Griffin and Phoenix (1976 TV Movie)
8/10
Gritty sentiment, honest portrayals
10 February 2001
Two troubled souls find each other--though time may be running out. A marvelous ABC-TV movie that gave Jill Clayburgh an early triumph (just before "An Unmarried Woman" put her on the Hollywood A-list). The finale, with Peter Falk lashing out on the street, is stunning and staggering in its emotion. It may very well put some viewers off, but I completely understood Falk's character and felt thoroughly his pain and suffering. I've never forgotten that sequence, it is that powerful. Most of the picture is underlined with the usual TV-styled sentiment, however the sincerity of the handling is honestly expressed (thanks to the lead performances and a firm direction). The production is gritty and not glossy (a big plus), and the finale as noted is not romanticized. Worth seeking out.
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