Reviews (5)

The Herdmans Strike Again!
Based on the children's novel by Barbara Robinson, with teleplay by the author of the book (hurray!), this video remains true to the book by the same name. A local church is doing the Christmas pageant for Christmas, and the family of 6 unsupervised, undisciplined children decide to get involved. They bully the other children so that they will get the main roles. Everyone is worried that this will be the WORST Christmas Pageant because the Herdmans are involved. The mother, played by Loretta Swit (MASH), shows patience and diligence, with unending hope that the whole thing will have a great ending. Despite the fact that I've been reading this book aloud to my elementary school students for years, I ended up in tears during the scene where Imogene discovers what Mary is all about. Definitely, OWN this video if you love what Christmas is really about!

I was in the play!!!
I have never seen the movie, but if it is anything like the play or the book, then you will love it. I played Beth Bradley, the narrator. Our Director, Patrick McBride, helped us with our charachters and had us look at things from the herdman's point of veiw. If the movie is anything lke the play, you will love it. (in our version, the wise men brought spam instead of ham)

Best Christmas Pageant Movie Ever
The Herdmans are the worst kids ever! They cuss, they smoke, they torture animals and people. AND they want to be in the church Christmas pageant, even though they have never heard the story of Christmas. This movie truly captures the true meaning of Christmas. See Faruza Baulk as a little girl as she narrates the story. I highly recommend reading the book first. It's a fast and easy read. It makes the movie SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.

Very Good Family movie
This movie really displays the true meaning of Christmas. I remember seeing this movie as a child- it was good then - and it is good now. I encourage anyone and everyone to view it.

HEY! HEY! HEY! Unto you a child is born!
This has got to be one of the funniest Xmas stories ever. Where else can you find a gang of pre-homicidal teenagers living in a garage? And, they want to put on the school play? Nice. (...) It's a really good book too. Read the book first before you see the movie, you'll thank me later according to the prophecy. ... Read more

Description

Anthony Hopkins gives an Emmy Award-winning performance as Adolf Hitler over the 105 days of his decline. With the Third Reich crumbling around him, Hitler rages as he faces the final hours before a choice must be made between suicide and surrender. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG!
Back when I saw 'Nixon' I thought "Hopkins doesn't look like him" and that mere fact spoiled the entire movie for me. Two days ago I was watching 'The Bunker' and my initial reaction was that same one. But as the story unfolds, Hopkins not only resembles Hitler, he becomes Hitler! All of the dictator's mannerisms, gestures, antics and tics are there, carefully woven with an eye-for-detail into what may very well be Sir Anthony's best performance to date. Every other actor doing the part just mimics Hitler's numb stupor, sudden outbursts of rage and endlessly boring conversation, but Hopkins' portrayal is far more sinister for he humanizes the monster by exposing him for the miserable nerd he really was (the scene when he clumsly dances in front of Eva Braun's camera is an acting lesson in itself). After watching the movie, one asks how did this wreck of a man ever came to power in a nation such as Germany? What did all those people ever saw in him to be blindingly shepherd into national suicide?

It's true the film has poor production values. One would hope HBO had invested in it the same resources it did for Robert Duvall's 'Stalin'. And yes, Richard Jordan's Speer appears far more heroic than the war criminal deserves to be remembered (although there's no evidence to say he acted otherwise during his stay at the bunker), and true, some minimal historical details are overlooked. Nevertheless, if you are a WWII buff, or if you just want to see an above-average TV movie, don't miss this one. Far superior than Alec Guiness' failed 'Hitler: the last ten days', and more historically accurate than Derek Jacobi's 'Inside the Third Reich'. A real tour-de-force!

Hopkins is a Weaker Hitler
This version of Hitler's last days begs comparison with the earlier production with Alec Guinness. Hopkin's Hitler comes across as weaker, less strong, but it is a careful study nonetheless. The production is top quality, although the supporting cast is a bit weak. The actor who plays Goebbels over does it a bit, while Speer is given a more sympathetic portrait than he deserves. The perspective of this movie is larger, as it covers the entire three month period of Hitler's life in the Bunker. At times a little slow, the movie is less dramatic than its earlier counter part with Guinness, but it is a worthwhile version anyway. Hopkin's Hilter starts to grow on you after a while, while his performance lacks the force of Guinness it is still a careful study of a dictator/madman in steady decline. Buy both versions of Hitler with Guinness and Hopkins and you will have a fascinating study of one of the world's most infamous leaders of the 20th Century.

Surpassing Portrayal/Slow Moving Film
As much as I'd like to rate this film high, it suffers from onof the classic symptoms of movies like these - it really needs to get moving in spots. It's kind of like going along at 55 MPH, and then coming to a stop light, ad nauseum.

Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hitler was surpassing, although I cannot compare it to someone like Alec Guinness, because I haven't seen that film yet, but for an HBO film and the choice of Hopkins, it's like some of the former reviews puts it - he grows on you, and almost transforms himself into Hitler before your eyes.

The supporting cast was okay, as far as supporting casts go. Susan Blakely played Eva Braun, although for some reason, I never expected Braun to be as attractive as Blakely portrayed her to be.

The subject matter, of course, is true to form. How the nation of Germany fell under the spell of what was to become a weak man, suffering from medical symptoms and emotional hysteria and paranoia escapes me, but don't all dictators somehow put their spell on the populace? In his case, he had Goebbels help, another character which was portrayed with chilling accuracy, all the while the propagandist trying to "pump up the Third Reich," but suggesting at times that FDR was dead, and that the cause will live on, and that the Jews were the cause of the problems they had, and wishing the world would take Germany's cue in this struggle.

A very interesting film, but I just wished it had gone a little more smoother. The pauses (momentary blackouts) were a little unnerving, especially as you get into the movie, and the 3 minute intermission was a bit much. Then there was the claim that the film was 87 minutes long. I watched it with my wife, and we figured it at two hours long.

If you're a Hopkins fan, this is a must-see. If you're a history buff, there might be other movies out there a little more appealing.

Great acting by Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins is absolutely riveting as Adolf Hitler. He captures all of Hitler's mannerisms, quirks, and facial expressions. My only complaint is that he doesn't use a German accent. The production is poor, and there are some flaws in the story. For example, Albert Speer is made out to be almost a hero in the film. It has been proven that there was actually no assassination attempt made by Speer. The guy who plays Joseph Goebbels is horrible, one of the worst acting jobs I've seen. But overall the acting is great, and the performance by Hopkins makes this movie worth owning.

Hitler's Last Days Revealed
Based on James O'Connell's best selling book, THE BUNKER is one of most accurate depictions of the last months of Adolf Hitler. Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Nixon, A Bridge Too Far) was awarded an Emmy for his portrayal of Hitler. Considerable research was put into the book and that same detail transfers to the screen. The sets of the Chancellery, Bunker emergency exit and the Bunker itself are extremly detailed and could double for historic photos of the actual sites. The late Richard Jordan (The Secret of My Success, Gettysburg) contributes a strong performance as Hitler's Armaments Minister Albert Speer -- one of the few surviving senior vistors to the Fuehrer Bunker during the last days of Nazi Berlin.

Far superior to [other]productions ..., this is a definitive docu-drama of the last days of the Third Reich. The historical accuracy is striking. Costuming is accurate in almost every detail.

THE BUNKER was produced as a television movie in 1980 as a joint US - French production. This film is long overdue for release in DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

DAVIS DELIVERS...
Legendary screen star Bette Davis gives one of her finest performances as Esther Cimino, a 73 year old woman who goes off the deep end shortly after being widowed. Hastily diagnosed by a doctor as having senile dementia, the befuddled and clearly confused Mrs. Cimino is adjudicated incompetent and has her home, business, and other assets placed in the hands of a questionable trustee, as her sons ineffectually look on.

Mrs. Cimino's loving granddaughter, Karen, sees to her welfare, usurping her father, Mrs. Cimino's son, who is all too ready to consign his mother to a sterile and expensive institution. Karen places her grandmother in a caring, convalescent home, which is governed by a director who has a personal rapport with all those in her care. Under the director's patient ministrations, Mrs. Cimino's memory and mind heal, only to discover that her sons have allowed the trustee to sell her home and all her personal belongings, including her beloved piano.

Her dignity and health restored, Mrs. Cimino sets about salvaging what she can of her life. She seeks to regain her independence and assert control over her remaining assets. On the road to self determination, she finds a long lost friend of her youth, Barney (Keenan Wynn), and his love for her inadvertently spurs her on to regain what she has lost.

Ms. Davis gives a powerful and affecting performance in the role of Esther Cimino, playing her with intelligence, grace, sensitivity, and dignity. Ms. Davis makes Mrs. Cimino a fully three dimensional woman, one whom the viewer comes to admire and respect. Ms. Davis is simply sensational.

Keenan Wynn is wonderful as Barney, a vital, vigorous, and sexy senior citizen in whose heart hope springs eternal. His relationship with Esther suggests to the viewer that the best is yet to come. It is through her relationship with Barney that the viewer discovers the underlying trauma that triggered the breakdown that set Esther on her personal odyssey.

This is an illuminating film on issues confronting the elderly, and the assumptions that are often made about them by society and family. It allows the viewer to see the fate of so many of the elderly today, given the quality of care for those who may not be able to care for themselves. It also explores alternative possibilities which tantalize the viewer with what could be. This is also not a film that is afraid to explore the possibililty of romantic love among the elderly.

All in all, this is a terrific movie that can be appreciated and enjoyed by young and old alike.

What every American should know about aging
An excellent film. Bette Davis is beyond equal in her betrayal of what happens to elderly people when life creates change and they cannot adapt. Also focuses on the family, their eagerness to make her appear confused and put her away in a nursing home for their convenience. This film depicts how Mrs. Cimino's granddaughter rescues and rehabilitates her grandmother. As an AACN board certified RN in Gerontology, I see this happen every day. Maybe if more people were aware of this movie, we would treat our elderly in a more caring manner. You might not be old now, but you will be someday.

One of Bette Davis' best performances !!!
Through the death of her husband, Mrs Cimino [Davis] has retreated into a secluded life, convincing her family and the courts that she has lost her sanity. Her personal rights are all taken away, but with the help of her grand-daughter she must fight to regain her sanity and control of her life. Bette Davis quotes in her autobiography that this portrayal was one of her best. I found this film poignant and inspirational showing the capabilities of one's own personal stength and will-power. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This is the one
I have always thought you should art by does it work or not. This works, the play is just heartbreaking, the performances all top notch, not overplayed. And I do love Glynnis O'Connor, (somebody bring back Sons and Daughters). This is so powerful I could almost not stand to see the end of it, reminds me of the end of Searching for Private Ryan. If you liked this try The Bridge Over the San Louis Rey which is just as good (not the movie, the book). I remember seeing this version of Our Town when it first came out and liking it. I read some reviews that say the lack of props bother some people, but those same people said they had trouble following the plot. I did not having any problem at all following the play, it would have hurt less if I had. Wonderful stuff. Please bring this out on DVD and drop the price so people can afford to buy it. Still worth the money though, every penny. Best thing I have seen in the last year with MAYBE the exception of City of God.

Return of the Prodigal
We had this movie on Beta. The homespun quality of the characters - HH and all of the fine cast - warms your soul. Used to seeing the play performed on step ladders, this production does not destroy the minimalism - the sets in this film version are tasteful and add a touch that I believe TW would have approved of. Now we have the movie on VHS - Return of the Prodigal indeed.

Wait for the price to drop BUT......
Moving, simple, elegant...these are the words that occur to me regarding this version of Our Town, a play which, in this video, LOOKS like a play, which makes it all the more effective. Movies are good at some things; other things, like human relationships, somehow seem more real on stage. The acting is superb, the direction unobtrusive and natural, the work itself one of those rare moments caught by an artist. Rent it, buy the laser disc, wait for it to drop in price, but see it.

Our Town
Although this is the most expensive of the Our Town videos, it seems to be the ONLY one available that is staged as a play rather than a movie. There is no scenery and there are few props and set pieces--just as Wilder meant it to be. I find this version to be the most effective for teaching students and the most interesting to watch as an individual viewer.

This Version of Our Town is a Great Pick!
Thornton Wilder's classic dramatic play comes to life on screen in this well-cast 1977 stage production. The acting is rich and the characters well-developed, and both are accented by the simple yet homey nature of the sets and backdrops. Those who have already met George and Emily in the pages of Wilder's book will be extremely pleased with this version, and those who have yet to discover Our Town will find themselves immediately intimate with the world of Grover's Corners. ... Read more

Description

NBC-TV. "Macbeth" by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. With MAURICE EVANS (as Macbeth), DAME JUDITH ANDERSON (as Lady Macbeth), HOUSE JAMESON (as King Duncan), RICHARD WARING, GUY SOREL, STAATS COTSWORTH, LEE VINES announcing. Produced by ALBERT McCLEERY and directed by GEORGE SCHAEFER. Sponsored by Hallmark Cards. From the three witches, through the murder and haunting of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and concluding with expertly staged live-television duels and battles, this is a first-rate mounting of the great tragedy, probably the finest ever televised. 103 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

--Beautiful Story--
IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE is based on the novel written by that most talented author, Rumer Godden. She's also the author of BLACK NARCISSUS, another great novel that was made into a wonderful film.

This movie begins when an attractive, well-dressed woman leaves her home and travels to an abbey. Phillipa Talbot (Diana Rigg) is a lady who has a successful career and a man who loves her, but is unhappy in that life, and enters the cloistered world of Benedictine nuns.

This is a beautiful production and Diana Rigg gives an outstanding performance as a very worldly and sophisticated person who chooses the religious life. The film is spellbinding and it's one of the few stories that really seem to take you into that unknown world where women become nuns. The relationships among the nuns and postulants were interesting and close friendships were not encouraged since everyone was to be loved equally. This story also shows how committed religious deal with their peers when jealousies arise and personalities are conflicted.

Yes, the book examines the characters more than the film, but that's always the case, and this is a marvelous production

Powerful, engaging drama
Cloistered nuns! Why, my agnostic economist friend wondered, would anyone would make a film about them? No car chases, no special effects, no sex. Only the embers of a childhood crush on Diana Rigg persuaded him lift his eyes occasionally from his laptop and glance at the TV. The glances got longer, and my friend turned the laptop off after ten minutes. He was hooked. "Brede" does that.

The story charts relationships among four women in a Benedictine abbey. Philippa is a widow who has known worldly success and searing pain. Joanna, an angel made flesh, longs for a surrogate mother. Agnes is a shrewd, stern elder. And the newly elected Abbess Catherine must transcend her fears and limitations in order to hold the convent together.

The characters are inexplicably compelling, and their lives are three-dimensional. Like all of us, they struggle through joys, pains, and daily life. Watching them is fascinating, precisely because there are no special effects or car chases to distract us-or them-from the hard, beautiful work of being human.

Honesty requires admitting that the film has flaws. Some of the scenes between Philippa and Joanna edge into melodrama, and no one seems to have the sense to sit Joanna down for a good talk. But these are thorns on a rose.

Don't just take it from me. Take it from my agnostic James Bond fan: "Brede" is worth watching. In fact, he asked to borrow the book!

Book turned into movie
The movie gives a rare glimps into conventual life as it was practiced and still is for many contemplatives. The movie might seem slow to those who prefer movies like Leathal Weapon; however, conventual life is slow and repetative. I would say that the story might have been hard to follow if you never read the book. Even with that said, it is well acted and interesting if you like nuns.

Beautiful depiction of cloistered life!
I have not yet read the book, so cannot compare the film to it. But, on its own, I found it so compelling and beautiful. This is what true devotion to Christ is about--love. And about trying and trying again until one does finally get it right. The nuns were all very real, in their demeanor, in their foibles, in their interactions and in their strivings to live a holy life. I watched "The Nun's Story" shortly after seeing "In This House of Brede" and was disgusted with its unrealistic portrayl of devotion to Christ, allowing selfishness and pride to triumph over self-giving love. "In This House of Brede" shows us a good deal of the beauty of the Catholic Church through the devotion of the religious life.

The book is so much better.
In This House of Brede is a literary gem, and I couldn't wait to see this film, especially since I am a fan of Diana Rigg's...but the film disappoints, and mightily. I understand that not all of Godden's ideas could translate easily into what was a 'movie for television', but the scriptwriter took two of the more fascinating elements of the book - Philippa's memories of her son and the young novice, Cecily, too starry-eyed to understand all she is undertaking, and twists them together into a jarring, uncomforable third character that simply feels too contrived to work. Also, one of the major themes of the book, having to do with Dame Veronica and the abbey debt (and another to do with Dame Agnes' prejudice) are all ignored. What you are left with is a sort of skeletal hinging of atmosphere with very little story. I had hoped for so much more. I really wanted to see these beloved characters come to life. That said, I believe the film was partly on location at Stanbrook Abbey, (Brede is based on Stanbrook and on St. Cecilia's Abbey in Ryde, Isle of Wight) and the interiors are terrific. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice Drama!!
This is a nice drama about how the reknowned writer F. Scott Fitzgerald met his wife while stationed in Alabama back in 1919.The movie stars Richard Chamberlin. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A minor TV film where Hepburn makes friends with a thief
When Katharine Hepburn made "The Man Upstairs" in 1992 it was her first acting project in four years. Two years later she would end her distinguished career with a couple of television films and a memorable supporting role in "Love Affair." At the age of 85 Hepburn plays Victoria Brown who has a sprawling home. One day Mooney Pulaski (Ryan O'Neal) escapes from the local penitentiary and hides out in her attic. Mooney is a jewel thief, so while he is literally an escaped convict he is not a threat to Miss Brown's life. He just needs a place to hide, along with a shower and a hot meal. Convincing Miss Brown that he is innocent, she allows him to stay.

Of course, this cannot go on forever, but "The Man Upstairs" has to develop the relationship between the odd couple before the sorrow of their ultimate parting. The story takes place during the holiday season and most of the movie has to do with Mooney and Miss Brown telling each other their stories, sharing secrets, and forming a friendship. We are not surprised that the housekeepers become suspicious and that the police start to close in on the escapee, or that Mooney is willing to make sacrifices for his new friend. O'Neil reminds us of how charming he can be as a performer and we can well understand why he would jump at the opportunity to do a film with Hepburn. Her motives for doing "The Man Upstairs" are less than clear, because having her do this role is basically overkill of the first order.

The problem is that Hepburn first forays into television movies was so solid, with productions of "The Glass Menagerie," "Love Among the Ruins," and "The Corn is Green." She was nominated for all three of those performances, winning along with her co-star Laurence Olivier for the middle work. Although she was nominated for "Mrs. Delafield Wants to Merry" several years later, you are inclined to think that was more out of a sense of habit than anything else and her final film work on television consists of trifles like this one. "The Man Upstairs" is pleasant enough, but we are talking Katharine Hepburn here and we expect something more. This is a predictable but enjoyable little story, but not much more. For fans tracking down everything Hepburn has done this is worth a look. My second viewing is due only to my spending the week watching every one of her 51 film and television appearances in chronological order.

don't waste your time
So sad that elderly Katherine Hepburn got involved in this 'stinker' at the end of her career. Not that she did a bad job, but the whole film is a disaster. The premise of the plot simply asks the viewer to stretch belief too, too far. An unusually boring movie. Ok, if you really want to see what a very elderly Hepburn looks like with palsy, or what aging, pudgy Ryan O'Neill looks like, go ahead and watch it... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Every woman's nightmare, one woman's triumph.
First You Cry is a true story about every woman's nightmare and one woman's triumph. Immediately after hosting a documentary about breast cancer, real life TV neswoman Betty Rollin (Mary Tyler Moore) discovers that she has a malignant lump in her right breast. After undergoing a complicated mastectomy, Betty first leaves her career. Then, she leaves her husband (Anthony Perkins), who she feels is unresponsive to her new situation, and falls into the arms of her former lover portrayed by Richard Crenna. Follow this bittersweet drama as Betty picks up the pieces of her shattered life and finds a way to cope with her new limitations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice Drama!!
This is a nice drama about how the reknowned writer F. Scott Fitzgerald met his wife while stationed in Alabama back in 1919.The movie stars Richard Chamberlin. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

George Peppard Rules!! Great Crime Classic!!
George Peppard rules as a Washington DC police officer whose wife and lover are murdered in bed and he takes the blame escaping to find the real murderer.It's a superb crime classic!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Julie Harris brings depth and grace to one of history's most maligned first ladies in The Last of Mrs. Lincoln. This production, part of the Broadway Theater Archive series, has been adapted for television, but not intrusively. Television allows for cuts and multiple viewing angles, but the feel of a play is very much here. The scenario follows Mary Todd Lincoln and the ill-fated Lincoln family from the year of the president's assassination through the end of Mary's life. The occasional bet-you-didn't-know historical anecdote is thrown in to the dialogue, but otherwise Mrs. Lincoln works well as a play and never feels like classroom fare. Harris reveals Lincoln's stubbornness and tunnel vision where her family is concerned but also lends her sympathy and humor. Though clearly a difficult woman to live with, she is hardly the vicious harridan who has come down through the historical rumor mill. Harris is bolstered by an excellent supporting cast, including Michael Christopher as the much put-upon Robert Lincoln, a young Robby Benson as Tad Lincoln, and Patrick Duffy as Mrs. Lincoln's favorite nephew, Lewis. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I Saw The Final Performance of "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln"
I was fortunate to be in the audience for the final performance of Miss Julie Harris in "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" on Broadway. When the curtain came down and the thuderous applause began, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

What can one say about Julie Harris's incredible performance? The entire cast was wonderful, of course, but we're talking about one of the First Ladies of the American Theatre here. My heart broke (along with everyone in the audience) when Mrs. Lincoln wrote (aloud) a letter to her beloved nephew. I tried desperately NOT to shed tears, but the floodgates were shattered all over the theatre. People were sobbing openly. I had seen nothing else that season, but was convinced that Julie would win the Tony Award for best actress. She did.

Screams of "bravo!" greeted Miss Harris as she took bow after bow. I must put this performance along side Geraldine Page in "The Trip to Bountiful," Uta Hagen in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff," Cecily Tyson in "A Woman Called Moses," Jessica Tandy in "The Gin Game," Bette Davis in "All About Eve," and Gloria Foster in "A Hand is On The Gate."

THE UNFORGETTABLE JULIE HARRIS
I HAVE ALWAYS REGRETTED NOT SEEING MISS HARRIS ON BROADWAY IN THIS PRODUCTION. THE DVD WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED REMINDED ME HOW FORTUNATE THE WORLD OF THEATRE IS TO HAVE PRODUCED SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ACTRESS. THE PERORMANCES THROUGHOUT THIS PRODUCTION ARE OUTSTANDING AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ANYONE WHO TRULY APPRECIATES THEATRE AT ITS VERY BEST. AS ALWAYS, MISS HARRIS GIVES A PERFORMANCE WHICH COMPLETELY CAPTIVATES THE VIEWER. THIS IS NOT TO BE MISSED!

"it's not the years that age us, but the loneliness"
This 1976 KCET production directed by George Schaefer is a re-creation of the 1972 Broadway play for which Julie Harris won one of her 5 Tony Awards.
Ms. Harris' performance will keep you riveted to the screen in this astounding portrayal of the ageing, troubled, and misunderstood Mary Todd Lincoln.
Exquisitely written by James Prideaux, it's a compassionate portrait of this first lady who's love for her husband made it so hard for her to live without him, and does give insight into certain things. It was Mary who installed many improvements in the White House (like plumbing !), and was never sufficiently renumerated for them by the government.

The final seventeen years of her life depicted are not all doom and gloom, thanks to the script, which is balanced with wonderful wit. I love the dialogue with Senator Austin (well played by Denver Pyle) in a sparse hotel room in Frankfurt, as well as the repartee with a malicious gossip (deliciously played by Kate Wilkinson) during her 1875 stay in Springfield.

The rest of the cast is excellent: Michael Christopher plays her son Robert, who was the only one of their children to live to full maturity, Robby Benson her beloved Tad (two other children had died previously), Priscilla Morrill and Ford Rainey play her her sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Ninian, and Patrick Duffy their grandson, Edward Lewis Baker Jr.

The costume design by Noel Taylor is marvelous, and I was especially delighted to see the reproduction of the beautiful gown adorned with flowers with matching flower headress seen in photographs of Mrs. Lincoln, and Ms. Harris wears it with beauty, grace and style.
Mrs. Lincoln died at age sixtythree in her sister's house in Springfield, the same house she was married in, and given the wedding ring with the inscription "Love is Eternal".
This is a remarkable drama for history buffs, and Julie Harris is truly the First Lady of the stage. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A minor TV film where Hepburn makes friends with a thief
When Katharine Hepburn made "The Man Upstairs" in 1992 it was her first acting project in four years. Two years later she would end her distinguished career with a couple of television films and a memorable supporting role in "Love Affair." At the age of 85 Hepburn plays Victoria Brown who has a sprawling home. One day Mooney Pulaski (Ryan O'Neal) escapes from the local penitentiary and hides out in her attic. Mooney is a jewel thief, so while he is literally an escaped convict he is not a threat to Miss Brown's life. He just needs a place to hide, along with a shower and a hot meal. Convincing Miss Brown that he is innocent, she allows him to stay.

Of course, this cannot go on forever, but "The Man Upstairs" has to develop the relationship between the odd couple before the sorrow of their ultimate parting. The story takes place during the holiday season and most of the movie has to do with Mooney and Miss Brown telling each other their stories, sharing secrets, and forming a friendship. We are not surprised that the housekeepers become suspicious and that the police start to close in on the escapee, or that Mooney is willing to make sacrifices for his new friend. O'Neil reminds us of how charming he can be as a performer and we can well understand why he would jump at the opportunity to do a film with Hepburn. Her motives for doing "The Man Upstairs" are less than clear, because having her do this role is basically overkill of the first order.

The problem is that Hepburn first forays into television movies was so solid, with productions of "The Glass Menagerie," "Love Among the Ruins," and "The Corn is Green." She was nominated for all three of those performances, winning along with her co-star Laurence Olivier for the middle work. Although she was nominated for "Mrs. Delafield Wants to Merry" several years later, you are inclined to think that was more out of a sense of habit than anything else and her final film work on television consists of trifles like this one. "The Man Upstairs" is pleasant enough, but we are talking Katharine Hepburn here and we expect something more. This is a predictable but enjoyable little story, but not much more. For fans tracking down everything Hepburn has done this is worth a look. My second viewing is due only to my spending the week watching every one of her 51 film and television appearances in chronological order.

don't waste your time
So sad that elderly Katherine Hepburn got involved in this 'stinker' at the end of her career. Not that she did a bad job, but the whole film is a disaster. The premise of the plot simply asks the viewer to stretch belief too, too far. An unusually boring movie. Ok, if you really want to see what a very elderly Hepburn looks like with palsy, or what aging, pudgy Ryan O'Neill looks like, go ahead and watch it... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

DAVIS DELIVERS...
Legendary screen star Bette Davis gives one of her finest performances as Esther Cimino, a 73 year old woman who goes off the deep end shortly after being widowed. Hastily diagnosed by a doctor as having senile dementia, the befuddled and clearly confused Mrs. Cimino is adjudicated incompetent and has her home, business, and other assets placed in the hands of a questionable trustee, as her sons ineffectually look on.

Mrs. Cimino's loving granddaughter, Karen, sees to her welfare, usurping her father, Mrs. Cimino's son, who is all too ready to consign his mother to a sterile and expensive institution. Karen places her grandmother in a caring, convalescent home, which is governed by a director who has a personal rapport with all those in her care. Under the director's patient ministrations, Mrs. Cimino's memory and mind heal, only to discover that her sons have allowed the trustee to sell her home and all her personal belongings, including her beloved piano.

Her dignity and health restored, Mrs. Cimino sets about salvaging what she can of her life. She seeks to regain her independence and assert control over her remaining assets. On the road to self determination, she finds a long lost friend of her youth, Barney (Keenan Wynn), and his love for her inadvertently spurs her on to regain what she has lost.

Ms. Davis gives a powerful and affecting performance in the role of Esther Cimino, playing her with intelligence, grace, sensitivity, and dignity. Ms. Davis makes Mrs. Cimino a fully three dimensional woman, one whom the viewer comes to admire and respect. Ms. Davis is simply sensational.

Keenan Wynn is wonderful as Barney, a vital, vigorous, and sexy senior citizen in whose heart hope springs eternal. His relationship with Esther suggests to the viewer that the best is yet to come. It is through her relationship with Barney that the viewer discovers the underlying trauma that triggered the breakdown that set Esther on her personal odyssey.

This is an illuminating film on issues confronting the elderly, and the assumptions that are often made about them by society and family. It allows the viewer to see the fate of so many of the elderly today, given the quality of care for those who may not be able to care for themselves. It also explores alternative possibilities which tantalize the viewer with what could be. This is also not a film that is afraid to explore the possibililty of romantic love among the elderly.

All in all, this is a terrific movie that can be appreciated and enjoyed by young and old alike.

What every American should know about aging
An excellent film. Bette Davis is beyond equal in her betrayal of what happens to elderly people when life creates change and they cannot adapt. Also focuses on the family, their eagerness to make her appear confused and put her away in a nursing home for their convenience. This film depicts how Mrs. Cimino's granddaughter rescues and rehabilitates her grandmother. As an AACN board certified RN in Gerontology, I see this happen every day. Maybe if more people were aware of this movie, we would treat our elderly in a more caring manner. You might not be old now, but you will be someday.

One of Bette Davis' best performances !!!
Through the death of her husband, Mrs Cimino [Davis] has retreated into a secluded life, convincing her family and the courts that she has lost her sanity. Her personal rights are all taken away, but with the help of her grand-daughter she must fight to regain her sanity and control of her life. Bette Davis quotes in her autobiography that this portrayal was one of her best. I found this film poignant and inspirational showing the capabilities of one's own personal stength and will-power. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I Saw The Final Performance of "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln"
I was fortunate to be in the audience for the final performance of Miss Julie Harris in "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" on Broadway. When the curtain came down and the thuderous applause began, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

What can one say about Julie Harris's incredible performance? The entire cast was wonderful, of course, but we're talking about one of the First Ladies of the American Theatre here. My heart broke (along with everyone in the audience) when Mrs. Lincoln wrote (aloud) a letter to her beloved nephew. I tried desperately NOT to shed tears, but the floodgates were shattered all over the theatre. People were sobbing openly. I had seen nothing else that season, but was convinced that Julie would win the Tony Award for best actress. She did.

Screams of "bravo!" greeted Miss Harris as she took bow after bow. I must put this performance along side Geraldine Page in "The Trip to Bountiful," Uta Hagen in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff," Cecily Tyson in "A Woman Called Moses," Jessica Tandy in "The Gin Game," Bette Davis in "All About Eve," and Gloria Foster in "A Hand is On The Gate."

THE UNFORGETTABLE JULIE HARRIS
I HAVE ALWAYS REGRETTED NOT SEEING MISS HARRIS ON BROADWAY IN THIS PRODUCTION. THE DVD WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED REMINDED ME HOW FORTUNATE THE WORLD OF THEATRE IS TO HAVE PRODUCED SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ACTRESS. THE PERORMANCES THROUGHOUT THIS PRODUCTION ARE OUTSTANDING AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ANYONE WHO TRULY APPRECIATES THEATRE AT ITS VERY BEST. AS ALWAYS, MISS HARRIS GIVES A PERFORMANCE WHICH COMPLETELY CAPTIVATES THE VIEWER. THIS IS NOT TO BE MISSED!

"it's not the years that age us, but the loneliness"
This 1976 KCET production directed by George Schaefer is a re-creation of the 1972 Broadway play for which Julie Harris won one of her 5 Tony Awards.
Ms. Harris' performance will keep you riveted to the screen in this astounding portrayal of the ageing, troubled, and misunderstood Mary Todd Lincoln.
Exquisitely written by James Prideaux, it's a compassionate portrait of this first lady who's love for her husband made it so hard for her to live without him, and does give insight into certain things. It was Mary who installed many improvements in the White House (like plumbing !), and was never sufficiently renumerated for them by the government.

The final seventeen years of her life depicted are not all doom and gloom, thanks to the script, which is balanced with wonderful wit. I love the dialogue with Senator Austin (well played by Denver Pyle) in a sparse hotel room in Frankfurt, as well as the repartee with a malicious gossip (deliciously played by Kate Wilkinson) during her 1875 stay in Springfield.

The rest of the cast is excellent: Michael Christopher plays her son Robert, who was the only one of their children to live to full maturity, Robby Benson her beloved Tad (two other children had died previously), Priscilla Morrill and Ford Rainey play her her sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Ninian, and Patrick Duffy their grandson, Edward Lewis Baker Jr.

The costume design by Noel Taylor is marvelous, and I was especially delighted to see the reproduction of the beautiful gown adorned with flowers with matching flower headress seen in photographs of Mrs. Lincoln, and Ms. Harris wears it with beauty, grace and style.
Mrs. Lincoln died at age sixtythree in her sister's house in Springfield, the same house she was married in, and given the wedding ring with the inscription "Love is Eternal".
This is a remarkable drama for history buffs, and Julie Harris is truly the First Lady of the stage. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This 1979 made-for-television feature is one of the rare attemptsto dramatize a chapter of America's formation. Set in 1620, the storyconcerns the religious persecution of the Puritans in England and theirdecision to emigrate to Plymouth Colony in America. Most of the action is set aboard the Mayflower and focuses on relations between the Puritans and theship's crew, whose Captain Jones is played by Anthony Hopkins. This is afairly sturdy and enjoyable piece of historical drama, with the mostimportant details about who, what, where, and why informatively answered.Richard Crenna is fine as the Reverend William Brewster, one of the Pilgrim Fathers and a veteran of relocating religious minorities to more hospitable places. David Dukes is effective as Miles Standish, giving us some insight into how this military man came to be an essential part of the Plymouthcommunity. Jenny Agutter, Trish Van Devere, and Michael Beck are also in the cast. Veteran television director George Schaefer (The Last of Mrs. Lincoln) helmed the production. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very good historical drama
This movie is excellent for those interested in the historical aspects of the pilgrims reason for leaving for the new world and what their life was like on a ship voyage in the 1600's. Richard Crenna does an excellent job at portraying Elder William Brewster who is considered by many historians to be the founder of the Pilgrim Church. Anthony Hopkins is very good in the role of the ship's captain and his acting skills enhance the film. I would recommend this movie highly.

one that Anthony Hopkins will forget
There are so few movies on the subject of the pilgrim voyage from England to the New World that this one would be useful as an addition to The Crucible for anyone teaching that historical period. As for it's merits as a movie, it will be one that Hopkins will want to forget. Everyone makes bad choices, and maybe he needed the money; if not, then there is no excuse!

An interesting twist on the Mayflower adventure
This movie, though technically speaking not the most sophisticated (part of its beauty), was nonetheless interesting. It focused on the relationship between the crew of the Mayflower and the pilgrims. A young Anthony Hopkins is, as always, a draw. Richard Crenna fits the part. The crew is especially believable, especially the guy with the salt-and-pepper beard who shows up in most every scene on deck. ... Read more