Aside from the karate movie, this is the only Joan Jett talkie that I've never seen before. Excuse me, I meant Joan Crawford. I was literally dictating this into my phone, and accidentally said Joan Jett. But Joan Crawford sort of predicted Joan Jett for me, so I'll keep it there. It was kismet!
I have a feeling Crawford's part is going to be small. I hope I'm wrong. The only reason I'm watching it is because of her, one of my favorite actresses of all time!
I'll check back later, and let you all know if I was right.
UPDATE: I was right. Joan has a relatively small part, and she doesn't come in until at least a half hour into the film. That being said, she does play an important role.
The film itself is well made, considering the subject matter. It isn't my favorite subject matter, so this film for me defies a rating. All I can say is that it's an important movie, because it was made with such heartfelt purpose. And it has a rather hopeful ending. I would even say a rather happy ending. So for such a dreary subject matter, this did wind up being a pretty optimistic film, which I appreciate. I also appreciate the casting of Robert Stack, who I first became acquainted with in the A&E biographies, as he was the voiceover. The first film role I think I ever saw him in was the 1939 film, first love, starring another of my faves from back in my childhood, Deanna Durbin. So, I love seeing him. His voice is just amazing! He's one of those people we could listen to reading the phone book and still be mesmerized.
Other highlights of the film include Herbert Marshall, known primarily as a 1930s leading man. So it was very interesting seeing him as an older actor here. Also Janice Paige was very charismatic. She reminds me of the hip hypnotist, Pat Collins. There was also a Christina Crawford look-alike nurse, which I thought was very ironic. There was also a Hayley Mills look alike nurse! I kid you not! So, this film is worth seeing.
Something else of note is the opening credits, which contains a song that sounds a lot like the West Side Story opening. I guess that was intentional, since the lead character in the film is walking into the West Side Story movie being shown in the theater, before she gets carted off to the mental hospital.
All in all, very interesting movie.
By the way, this is not the first time Joan Crawford had been in a film about a mental patient. She was also in Autumn Leaves, which dealt with this very issue, but from a romantic angle. That one was especially great!
I have a feeling Crawford's part is going to be small. I hope I'm wrong. The only reason I'm watching it is because of her, one of my favorite actresses of all time!
I'll check back later, and let you all know if I was right.
UPDATE: I was right. Joan has a relatively small part, and she doesn't come in until at least a half hour into the film. That being said, she does play an important role.
The film itself is well made, considering the subject matter. It isn't my favorite subject matter, so this film for me defies a rating. All I can say is that it's an important movie, because it was made with such heartfelt purpose. And it has a rather hopeful ending. I would even say a rather happy ending. So for such a dreary subject matter, this did wind up being a pretty optimistic film, which I appreciate. I also appreciate the casting of Robert Stack, who I first became acquainted with in the A&E biographies, as he was the voiceover. The first film role I think I ever saw him in was the 1939 film, first love, starring another of my faves from back in my childhood, Deanna Durbin. So, I love seeing him. His voice is just amazing! He's one of those people we could listen to reading the phone book and still be mesmerized.
Other highlights of the film include Herbert Marshall, known primarily as a 1930s leading man. So it was very interesting seeing him as an older actor here. Also Janice Paige was very charismatic. She reminds me of the hip hypnotist, Pat Collins. There was also a Christina Crawford look-alike nurse, which I thought was very ironic. There was also a Hayley Mills look alike nurse! I kid you not! So, this film is worth seeing.
Something else of note is the opening credits, which contains a song that sounds a lot like the West Side Story opening. I guess that was intentional, since the lead character in the film is walking into the West Side Story movie being shown in the theater, before she gets carted off to the mental hospital.
All in all, very interesting movie.
By the way, this is not the first time Joan Crawford had been in a film about a mental patient. She was also in Autumn Leaves, which dealt with this very issue, but from a romantic angle. That one was especially great!