This evening, I went to the Harvard Film Archive to take in a screening of the 1974 Martin Scorsese film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore starring Ellen Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is among several films being screened this weekend as part of the Harvard Film Archive's Mother's Day Mini-Marathon.
Before the film started, a representative of the Harvard Film Archive made brief remarks noting that Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore was only the fourth film Scorsese had directed having done so in between Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. She further noted that Scorsese was hired at the behest of Burstyn.
Indeed, Burstyn was interested in starring in a film with a female protagonist and wanted a young director at the start of his career and picked Scorsese who had been suggested to her by Francis Ford Coppola. Burstyn had a chance to view Mean Streets before its commercial release and arranged a meeting with Scorsese. While Burstyn was impressed with Scorsese's abilities as a director, she wasn't sure what he knew about women. When Burstyn posed the question to Scorsese, he replied, "No, I but I'd like to learn." Burstyn appreciated his candor, and he got the job. For her part, Burstyn said it was learning experience for both of them.
The representative also noted that Jodie Foster who had a small role in the film and would go on to greater fame in Scorsese's next film Taxi Driver was on campus yesterday to accept the Radcliffe Medal.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore would live on in TV sitcom as Alice starring the late Linda Lavin. Several actors who appeared in the film also appeared on the TV series including Vic Tayback, Diane Ladd and Alfred Lutter who played Alice's son Tom in the pilot episode before being replaced by Philip McKeon.
In the cinematic version, Alice Hyatt (Burstyn) and her son Tommy (Lutter) are forced to leave their home in New Mexico after Alice's abusive husband Donald (Billy Green Bush) dies in a road accident. Alice's intent to move to Monterey, California but they are forced to stop in Phoenix where Alice finds work as a singer and pianist and is soon pursued by Ben (Harvey Keitel) who turns about to be even more abusive and violent than Donald.
From there, they migrate to Tucson where Alice finds work in Mel and Ruby's Cafe quickly pursued by David (Kristofferson). This relationship shows promise, but David is no better than Donald or Ben and Alice breaks off their relationship after he strikes her son. But David comes back to Mel and Ruby's Cafe to plead with her that he will change, and she takes him back thus perpetuating the cycle. Well, in that respect I suppose the storyline Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore was nothing if not realistic. Yet, in many ways, I came away with the sense the lights were on, but no one was home.
Burstyn would win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance. No disrespect to Burstyn, but her performance came off as artificial and contrived from my perspective. It is worth noting that among the actresses she beat for the Oscar was Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence which I saw nearly a year ago at the Brattle Theatre shortly before Rowlands' passing.
I found Rowlands' performance far more compelling, dynamic and naturalistic. From where I sit, the Academy should have bestowed the statue upon Rowlands instead of Burstyn. I should mention that the Harvard Film Archive will have a screening of A Woman Under the Influence tomorrow afternoon.
I will say that it is gratifying that many of the cast members in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore are still with us. Ellen Burstyn is 92, Diane Ladd is 89, Billy Green Bush is 89, Harvey Keitel is 85 while Martin Scorsese is 82. Jodie Foster and Alfred Lutter are still whippersnappers at 62 and 63, respectively. I would have to say their interactions were the best part of the film and wish the story had been centered on them.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is an unusual entry in Scorsese's cinematic resume. While worthy of observation, it is not his best work.
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