I am disappointed to read in Lisa Eichorn's bio on Imdb that this film was a "notorious flop". God knows why. The story line is excellent and no doubt reminisent (?spelling!) of romances between British women and GI's at the time, the acting is superb, and the true atmosphere of what it was like living in a wartime English town is felt. I've spoken to people who lived during this era in England and they all say "it was just like that!".
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I like this movie and it is one of my faves of all time, but it was too short and the editing was poor. Apparently, they cut nearly half an hour from it so there were several deleted scenes. That is hell of a lot of deleted scenes. I bet anything it would have been much better if they left them in as the movie is disjointed in parts. I would love to have seen the deleted scenes, but I expect they don't exist now.
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This movie is one of my hidden treasures... I thought it was very well-acted, and thoroughly enjoyed the English setting... I'm glad to hear that it depicts early 1940's England so well... having traveled there several times in the last 8 to 10 years, it is hard to picture what the country was going through then...
And I found the Richard Gere/Lisa Eichhorn love story very captivating, the movie is a gem...
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my mum watched the ending and expressed huge sympathy for the separated couples- I was not moved myself
shareI saw it yesterday and loved it.
shareI`m from the area where the shop scenes are shot.
Its hardly any different now nearly 30 years on!
Oh by the way the location is Dobcross in Saddleworth.
Great film spoilt by the editing as it obviously has much more to it....
Bring out the full version please!
Mark
One of the great "un-sung" films imo - vivid atmosphere, great acting, believeable characters - I watch it time and again - wish the DVD had some extras though
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Maybe it didn't appeal to Americans! Perhaps they couldn't understand the accents!
Cats rule, dogs drool!
This film was released in September 1979 with the hopes of appealing to adult audiences as a big romantic epic.
First problem was that it did not get good reviews. A film like this really needs a push in terms of critical acclaim, and that didn't happen.
Second problem was that it had no big "stars." Sure, Vanessa Redgrave and William Devane were known (and are fine actors). Not the same thing as bona fide movie stars that can pull in the sort of audience that goes for these films. And Richard Gere would not become well known until "American Gigolo" the following year.
I just saw the movie and I see why it bombed. It's too long for what happens. There isn't a romantic or epic sweep to hold up over 2 hours and 19 minutes. The Devane/Redgrave story is not that engaging. And the Gere/Eichorn romance has a curious third act.
I do feel bad for Eichorn, a beautiful actress that got a lead in three studio films that bombed (two of which didn't get proper releases) and then was kind of forgotten about.
Most war (I,II) films of a serious nature aren't going to do well. I wouldn't call it a bomb because it got some good reviews and was shown on national tv several times (before cable).
I doubt it broke even but as long as it didn't lose millions of $$$ I wouldn't say it was a total loss.
Kisskiss, Bangbang