MovieChat Forums > Griffin and Phoenix (1976) Discussion > Possibly the saddest movie of all time, ...

Possibly the saddest movie of all time, for three reasons:

posted 18 years ago by graphics-18
7 replies | jump to latest

The first reason -- is itself -- you'd just have to see it. I am no 'see Jane run, wow she ran!' spoiler or script writer, and couldn't hold a literary candle to the bonfire that is this movie. Its love is so sweet, its situation so bitter and its dispair so complete... that anyone who has the gift of opening their heart, such that they would be moved to tears by Titanic... will be torn to pieces by this 1976 movie. I am gravely serious. No 70s camp, no schlock. Even your perception of the cinematic grain of the period will disappear (as irrelevant) as you are drawn into the film.

What's sadder still -- you probably won't get the chance to see it. This masterpiece carries the silly "made for TV" stigma, though it is a world class film without a dull moment. It shows a talent of Peter Falk that does not appear in any other production he has made: not through any fault of his of course, in my opinion his is a stellar, believable performance. This beautiful original was consigned to oblivion -- so undeservedly -- while so many other goofy trashy things sucked at the money trough all these years.

But saddest of all, this movie has been "remade" -- with all due respect to Ed Stone, who knows his craft -- unless I chance to acquire the original, I will pass it by.

Of course, the remake has a water tower; a new, younger generation will be shocked and transfixed, as were we, by a man with a plan and some paint.

What a deliciously dark twist, doubly prophetic, to know that there are actually two sets of 'Griffin & Pheonix' -- painted on that tower. When the last Falk/Clayburgh has disappeared into an analog past... who will remember?

We are such amazing creatures: ever ready to love, to fight, dilute pain with laughter. Grieviously wounded, to rise time and again with a shout of joy for the gift of another whole day -- this day; even angels in the heavens applaud, their tears of gladness falling as gentle rain. On the eve of the final day, one last fall, slow and theatrical to add a bit of jest to a moment -- this moment, as we may. Disarm the stern counttenance of fate with a grin and a shug... and we're off.

Now that is a death -- be assured that it is a factual account -- my own death. Some day as these events unfold I will be way too busy fighting and falling and loving and making angels weep and all that... so I decided to write it up. What a death -- and I will pull it off. Your own death should be so fine. Be inspired but do adapt it a bit, add your own trimmings. The heavenly host is a tough crowd: they detest copycats, chase bad comics off the stage, throw things you wouldn't believe.

That's life.

[–] autumnsquirrel66 17 years ago

When I die, I hope I'm not around for it. Cheer up; it's just a movie.

[–] graphics-18 17 years ago

> When I die, I hope I'm not around for it.
> Cheer up; it's just a movie.

Thanks kindly. Since I wrote that I have cheered up a bit. Discovered a really neat trick:

I find myself a grassy knoll facing the west, go there in late afternoon, put on a blindfold, spin 'round laughing hysterically until I get so dizzy I fall down and lose sense of direction... sit up and take the blindfold off, face the golden sunlight...

Pretend it's a sunrise.

For a few minutes. Then when the sun goes down, go out and drink a bit or a bit more. Then come back home in the middle of the night and work until dawn, drinking lots of cold water so the body doesn't take offense with the soul. Works great!

~
Steven

[–] jo-196 17 years ago

I never forgot the original movie and have looked around for it over the years, and saw it on Lifetime today--sadly it's the remake, but it seems decent. I still want to see that original again, and i've asked Netflix. Maybe they could make it happen. I agree, it's sooooo wonderful. I'd love to see it again. Let's rally for the original!! thank you Steven, loved your first post.
Jo

[–] graphics-18 17 years ago

TAKES BUT A MOMENT
to shake the eyes from the hair
to swim an ocean of strangers
alas! no people are there
mere glance uncaught
shy smile unreturned
all remains unsaid
lessons unlearned
things get undone
the soul is unhinged
life becomes uneventful
by love's fire unsinged
only we know the unknown
and what it has unmeant to us
but
perhaps
if my cursed hair
isn't unarrayed, tomorrow
I might see her again
for the first time
on the unbus.

~Steven

[–] graphics-18 17 years ago

TO Ed Stone... and ESPECIALLY Amanda Peet, Dermot Mulroney... I wish to APOLOGIZE for the depth, the way I had fallen into describing that which had been in 1976, and still is, in a way which did not even leave an opening for the re-make.

'RE-MAKE'. How I bet those in the profession hate that word.

Having now seen the 2006 "Griffin and Phoenix" I now know how silly and *wrong* a position that was to take. There is even a parallel between my sentiment and that of Griffin, Griffin's own stated wish of how the end would be... wish he abandoned in a heartbeat when life took the other turn -- and he full well realizied a deeper truth. To take the tragic and with the last ounce of free will left to one -- bring into being yet another tragedy, a far deeper one -- as moments, precious moments slip away, remain unlived, unshared.

Free of the emotional angst of 'losing' the 1976 version of this movie -- indeed, had anything been 'lost'?

Now through the eyes of Mulroney and Peet... I was able to be drawn into moment again, another Christmas! What could be keener than that?? Especially the She -- for I am a guy who is ever drawn to the Phoenix. And what a lovely Phoenix she is. Drawn to both the character she portrays in the story, and with admiration to the real-life person who should be rightfully proud of such a fine role, so beautifully played.

Griffin and Phoenix: 1976
Griffin and Phoenix: 2006

ONE amazing story -- TWO amazing movies. I lay my case completely to rest here.

I now return you to whatever it is you had been doing a minute ago.

Hope it is rewarding and fun.
Thanks for listening.

[–] bj_bassett 7 years ago

And I unfortunately, was screaming at the remake's end - the entire reason the first Griffin and Phoenix worked was because she DIED.

To have them have a "happy ending" sitting around a Christmas tree was sanitizing what was a PERFECTLY written original script. Dermot and Amanda didn't even scratch the surface of the emotion Clayburg and Falk did in that two minute hospital scene.

The very reason those of us who saw the original when it aired have cherished and remembered it (and have tried endlessly to find it again) was because of the ending - Falk's very emotion from the cemetary scene to the final shot of the water tower. That cut to the bone for us; the raw emotion and anger at Phoenix's death was PERFECTLY played, and PERFECTLY written...there was no need to change it.

Thank goodness someone has finally posted it on that popular video site so it can be seen by many more. Don't bother with the remake.

[–] nicholas.rhodes 16 years ago

I agree ! I saw this only once in the late 1970's and have never forgotten this. I was thoroughly transfixed and very very upset - 2 scenes stuck in my mind - Peter Falk smashing up car windows in anger, and the message Jill Claybergh left for Peter on her tombstone !!! Very strong, emotional and unforgetteable stuff !