Anna, a young farm girl who lives with her widowed father and younger brother, Caleb. Anna's father sends by mail for a prospective new wife: Sarah, a woman from the Maine seacoast. As the story unfolds, Sarah arrives on the farm and gets to know the family.

MacLachlan writes in a simple but poetic style that expertly conveys the emotions of her characters. MacLachlan is wonderful at catching the details of farm life, which the reader discovers along with Sarah. I also like the way MacLachlan evokes the Maine coastal landscape through Sarah's dialogue. There is a subtle suspense to the story: will Sarah decide to stay and become a part of the story?

I won't give away the ending. But I will say that "Sara" is a gentle and compassionate book for readers of all ages.

I may be a kid, but I have big thoughts!
Sarah, Plain and Tall is about a girl named Anna who's mother dies from giving birth to Anna's brother Caleb. Leading a very lonely life, Anna's father has no choice but to remarry. So, he puts an ad in the paper. A few days later, he gets a reply from a lady named Sarah Wheaton. She wants to take the place of Anna's mother. When Sarah arrives, Anna and Caleb can't help but noticing how very sad Sarah is. "I love the sea." she says. Will Sarah stay? With 4(and 1/2)stars what do you think? Read this book to find out!

Boring, Terrible, Not Good At All
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a short and boring book. I, an eleven-year-old boy, had to read it for Accelerated Reader, and as the story progressed it became worse and worse. I thought Sarah's letters to her brother in Maine sounded like letters a four-year-old would write to their parents from camp. The book might have been better if it had been told by another character in the story, such as Caleb or Papa. I would never recommend this book to anyone, unless they are absolutely desperate for AR points. I am very surprised that it won the 1986 Newbery Medal. No offense to the author.

Review Of
This book was a book that I did not care for. The plot was poorly developed. There is very little detail. The story goes nowhere fast. My last comment is the book is too short. If you're a person who likes short books basically about the colors blue, gray, and green, and your between the ages of 7-10, knock yourself out.

Sarah, Plain, and Tall
Sarah came to the prairie, from Maine, to marry Papa (Jacob Witting). At firs it seemed like alot to us (Caleb Witting,and Anna Witting,or Jacobs childern) to have a new mother, years after our born mother had died.

These are the words of the spirt filled, child, Anna Witting.
Her mother died the day after her younger brother, Caleb Witting was born.To Caleb a mother was a mystery, unit Sarah came into there life. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Les Miserables: Literary Masterpieces
Many versions have been made by this classic tale written by Victor Hugo, but none does justice than the 1978 version of top-rated performances by Richard Jordan & Anthony Perkins. This classic story of "one man's search for freedom and another's quest for revenge" will be enjoyed and loved by both men and women. Life's lessons on forgiveness and the giving of oneself to another, portrays a heroic adventure that few dare to endure till the very end. A great paper to write about for school; a great movie to watch as a family and to open for conversation with parents and their children afterwards. A must see by all!

A Solid Adaptation
This was the first of the many film and TV adaptations of Les Miserables that I saw. Made for British TV, and originally shown in two parts, it goes into more detail than some of the theatrical versions, and does a reasonably good job of distilling Hugo's sprawling story into a dramatic presentation. Jordan as Valjean and Anthony Perkins as Javert are both rock-solid; a major improvement over the more exaggerated characterizations of Fredric March and Charles Laughton in the 30s Hollywood version. I rate this one slightly higher than the recent Liam Neeson-Geoffrey Rush production.

DVD is missing 30 minutes
This 1978 British television production is one of the better English-language adapatations of Les Miserables. Unfortunately, the DVD release is missing 30 minutes of footage. Originally shown in two parts at a length of 150 minutes, the DVD edit has been chopped down to 120. (The VHS tape edition plays complete.)

Had I known this disc was an incomplete version I would not have purchased it. If you want to see the complete film --- and it's well worth it --- you'll need to buy the VHS tape.

Quel dommage! (What a shame!)

This "Les Mis" is "Les Bomb"
I had never been interested in the story of Les Mis until I saw this film in one of my classes. I was captivated! No doubt, the special effects (few and far between) aren't especially top-notch, but I loved it still. The movie tells the story of a poor thief turned rich mayor and war-time hero! Amazing! I read the book some time after and enjoyed it just as much. In fact, I hummed the tune of the musical score the entire time I read it, and I'm only a teenager!!!

Still moving after all these years....
I saw this when it was originally telecast in the late 70s on TV as an Hallmark special presentation, and I never forgot it. What a relief to find it's available on video. However, I'm disappointed that it's been cut down to 2 hours - the original telecast on TV divided it into 2 showings (2 consecutive evenings), about 3 hours apiece, if I remember right. Not including commercials, I would estimate the original (uncut) version was about 4-5 hours. So, in this VHS version, the story moves VERY fast to squeeze it into 2 hours. Still great to watch, but again, it's very trimmed down and every scene moves very quickly. It would be great in the future if it would become available in the original uncut version on DVD or a 2 or 3-set VHS version. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

ONE OF NEIL SIMON'S BEST
Excellent cast and extremely well written material. Only when I Laugh shows Marsha Mason at her best along with the late James coco and Joan Hackett. We also see a very talented Kristy McNichols. Can't wait for the DVD release of this classic!

Can't Wait for DVD
I hope they come out with a DVD of this classic soon. This is a very special movie. If they don't convert it to digital soon, I'm going to burn a VHS into DVD. They don't even have this movie in stock on Amazon anymore.

Kristy McNichol rocks in this movie. Marsha Mason did an award winning performance. If this doesn't get converted to DVD soon, I'm going to complain to the movie company that holds rights to the movie.

The Reality of Recovery
Another classic Neil Simon-Marsha Mason collaboration (when they were married), "Only When I Laugh" is aptly-titled: as Mason's character explains, she laughs only when her heart is pierced. In her case here, that happens a lot and is masterfully crafted by Simon's bittersweet perspective of his lead character's life, and Mason's flawless delivery. Her character is a recovering alcoholic, and it is her rocky road to recovery that is the benchmark of this film. On the surface, it's much too easy to assess the film as a story about alcoholism. Actually, it's about recovery. And, as most recovering addicts do (God bless 'em), Mason's character finds that life even without chemicals isn't always a bed of roses. As Mason's daughter, Kristy McNichol is the poster child for Al-Anon, and she is awesome as the child of a recovering addict. Sadly, the two strongest supporting performers aren't with us anymore, but Joan Hackett and James Coca are truly magnificent as the friends who carry Mason through the harshness of recovery and, all too commonly, her "slip." It's a timeless message about recovery, and it's a jewel made all the more remarkable by Simon's obvious knowledge about his subject.

Every Time , I Laugh.
This is a terrific movie. Marsha Mason is wonderfully funny and touching as "Georgia", the recently re-habbed actress. Written by her then husband, Neil Simon, and taken from his original stage play, "The Gingerbread Lady", it is full of witty New York theater repartee, as only Simon could write, incomprabley delivered by Marsha Mason. It starts with "Georgia's" somewhat premature (fresh out of rehab) re-immersion into the world of theater via the starring role in a somewhat biographical play, written by her former lover , with whom she had the turbulent relationship that preceded her breakdown. Through the emotion of that experience, and her relapse, she is accompanied by her two best friends, also wonderfully played by James Coco and Joan Hackett. Their 3 way friendship would be called co-dependent nowadays, then...it was just being a supportive good friend. (I think we were better off without the present definition.) You will want these kooky, dear, flawed people as your friends. Kristy McNichol projects just the right quality as the on-the-ball off-spring. Georgias attempts to re-establish a relationship and trust with her previously somewhat ignored daughter are very funny and very touching, with McNichol often ending up as the parental figure. This is just a wonderful, under-rated little gem of a movie, a sweet story in which Marsha Mason gives one of the best performances I've seen. I consider her a terrific actress, and it's a shame that, for whatever reason, she is not creating more wonderful roles. She takes a good story and makes it great. A lovely, funny film about friendship, human frailties, perseverence, and the resilience of the human spirit. LOVE it !

A Real New York movie!
Great performances from the entire cast,especially the late Joan Hackett as a gal trying desperately to hold on to her youth! Shows NYC at its best! A film to watch again and again! Kristy Mcnichols could have been a BIG STAR! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Wonderful - will stay with you for years
This is one of the best. When elderly widower Sam Peak befriends a stray white dog that no one else can see the family is sure he is becoming senile. Everyone that is but the maid who asserts that it must be a ghost dog and that no good can come of it. She's seen it before. The dog will surely lead Sam to his death. When a strong willed Sam decides to take the dog with him on an out of town trip to his high school reunion (without the knowledge of his two overprotective daughters), it sure looks like she might be right. But appearances can be deceiving.

This is a heart warming and perfectly portrayed movie of the strength and endurance of love beyond all bounds. Guaranteed to make you cry and smile at the same time.

One of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen
Shortly after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Sam Peek loses his beloved wife Cora to a heart attack.

Told from the perspective of his son James, this heart touching story tells of Sam and his family. One day shortly after Cora's death, a snow white dog shows up on Sam's porch. Sam grudgingly feeds and eventually takes the dog in. The problem is, when he tells his children about the white dog, they think he is losing his mind because only Sam can see it. The dog stays with Sam and becomes his constant companion. Eventually, he realizes that the dog is really Cora, back to take care of him through his last days.

A heartwarming and sometimes humorous story of everlasting love. It never fails to bring a tear to my eys.

Positively Beautiful.
This movie is deeply touching. The dog is gorgeous. The acting is high-quality. This is an embarrassingly short review, but there really is nothing more to say, except, "See this great film!"

Touching Story; Little-Known Predecessor to "Fluke"
I just happened to be perusing the "Drama" shelf at my local Blockbuster when I saw this movie that obviously looked as though this old man's beloved wife died and returned to him as a beautiful white dog. Naturally I thought of my other favorite reincarnated dog-person movie, "Fluke," which was made 2 years after this film. So I rented the Hallmark video and watched it. The story was original, touching, and moved quickly enough. It was sweet and mysterious but simple enough to understand. It wasn't at all a bore. I loved it. The old man was endearing, the dog was gorgeous, the children were annoyingly caring, it had romance and suspense and sadness. This movie was truly worth it. What a lovely film.

To Dance with the White Dog
This movie is wonderful heartwarming the true meaning of love a really great movie makes the heart feel better... ... Read more

Description

From the Actor 1966 ABC-TV. "Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory" with GERALDINE PAGE, DONNIE MELVIN. Narrated by TRUMAN CAPOTE. In Black and WHite.Emmy Award winning adaptation of Capote's recollection of his youth in the rural South during the Depression. Living with a slightly dotty but loving "cousin," Capote remembers back to when he was about 10 years old and it was suddenly decided that "it was fruitcake weather." The task of baking 30 cakes for mostly far-away friends and the other rituals of Christmas time are painted with such loving and nostalgic strokes, this becomes a truly beautiful Christmas experience. The poverty of the 1930s fails to stop or even slow down a loving relationship at a loving time of the year. An Emmy Award well deserved! Recommended. 51 minutes ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Terrific
I was so happy to be able to locate the Black and White version of this movie after a long search. I wish the film industry would leave well enough alone instead of remaking or colorizing movies as it ruins the intent of the original filmaker. My students and I really enjoyed both the movie and learning about the techniques used.

A black and white rip-off
Our family has watched Capote's excellent color film "A Christmas Memory," originally taped from a TV, for years. This "new" VHS version is a black and white, low-quality, grainy version that no one who has seen the original would want to buy. Having dealt with Amazon for years, I am shocked that they would offer such a shoddy, overpriced product for sale!

What a rip off!!!!!
My husband copied this program way back when in COLOR. When I saw this offered, I figured I could give it to him as a present. Not only is this reproduction in black and white but the quality is very poor. My husband's old copy on VHS is of better quality than this.

Perhaps Amazon should stop offering it?

Lousy Reproduction
It's a shame such a fine story is presented for resale in such poor quality black and white. This was broadcast in COLOR and I would have assumed it would have been copied in color. Unless Mad Phat can re-issue in color they should withdraw it from their offerings.

Poor Quality Print
"A Christmas Memory" (ABC 1966) and the companion piece "The Thanksgiving Visitor" (ABC 1967) were films by Frank and Eleanor Perry. Geraldine Page won an Emmy for each production. The films were shot in Alabama in color and have rarely been seen since the original broadcasts.
This version is a very poor quality black and white kinescope . It does not include any special material such as Stage 67 title sequence or commercials, extras which sometime distinguish a kinescope. Excellent color prints were shown on the A&E cable network in 1993. See also "Truman Capote's Trilogy" (1969) for a slightly edited version of "A Christmas Memory" and the companion book by the Perrys (1969). ... Read more

Amazon.com

This HBO original comedy, adapted by Larry Gelbart (Tootsie) from the book by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, concerns one of the most compelling tales of corporate buyout madness in the go-go 1980s. James Garner plays F. Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR Nabisco. Following failed and expensive efforts to sell a smokeless cigarette to the public, Johnson decides that he's had enough of navigating around the wrath of the company's stockholders. Drawing up plans to buy RJR Nabisco outright, he soon finds himself outmatched (though still determined) in a race for the prize with takeover king Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce). The ensuing battle is both bitterly funny and full of acid-tinged insights into the '80s greed that changed corporate America forever. Besides Gelbart's great script and Glenn Jordan's competent direction, the star of this exciting film is Garner, who is absolutely wonderful as the gracious Johnson. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great entertainment if you like Wall Street, etc.
People who complained that this movie doesn't compare to the book should relax a little. Any movie that's based on books cannot do the book justice in less than 2 hours. If you have 3 hours a la Lord of the Rings or 4 hours like the A&E production of Pride & Prejudice, then maybe and I would have adjusted my rating accordingly.

But this movie is under 2 hours and managed to take a very complicated topic in Leveraged Buy-Outs (LBO's) in one of the biggest LBO's of our time in RJR-Nabisco and manages to make the story very entertaining. It flows quickly and I had no trouble following what's going on.

The acting is superb; Jonathan Pryce played Henry Kravis as a cold, calculated and ruthless corporate raider (whether Kravis is like that in real life I don't know) and James Garner did a nice job as F. Ross Johnson. Overall, if you like wall street type movies like Wall Street with Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, I would highly recommend this movie. In fact, I like this better than Wall Street.

Infamous LBO and Characters Interestingly Depicted
In the wild and wooly 1980s, leveraged buyouts (LBOs) -- financed predominantly through the issuance of junk bonds -- reigned supreme. James Garner gives a nice performance as CEO of RJR Nabisco, F. Ross Johnson. After reluctantly meeting with KKR's LBO guru Henry Kravis (portrayed masterfully by Jonathan Pryce), Johnson figures it would be best to go his own route to accomplish the buyout; after all, Johnson wants to retain his autonomy and Pryce would unlikely allow this to happen.

An all-out power war ensues, with Johnson working with Shearson Lehman Brothers pitted against Kravis and the powerhouse Drexel Burnham Lambert (mysteriously downplayed).

The performances are great and the storyline moves fast and holds your interest. Not to be missed if the dynamic world of finance is your thing. A very different movie than Wall Street both cinematically and contextually.

Stars James Garner, Jonathan Pryce (really, really good), and Peter Riegert.

I could see this movie over and over
This is a great movie, particularly for someone interested in true stories of corporate behavior. Several of my finance professors when I was pursing my MBA recommended this movie. I was not disappointed.

Due to a high volume of profanity, this movie is not appropriate for young children.

Not as great as the book, but a DELIGHTFUL farce
The book this movie is made from is a masterpiece of business literature. It is impossible to make that wonderful book into anything less than an extended documentary or a several part mini-series. That being admitted and set aside, this is a very good and very funny movie. Amazingly, it tells a lot of the actual story as you can cram into a standard movie format.

It is bitingly funny and like all satire that truly bites, it is funny because it is based on truth. This movie condenses the RJR - KKR competition into something like a farce (as it seemed in the papers at the time). Some may object to making such a huge deal into something of a joke, but c'mon, this whole deal had a large dose of the absurd about it. How else could they have played this story in two hours?

And it is has the additional benefit of being educational for business students. You will see how managers misuse shareholder money by treating it as if it were their own (agency costs). You will see planeloads of money poured into bad projects (NPV). You will see naked greed, inept investment advice, and broken trust (corporate ethics). You know, late 20th century American business! It is funny, dramatic, and a bit touching, for example, as they fly the sick pooch home on his own private corporate jet. (Which some deny every happening, but it has entered the realm of legend - so whether it happened or not it has become something like a kind of truth.)

James Garner is terrific (he almost always is) as is the whole cast. It really is a delightful movie and that is almost miraculous given how deadly boring this topic could have become.

But don't forget to read the book!

If you read the book, it's a disappointment.
If not, it can be funny even to laymen. Obviously, it's practically impossible to transfer everything from the book to movie. So don't expect too much, Wall Street guys. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Adaptation!
I thought this adaptation would have gotten a nod from Willa Cather. The scenery was beautiful, the characters just as Willa Cather drew them in her book by the same title. Jessica Lange was Alexandra with her quite dignity, and strong will and the chemistry between she and Carl was very believable. Perhaps the best characters were Maria (Anne Heche) and Emile, who did a superb job at playing star crossed lovers. I was very impressed with the screen play. There were so many quotes from the book, who ever did it had a good sense of the book. There were only two faults I found with the film and that was the casting of two characters. I believe they could have found someone else to play the younger Alexandra. Heather Graham seemed too stiff and her accent was always slipping. The other character was the land. There should have been more shots of it. The land was such a central part of the book. It is what gave Alexandra her strength and her faith.

If one likes very accurate novels into film or period pieces and great actor/actress chemistry this is a great movie to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great performance! Don't overlook it.
I can't commend this highly enough. I saw it on the local Public Television station here in Chicago when it was first broadcast in the early 1970s, and it made a tremendous impact on me. This play, and the very similar "Awake and Sing," are depression era dramas written by Clifford Odets and originally produced for the stage in the mid 1930s, when they were the cutting edge of contemporary theatre and dealt with contemporary issues. These new DVDs contain television productions done with top-notch casts in the early 1970s. I found them unforgettable, and am delighted to be able to savor them again after 30-plus years. They're just as good as I remember.

They tell their stories from a rather specific perspective, i.e., that of well-educated middle- and upper-middle class Jewish families living in New York, and falling on hard times during the depression. These people have pretensions of gentility and high culture, but quickly-encroaching poverty is grinding at that façade and leaving them without much more than primal survival instincts. The main themes they deal with, as I read it, are familial love (and how it sometimes mutates into betrayal or hate under pressure of poverty), what we owe to our fellow humans and vise versa, grace or the lack of it under extreme pressure, and the wisdom or folly of optimism for the future. I expect there are themes, subtleties, and symbolisms that I overlook, but they're extremely rich brews of ideas that can keep you pondering long after having seen them. What they are most emphatically NOT is light entertainment. Dark and somewhat depressing, they explore how severe economic pressures degrade the quality of life, and poison relationships with our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, community and government. In this, they are not the least bit dated, and show that while individual issues may vary with time, human nature doesn't.

All of the above may make Odets' plays sound a bit ponderous or academic, but they're really gripping dramas, done here by superb players. Eli Wallach's impassioned, desperately optimistic speech at the end of "Paradise Lost" always gets me a bit teary-eyed.

The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is that the dated video source presents a slightly fuzzy picture with inconsistent color quality, and the sound quality is mediocre at best. This, to me, is of little importance when dealing with such excellent content. The fact that there are no other comments here thus far suggests that people are passing these up. It's really great stuff. Don't miss it. Buy it, to encourage more of the same on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Unsung Gem of a TV Movie
Featuring the young Alec Baldwin at his most compelling, Dress Grey (screenplay by Gore Vidal), is a political murder mystery with a Southern Gothic touch. Fans of "Advise and Consent," "The Best Man," etc. will enjoy the slightly over-the-top military-school machinations of a bunch of fine character actors like Hal Holbrook, Alexis Smith, Lloyd Bridges, Eddie Albert et al, and mystery fans won't be disappointed by the plot, which has plenty of twists and turns and even a couple of truly tense and suspenseful moments. Frank discussion of homosexuality in military school setting my be a turn-off for some (and a turn-on for others, for whom Baldwin and fellow students provide plenty of eye-candy.) Long enough for more than one bowl of popcorn, consistenly interesting, a must-see. Not sure what the diffence is between the slightly different prices and number of tapes listed here, I have viewed the double tape version, buy others at your own risk.

A suspensful miltary thriller set in the 1960's!
This video deals with a miltary school in the 1960's. A cadethas died.The miltary are looking into the matter. Everyone issuspect. Alec Baldwin plays a cadet who gets set up during the trial of his fellow cadet. The movie is fast as the miltary is trying to avoid a media frenzy on the base. This movie also deals with gays and the miltary. There is a slight hint that maybe the cadet was killed by a gay lover. Of course the miltary back then would not like this stuff out to the media. The movie is a very suspenseful thriller in the 1960's! This video features an an all star cast Alec Baldwin(The Hunt For Red Ocober,Mecury Rising),Lane Smith(Superman TV series)Lloyd Bridges(the hot shot movies) and others! look for some up and coming stars in this video as well! ... Read more

Description

Producer-director Glenn Jordan brought together two Tennessee Williams plays, written twenty years apart, that examine the theme of isolation with searching clarity. The joint presentation, entitled "Dragon Country," features the world premiere of "I Can't Imagine Tomorrow," starring Kim Stanley and William Redfield, and a much earlier work, "Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen," starring Lois Smith and Alan Mixon. Together, the dramas delve into "a land of endured but unendurable pain, where each one is so absorbed, deafened, blinded by his own journey across it, he sees, he looks for, no one else crawling across it with him." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Unsung Gem of a TV Movie
Featuring the young Alec Baldwin at his most compelling, Dress Grey (screenplay by Gore Vidal), is a political murder mystery with a Southern Gothic touch. Fans of "Advise and Consent," "The Best Man," etc. will enjoy the slightly over-the-top military-school machinations of a bunch of fine character actors like Hal Holbrook, Alexis Smith, Lloyd Bridges, Eddie Albert et al, and mystery fans won't be disappointed by the plot, which has plenty of twists and turns and even a couple of truly tense and suspenseful moments. Frank discussion of homosexuality in military school setting my be a turn-off for some (and a turn-on for others, for whom Baldwin and fellow students provide plenty of eye-candy.) Long enough for more than one bowl of popcorn, consistenly interesting, a must-see. Not sure what the diffence is between the slightly different prices and number of tapes listed here, I have viewed the double tape version, buy others at your own risk.

A suspensful miltary thriller set in the 1960's!
This video deals with a miltary school in the 1960's. A cadethas died.The miltary are looking into the matter. Everyone issuspect. Alec Baldwin plays a cadet who gets set up during the trial of his fellow cadet. The movie is fast as the miltary is trying to avoid a media frenzy on the base. This movie also deals with gays and the miltary. There is a slight hint that maybe the cadet was killed by a gay lover. Of course the miltary back then would not like this stuff out to the media. The movie is a very suspenseful thriller in the 1960's! This video features an an all star cast Alec Baldwin(The Hunt For Red Ocober,Mecury Rising),Lane Smith(Superman TV series)Lloyd Bridges(the hot shot movies) and others! look for some up and coming stars in this video as well! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent acting by all stars-A movie with immediate insite
Enjoyable movie that doesn't waste time letting you in on the feelings and problems of all the characters involved in a most down to earth, comical way that holds your interest from begining to end. Delightful story about a bunch of messed up grown-ups, who through the relentless efforts of an equally messed up, but very determined adolesent, all eventually find the road to love and happiness. Excellent performances by all stars.

A wonderful, down to earth love story -- unforgettable
This is a romantic comedy about a writer who temps as a security guard in a school. He discovers that Sarandon is sending her son to a school out of her district and in the process of his investigation, becomes interested and empathetic to the child and falls in love with Sarandon. The story is realistic and funny, and one of the great early dreyfuss/sarandon films.

An Excellent Movie
This movie is one of the very best I've ever seen. A light-hearted comedy starring Richard Dryfus and Susan Sarandon, it portrays a a profound friendship that eventually leads to a love match. I highly recommend it. Now, if the studio would only release it because I would love to own it.

Boring tale that even Sarandon and Dreyfuss can't save.
Susan Sarandon plays a single mom who dates boorish men, Richard Dreyfuss is a school security guard who can't convince his girlfriend to marry him. In an oh-so-predictable plot, Sarandon's son (Wil Wheaton) tries every trick in the book to get them together. Wheaton is obnoxiously whiny, not cute, as the slow moving tale winds its way towards a sappy ending. A few laughs, but not worth the trouble.

its touching and funny, they all worked well together
the boy and dreyfus had great chemistry and had me laughing from the start.and as usual sarandon gave a phenominal proformance.i found it touching how they came together like a family.i give this movie two thumbs up ... Read more

Description

For Faye Dunaway, Hogan's Goat by William Alfred "was the play that led to everything." "Everything" was Bonnie and Clyde, which brought her instant stardom. With this television production Ms. Dunaway returned to the role she originated at The American Place Theatre in 1965, that of Kathleen Stanton, of which she said, "Emotionally, I'm very close to Kathleen Stanton--this sensual and spiritual struggle of a woman of good birth, convent-bred, yet dominated by her senses." The play revolves around the tensions in her marriage to an Irish immigrant whose years of political loyalty have finally made him the prime candidate for mayor of Brooklyn. "A deeply moving presentation." --The New York Post. With Rue McClanahan, Philip Bosco, George Rose, and Margaret Linn. ... Read more