I first heard of the book this film is based on in 1977 (eeeps!) when I was studying American Literature. My prof recommended it when we were doing Hawthorne, I think.
Despite finding the idea fascinating, when I had the chance to buy the book a couple of years later, I freaked out when browsing it, and tossed it like a hot potato. To what became my eternal regret.
The film beautifully fills in the gaps of what small town American was like at the turn between the 19th and 20th century, a period which when I was growing up in NY (graduating class of '72) been idealized, as a simpler, cleaner, purer and happier time.
Despite finding the idea fascinating, when I had the chance to buy the book a couple of years later, I freaked out when browsing it, and tossed it like a hot potato. To what became my eternal regret.
The film beautifully fills in the gaps of what small town American was like at the turn between the 19th and 20th century, a period which when I was growing up in NY (graduating class of '72) been idealized, as a simpler, cleaner, purer and happier time.