This is a curiosity to be sure. It is the only leading role on film that Elaine Stritch ever played outside her top biiled female role in 2000's comedy "Screwed". but even that was a featured role, supporting Daniel McDonald in a comedy that only came to life when she was on screen with her trademark orneriness. Elaine is far from ornery here, a kind-hearted, lonely roadside greasy spoon owner who becomes involved with the troubled drifter Stephen Hill, traveling around the country with his even more troubled sister, Sharon Farrell. Suffering from what is now known as arrested development, Farrell has a six-year-old mind in a 19 year old body and that brings trouble from the men drooling over her in this Florida wasteland. Stritch is a young widow with a baby, perhaps too big-hearted for her own good, and even though she knows about Farrell's situation, hires her simply because of her feelings for Farrell's brother, Hill. Of course when Farrell becomes too close with one of the local young man, violence ensues because of her child like nature, bringing heartache for everybody.
I always thought that the young Elaine Stritch looked like she could be the more feminine twin sister of Constance Ford, seen the very same year as the nasty mother In "A Summer Place". Elaine gives a credible performance in a script that is often cheating the viewer on consistent details and as thus, Stritch comes off unscathed, showing a passion on screen that is truly surprising. I just didn't find it believable that her character would tolerate everything that occurs in regards to Farrell simply because she is lonely and longs to have a relationship with Farrell's brother. The handsome Hill is certainly masculine and veril, but his character is written with many inconsistencies, as are several of the other supporting characters.
While I know Sharon Farrell from her many TV appearances (including a long running role on "The Young and the Restless"), I was surprised to see the intensity of her performance here. Of course, people who suffer with arrested development do not act consistent at all, sometimes seeming their physical age yet regressing without warning. Her character is troubling simply because of the writing, and I wonder if anybody noticed the almost incestuous relationship between her and her brother which is more than disturbing. This should have been packaged in the series of DVD's that had six other equally bad D grade film noir with hideous writing that contain some interesting performances. There is an obsessive religious subplot that comes out of nowhere that just seems meaningless and slows the film down to a halt when it occurs.
I can see why Elaine Stritch never acknowledged this film even though her character is fascinating to watch. Is that because it is the Broadway legend whom I have adored onstage so many times, or is it because of the character whom I did like in spite of inconsistencies? At any rate, it is a fascinating failure that I could find very little information about on the web, even finding no movie poster to represent its release anywhere. The extremely dramatic score well thunder in your mind long after the film is over.
I always thought that the young Elaine Stritch looked like she could be the more feminine twin sister of Constance Ford, seen the very same year as the nasty mother In "A Summer Place". Elaine gives a credible performance in a script that is often cheating the viewer on consistent details and as thus, Stritch comes off unscathed, showing a passion on screen that is truly surprising. I just didn't find it believable that her character would tolerate everything that occurs in regards to Farrell simply because she is lonely and longs to have a relationship with Farrell's brother. The handsome Hill is certainly masculine and veril, but his character is written with many inconsistencies, as are several of the other supporting characters.
While I know Sharon Farrell from her many TV appearances (including a long running role on "The Young and the Restless"), I was surprised to see the intensity of her performance here. Of course, people who suffer with arrested development do not act consistent at all, sometimes seeming their physical age yet regressing without warning. Her character is troubling simply because of the writing, and I wonder if anybody noticed the almost incestuous relationship between her and her brother which is more than disturbing. This should have been packaged in the series of DVD's that had six other equally bad D grade film noir with hideous writing that contain some interesting performances. There is an obsessive religious subplot that comes out of nowhere that just seems meaningless and slows the film down to a halt when it occurs.
I can see why Elaine Stritch never acknowledged this film even though her character is fascinating to watch. Is that because it is the Broadway legend whom I have adored onstage so many times, or is it because of the character whom I did like in spite of inconsistencies? At any rate, it is a fascinating failure that I could find very little information about on the web, even finding no movie poster to represent its release anywhere. The extremely dramatic score well thunder in your mind long after the film is over.