As a pre teenager when this first came out, I remember this being one of the earliest experiences when I was allowed to stay up late and watch a movie. Perhaps because of its homespun feel and TV shows we watched as a family like "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie", my parents felt it would be a special treat for us. I haven't seen it since it first aired, and like "The Incredible Journey of Dr. Meg Laurel", visuals of this film have remained in my mind since then.
In her only acting role, young Susan Deer will haunt viewers as the poor title character, being raised without schooling by her grandmother (Cloris Leachman), a bitter old woman who has taken her in and while not abusive is certainly not a fit guardian. She shows what little affection she knows how to, and desperately wants to get money from the state to raise her. A local childless couple (Lee Remick and Richard Crenna) take her in, and it takes a lot of time and love before she can truly be theirs.
My memory led to a misconception of this movie that Leachman's character was completely heartless, but watching it again proved to be otherwise. You won't soon forget the sight of her though, reminding me of Beulah Bondi and Marjorie Main in "Shepherd of the Hill" with a little bit of Irene Ryan as Granny Clampett (a part Leachman would play 18 years later) thrown in. She is phenomenal as this character who keeps her feelings hidden, a trait shared with Remick's character who has to learn about loving a child biologically not hers, but emotionally hers once initial reluctance has ceased.
As for the bird stoning sequence, it is certainly very disturbing but obviously a stuffed bird was used to represent the corpse. I also felt that it was the other kids responsible, not Sooner, and she only joined in when it was too late. This is a very heartwarming film with great performances, and only slightly marred by a subplot that goes nowhere involving Crenna and Anne Francis. Delbert Mann, who directed many classic TV specials and movies, does a great job with this one that sadly wasn't recognized that award season.
In her only acting role, young Susan Deer will haunt viewers as the poor title character, being raised without schooling by her grandmother (Cloris Leachman), a bitter old woman who has taken her in and while not abusive is certainly not a fit guardian. She shows what little affection she knows how to, and desperately wants to get money from the state to raise her. A local childless couple (Lee Remick and Richard Crenna) take her in, and it takes a lot of time and love before she can truly be theirs.
My memory led to a misconception of this movie that Leachman's character was completely heartless, but watching it again proved to be otherwise. You won't soon forget the sight of her though, reminding me of Beulah Bondi and Marjorie Main in "Shepherd of the Hill" with a little bit of Irene Ryan as Granny Clampett (a part Leachman would play 18 years later) thrown in. She is phenomenal as this character who keeps her feelings hidden, a trait shared with Remick's character who has to learn about loving a child biologically not hers, but emotionally hers once initial reluctance has ceased.
As for the bird stoning sequence, it is certainly very disturbing but obviously a stuffed bird was used to represent the corpse. I also felt that it was the other kids responsible, not Sooner, and she only joined in when it was too late. This is a very heartwarming film with great performances, and only slightly marred by a subplot that goes nowhere involving Crenna and Anne Francis. Delbert Mann, who directed many classic TV specials and movies, does a great job with this one that sadly wasn't recognized that award season.