Certainly, the star power of this made for cable (one of the first) is not one of them. I can't pinpoint it whether it is a lack of magic between Bette Davis and James Stewart in their only film appearance together or the fact that Davis is basically playing the same character played in half a dozen TV movies around the same time. even with a different hairstyle, or character reminds me of the same character she had strongly played with Gena Rowlands in "Strangers: the Story of a Mother and Daughter" just a few years before.
Like that film, she has a rather strange relationship with daughter Melinda Dillon, obviously closer to Papa Stewart then Mama Bette. She was invited down so they can tell her in person that because there was has a terminal illness, they are going to commit suicide together so they never have to be apart. This of course brings in city agencies, also answering neighbor's complaints about excessive cats and unkept front lawn and excessive trash indoors, causing a suit for conservative ship to be placed against them.
The themes that this movie deals with (right to privacy, possible senility due to old age, a desire for complete independence) creates conflicts that have many differences of opinions nearly 40 years later. my one issue is that in spite of her obvious advanced age, Davis never appears to look sick, and in fact has a light-hearted attitude towards the arguments against their plans, especially when city employee Priscilla Morrill visits. It's hard not to root for the two legends, but it brings up the question in my mind are we rooting for the characters or the actors playing them?
One note that I found amusing is the doll at the end that Davis made highly resembles Baby Jane Hudson.
Like that film, she has a rather strange relationship with daughter Melinda Dillon, obviously closer to Papa Stewart then Mama Bette. She was invited down so they can tell her in person that because there was has a terminal illness, they are going to commit suicide together so they never have to be apart. This of course brings in city agencies, also answering neighbor's complaints about excessive cats and unkept front lawn and excessive trash indoors, causing a suit for conservative ship to be placed against them.
The themes that this movie deals with (right to privacy, possible senility due to old age, a desire for complete independence) creates conflicts that have many differences of opinions nearly 40 years later. my one issue is that in spite of her obvious advanced age, Davis never appears to look sick, and in fact has a light-hearted attitude towards the arguments against their plans, especially when city employee Priscilla Morrill visits. It's hard not to root for the two legends, but it brings up the question in my mind are we rooting for the characters or the actors playing them?
One note that I found amusing is the doll at the end that Davis made highly resembles Baby Jane Hudson.