MovieChat Forums > Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night (1977) Discussion > WOW...Does anyone else remember this fil...

WOW...Does anyone else remember this film?

posted 19 years ago by calicutie80
47 replies | jump to latest

I have faint memories of this film...I had to be about 5 years old when I saw it...I see it was made in 1977, I guess they must have re-aired it in the 80's, because I was 5 in 1985. It was one of those movies that aired on TV. I remember one scene at the kitchen table where Mary Jane spit her oatmeal at her mother and she proceded to slap the crap outta her. That is pretty much the only scene I can remember. I just know the little girls mother abused her and she died at the end. Wonder if I could ever find a copy of this to watch...would love to see it...does anyone else remeber or know how to get a copy of the film?????

"Just cuz I have one maybe two...two drinks, what that make me a alcholic now!"------Eddie King

[–] stimpi96 19 years ago

Yeah i remember this flim it used to be show'n as a miday movie.I remember that bit in the kitchen and another scene where her father came to pick her up for a visit and mary-jane was outside playing and had fallen in the mud she came in all dirty and her dad did'nt want to take her coz she was all dirty he blamed her mum and left the mum took it out on mary-jane agian.I wonder if this movie is on dvd?

[–] calicutie80 19 years ago

It would be cool if it was on DVD...but I doubt it.

"Just cuz I have one maybe two...two drinks, what that make me a alcholic now!"------Eddie King

[–] Charmed332004 19 years ago

I remember it too, i have been trying for years to find a copy of it I called all the movie rentals here in Tucson but no such luck... any one find it yet???? Email me if ya do... thx....

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] crazyhellboy 19 years ago

WOW, I remember that like it was yesterday. Mary Jane spit her oatmeal and said "Don't Want Cereal!" then her mom beat the crap out of her.

For some strange reason after viewing this, me and my older sister would randomly say "don't want cereal" then procceded to slap each other silly. Hey, I was seven years old.

Other Hidden Gems.

Seven wishes of Joanna Peabody
Hewitt's Just Different
Born Innocent (with Linda Blair and the infamous prison rape scene)
and the icing on the cake--
DAWN: PORTRAIT OF A TEENAGE RUNAWAY.

I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy.

[–] calicutie80 19 years ago

WOW I remember that one Dawn Portrait of a Teenage Runaway. Really can't remember any details from the movie though...YOUR GOOD crazyhellboy. 3 Cheers for children of the 80's!!!

"Just cuz I have one maybe two...two drinks, what that make me a alcholic now!"------Eddie King

[–] stimpi96 18 years ago

yeah i remember dawn portrait of a teenage runaway and born innocent with linda blair and there's somthing about amelia and fallan angel.
the baby sitter with stephanie zimmblist is another good one that used to be shown as a miday movie.

eat well stay fit die anyway

[–] taylorje 14 years ago

Pretty much the only thing I remember about "Dawn" is that Eve Plumb played the lead. Quite a departure from squeaky clean Jan Brady. There was a scene where Dawn had turned to prostitution and her first "client" was a creepy old guy who felt sorry for her.

[–] julimi 18 years ago

Oooh, but what about Sarah T: Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic? I loved that one.

[–] fitchrulz 19 years ago

i didn't even know this was a movie until just now. but i did read the book when i was in high school in the course of a few days. tragic :(

[–] G_man2 15 years ago

i remember this when i was a kid. i felt horrible seeing that little girl cry, and her mom yelling at her to "shut up".
i might be wrong, but here may be the final seconds of the movie, as i remember them (this was something like 30 years ago!):

woman finished phone conversation, stands stunned with receiver in hand.
guy: "whats wrong"
woman: "mary jane harper died last night"

that was like getting kicked in the stomach.

everyone should have to pass a psychological exam before having kids. draconian-- sure, but i dont care.

[–] tiburonbirdred 8 years ago

Yeah. that final scene was with the judge who was presiding over Rowena's "progress". The woman was his secretary.

[–] kekelly27 19 years ago

This is one of the movie that left an impression on me from my childhood.I have been looking for it for months and I can't seem to find it.

[–] aramigaeta 18 years ago

I remember watching this movie with my mom, I was so little I think 4 years old, I remember the final part when they realize that they were dealing with the fact that the little girl was abuse by her mother and the line "Judge, Mary Jane Harper Died Last Night" and the still photograph of the little girl made me cry... a lot.
I remember when her mom was putting the pillow to stop her from crying and simply just the girl stopped kicking and screaming...
Good performances by Susan Day and the little girl

[–] analisa99 18 years ago

Yeah I really remember this movie.
I mostly remember when the mother was talking to her psychologist about her own past abuse by HER mother and the doctor wasn't even paying any attention to her. I remember her being locked in a closet and rats.
Then I think of the part when the cigarette near an open window started the fire and the end saying that Mary Jane died last night...such a sad movie.

[–] Popcorngal (4320) a year ago

I recall the young mother stating her mom saw her sitting on her dad's lap in her underwear. I guess the movie was hinting sexual child abuse. I recall the scene where the rat was crawling down the mom's arm as a little girl. That was a creepy scene. I am assuming the emotional abuse as a child and her divorce took a toll on her. I felt bad for the doctor, she really wanted to help Mary Jane. I saw the movie in the 90's.

[–] dbubblegums 18 years ago

Yikes I remember this tv-movie from my childhood me and my sister on the couch watching it and the final scene we were 9 & 10 and I think we were scarred for life

[–] roses888 18 years ago

The liitle girl who plays Mary Jane in this movie also played the liitle girl who was abused in the made for TV movie "Sybil". I am sure you all remember that movie with Sally Field playing the adult Sybil. Those made for TV movies of the 1970's were the best! Can anyone think of any other made for Tv movies of the 1970's that we have not mentioned?

[–] G_man2 15 years ago

ho boy...i dont know if i should even bring it up.

"and your name is jonah", with sally struthers. yea-- "little girl", the chidren's fund...THAT sally struthers.

have tissue handy if you watch "and your name is jonah". youve been warned.