A Girl Named Sooner (1975 TV Movie) User Reviews

haunting is definitely the word

[janewrightjunk · 8/10 · 5 September 2007]

I have to echo the statements of *almost* everybody else. This movie will STICK WITH YOU. It's VERY haunting but I have to wonder... do I really want to feel haunted?? It's not pleasant! Seriously, it was a weird movie. So weird it drew me here to the internet almost 30 yrs later to look it up cause it was WEIRD and scary. I remember being COMPLETELY tormented by my wanting to watch it but being repulsed by the depressing aspects.

The bird scene is devastating. I don't really remember much of anything else in the movie but I know there were some happier parts. While I do have a "thing" for having my children experience some of my own childhood memories I've Disneyland, etc.. I don't know if reliving A Girl Named Sooner is something I want to burden them with! Just like I was torn when I watched it so many years ago, I'm torn now wondering if I should share it with somebody else!

A nearly 50 year love affair with this film.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 28 July 2022]

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.

Wonderful movie in a country setting

[williambrow9 · 10/10 · 19 March 2007]

I am from Switzerland County where this movie was filmed. Sooner lived with the old woman on a hill in a small town called Bennington. The Hill was called Schuel Hill. Bennington was around six miles from Vevay. That is where Sooner lived with the married couple who had no children. The school that Sooner attended in the movie is called the old gym and is still used today for basketball games and carnivals. My sister in law was an extra in this film. She was a little girl on the playground. It is wonderful to watch a movie and to be familiar with the surroundings. This is a very touching film. You will laugh and cry while watching it.

Where is this jewel nowadays, huh?

[jessfink · 20 May 2002]

My sister and I remember watching this incredible telefilm when it came out, and for years afterwards. We were heartbroken when they stopped airing it regularly. It is an outstanding story of a poor, uncared-for young girl and what happens to her. It is stunningly acted, and incredibly moving. Some images are still with me to this day. The sight of Cloris Leachman, unrecognizable, playing this loathsome woman, unkempt, her bosom sagging (with rice!) was so shocking to me as a 7-year old that I have been unable to see her any other way since then, in anything, and Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" is totally ruined for me. There is a scene where Sooner, in an attempt to make friends, does something shocking, and thinking about it 20 years after last having seen this, I am still getting upset and a lump is forming in my throat. It was also available as a book, and I read my paperback copy of it until it fell apart.

This is a terrific thing to watch as a family. It sure will make your children realize how lucky they are, but more, how much you love them, because you won't be able to stop hugging and kissing them when this is over.

I cannot forget this movie!

[nancysparkle · 10/10 · 7 September 2005]

I saw this movie back in the 70's, and like the other reviewer, I will never forget the scene where Sooner wants to be accepted by the other girls. For years I have thought of this movie, and particularly that scene, and even wished I never saw it, because the scene haunted me! Yet it was so beautifully done! It is a heartbreaking, yet terribly understandable, scene. I continually check the TV guide to see if it is on again. I'm surprised that it has not shown up in the video stores, or on IMDb. Cloris Leachman is amazing, as is the little girl. I read that the girl never made another movie. I wonder why..... I would love to find this movie on DVD. I will never forget this movie. I'd like to see it again. I hope others who have seen the movie will advocate for a DVD!

I'm amazed how many people were affected like me...

[mdsofky · 7/10 · 5 January 2009]

While a great well-acted movie, I probably wished I didn't see it. I'm amazed so many people were deeply affected by the crow scene. I thought it was just me. I'm 44 now but remember seeing it when I was 11 on vacation to Disney World, sitting in a hotel room and watching it with my mom. WHAT A DOWNER the crow scene was (I had to keep telling myself it was just a movie, but it was so real). I understood the motivation for needing friends and to be accepted (even at my age then), but I agree with the other comment, that I don't think I would want my kids to see this film (maybe as a teen) for that scene alone. The girl was a phenomenal actress.

Unforgettable Movie

[eacobb · 10/10 · 11 February 2005]

When I think back to my childhood, this movie stands out above all others. It first aired when I was 8 yrs old. I watched it every opportunity I had after that. The teasing Sooner encountered, esp the crow scene, connected with my own life experience of being teased endlessly.

The wonderment of Sooner at the fair also stands out in my mind. These scenes were so well shot that I remember feeling like I was see through Sooner's eyes and feeling her wonderment.

I wish this movie was available in video so that I could share it with my daughter.

Wonderful Movie!

[wendyc30120 · 10/10 · 21 April 2007]

Hi. I saw this when I was around 8 years old ,and it has always stuck with me. I love touching movies. I just wanted to let anyone interested in purchasing it. I just purchased a copy at only classic movies dot com for $23.95. Cloris Leachman was wonderful and Lee Remick ,and Richard Crenna are wonderful actors too. Cloris just really stood out to me when I was that age. This movie just made me cry. Something that is a rarity in movies this day and time. Susan Deer was just a little doll,and I still remember those sad haunted eyes. I have often wondered what happened to her. I know Lee and Richard are dead now. Just a wonderful movie for anyone wanting their heartstrings pulled. I can't wait until my copy arrives. Please let me know if you get yours.

This is a tender, heart-rending movie. Should be a classic

[jenmanpak · 10/10 · 2 March 2006]

Sooner is a girl raised in isolation by a crazy old woman. She has never known love, affection, or manners. After being given to a kind, loving, childless couple, Sooner goes to school for the first time and makes friends for the first time. Through the support of a loving teacher, Sooner realizes that though she is ignorant, she can learn. The most poignant part of the movie for me was the part with Sooner's pet. She had cared for and learned to love a bird (a pigeon, I think). To realize the capacity for which she loves this bird makes what she does so much more pathetic. The bird can't fly (kind of representative of Sooner's own emotional disabilities). One day in the front yard, Sooner's "friends" start throwing tiny pebbles at the bird to try and make it fly. It becomes a real stoning in which Sooner eventually takes part. The bird subsequently dies, with stones covering it. The foster mother comes running out yelling and screaming as the kids scatter. Sooner looks sadly at her bird and realizes what she's done, only to make her feel worse is her foster mother yelling. Well, she runs back to the hills and the parents go find her, eventually adopting her. It's a beautiful story. I've seen it once and will never forget it.

Traumatized by the Bird Scene as a child

[elainewalexander · 2/10 · 28 January 2021]

I will never forget watching this movie as a 12 year old girl. I was enjoying it until the scene with the bird. The cruelty to the bird by her school friends was more than I could take. And the fact that she joined in the torture of her pet bird was the most upsetting, deeply disturbing scene I had ever witnessed in my young life. I remember leaving the room and trying to get as far away from the TV set as possible. I am still horrified by this scene. It was the first time I had ever witnessed sheer sadistic cruelty to a defenseless, innocent creature and it traumatized me. To this day, I don't like to even think about it. So I would warn parents to think twice about letting their kids see the film.

The bird stoning scene will haunt you forever...

[dryan612 · 9 July 2010]

This film has the strongest, most heartbreakingly poignant, disturbing scene ever.

The little girl in trying to make friends opens up and shares her pet bird with some children she wants to to make friends with. The children unimpressed say: "make it fly". To make it fly they start throwing stones at it. The children in group mentality continuously throw stones at the bird with the little girl joining in.

The climax happens when the mother comes out and sees what is happening and yells at the children who all run away. The little girl then realizes what happened seeing the dead misshapen body of her bird. The mother yells at her and she can only run as well.

The scene is so painful and memorable because everyone has a memory when they wanted to make a friend they open themselves up and share something special to them. The potential friend unimpressed that you don't seem so special and distorts the situation for their own amusement. In trying to win your friend over you might join in riduculing what was special. And when it is over the other person just leaves you with what you thought was special but now is just broken and ruined.

heartfelt movie

[pegasusflying · 10/10 · 19 September 2014]

I saw this movie as a child, my mother and I watched it and we were both totally touched by this movie, for so many years my mother and I wanted to watch the film again. Like others have stated, once you watch this movie it is hard to forget. My mother has passed away now, and I am sad she did before we got to see this film again. I have now ordered a copy on DVD. The acting in this movie is brilliant. I remember feeling tragically sorry for Sooner, I felt like I should have made friends with her. Anyone who has ever been teased or bullied at school will share some type of understanding with Sooner. It makes one realize how fragile us humans really are, are we so longing for love in this world, that the world has turned into a place without it?

I was profoundly impacted by this movie.

[lindafogazzi-07895 · 10/10 · 18 April 2019]

I could not recall the name of this movie, (but with the Internets help, I was able to find it.) All I could remember was that I was so terribly distraught over the stoning of the crow. As a ten year old girl, I was faced with so many emotions after that scene, my mind could not manage them all at once. Sadness, hatred, anger, resentment, fear and loathing. After reading so many other reviews, I see that I was not the only one to be impacted by this scene. I can't say for sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing all I know is that it will stay with me forever.

LOVE THIS MOVIE!

[lisa_j_herrick · 10/10 · 12 December 2004]

I saw this many years ago when it was shown on TV. I have never forgotten it, and hope that someday I'll be able to collect it so I can view it again. It's been almost 30 years! I don't even remember the details of the plot except that the little girl is being raised by the old lady played by Chloris Leachman. Leachman is at her absolute, unforgettable BEST in this movie. Prior to that, I'd hardly noticed her, but in this movie she steals the show. I laughed and bawled while watching this. The scene with the little girl's pet bird still haunts me, and there are the wonderful scenes at the carnival or fair. This movie would rival any Shirley Temple movie for it's richness in plot, characters setting. It drew me in from the first minute like a good book you can't put down and can't forget.

One of the Best Made for TV movies ever!

[Old70115 · 9/10 · 13 May 2005]

This movie hasn't aged! This was made in the 1970's and it even shows that even TV movies can become classics! This movie is near perfect! The acting is great. The story is believable and the characters act like Real People! If this movie is ever remade they would be making a mistake. You can not improve this! This is one movie you will watch and never forget! THis is a story of a childless couple that take in a ward of the state. The couple have more problems than just being childless! The girl they take in is a borderline orphan that has been raised by a backwoods old woman! The girl only wants to be loved but is there anybody around that can give her that! Sooner attempts to make friends at school but making friends is hard for her! Then one day an event happens that only makes things worse for the little girl and her grief stricken foster mother. I am sot sure if this won any awards but it should of won! everything! Not to be missed.

I recall this film, too

[rhmaclaughlin · 9/10 · 3 January 2005]

And I remember all the buzz about what a powerful performance Chloris Leachman delivered. I have been following her ever since. I think this would be a great film to re-release as well. The way Ms. Leachman was able to capture the most gritty aspects of the old woman, from her speech to her demeanor, to the make-up and costume, it was pretty powerful and something not seen duplicated too often these days. After watching Spanglish I must wonder whether or not Tea Leoni took some acting tips from Chloris Leachman, because her unbridled portrayal, although somewhat unbalanced, was exactly the sort of stuff that one could always count on from Chloris Leachman.

I wish I had never seen it

[carol-408 · 1/10 · 25 November 2007]

My life is about saving animals. I do volunteer work with a cat rescue organization. I am a vegetarian because I couldn't kill an animal even to sustain my life. I can't even kill a spider, I put it outdoors. The scene where the children throw rocks at the bird until it dies, with Sooner participating in an attempt to be accepted by the other children, made me sick and has haunted me ever since. It simply convinces me that human beings are pathetic in their need for acceptance. The ending - the foster parents adopt Sooner - does not redeem the depiction of animal cruelty. Why would anyone want their child to see this film?

Good family movie

[thomandybish · 3 April 2001]

Despite having been about four at the time I saw this movie, I still remember it. Set around the depression, it involves Sooner, a neglected child raised by a backwards, crazy old woman. Sooner is given to a couple to raise, and the drama comes from seeing this formerly isolated and ignorant little girl learn about love and family. Chloris Leachman deserved an Emmy as her portrayal of the wagon-driving, wily old woman--I can still remember her screeching at the people who want to take Sooner from her. The movie has a sort-of WALTONS feel to it, and that's not a bad thing at all. Too bad somebody hasn't released this on video; I think many people would love it.

What's in a name

[twodog · 9/10 · 27 March 1999]

I love this movie so much that I intend on naming my first girl "Sooner Elizabeth" after the scene in which the little girl is writing her name in class along with the teachers on a piece of paper.

I loved this movie when i was younger

[kpurplepanda · 10/10 · 2 November 2010]

OMG. I have been wanting to see this movie again for some time now! I remembered i had recorded (yes VCR)it once when it came on cable but on the newer machines the sound wasn't not audible :-( so i just threw it out. I cant wait to watch this with my 9yr old who by the way, absolutely LOVES SHirley Temple! SO glad to see i'm not the only one pining over this movie! Great ones these days are so few and far between! I agree with Lisa about Leachman. She was great in that roll of "Mam." I am sad to see there is no picture of the lil girl here on IMDb i would like to see what she looks like nowadays. I have no idea if she became a famous actress or appeared in other parts. I'm sure she did because she also, was great in her roll as "Sooner"

No desire to see it again

[molliebean · 8/10 · 15 February 2024]

It's been almost 50 years and I still remember this movie. Never forgot the name either. The killing of the pet bird then the woman beating the horse to death traumatized me for life. I am sure the acting was terrific like others say and it must be a good movie to affect everyone so many years later but i sure wouldn't show it to my kids and I don't recommend any small children watch it. I was 8 and at that age you are unsure what is real and what is fake for the movie. My mom tried to explain to me it wasn't real and I believed her but it still upset me. I have no desire to ever watch it again.

Loved it!

[schoolinall3 · 24 September 2010]

Funny, how like the other reviewers, I still remembered this movie and have a great desire to see it again. After seeing this movie when I was only about 10, my mom said that I told her I wanted to adopt. Now, I don't remember saying that, but I do think it was funny that, not remembering that being said, I grew up to adopt a sib group of 3. I guess that says how much a movie can seriously affect a life, or many lives. I have been looking off and on on the web to see if I could find the movie to purchase and I have finally found a place. Not knowing the company, I know I am taking a chance on ordering it, but to me it is worth the chance. Here is the link if anyone is interested: http://www.onlyclassicmovieworld.com/Agirlnamedsooner.html

please help

[hikari_no_naraku · 7 February 2006]

hi my father was in A Girl Named Sooner and his copy of the movie was ruined it would be a great help if you could tell me where i would be able to obtain a copy for him it would be a great help for him and me i have looked every where i have called all the places that sale movies and none of them have heard of the movie let alone have it in stock and the only place that i know of that could order old movies just went out of business so it would be greatly appreciated if anyone knows where i can get this movie cause i have never seen the movie and would love to see my father when he was younger and to see the movie and people he thinks so highly of so if any one could tell me where i could get a copy it would be greatly appreciated

thanks for your time Jenni

My memories

[brtfnk1966 · 22 July 2003]

I can still remember the kids leaning over the bird, with Sooner crying and I've only seen the movie once. This had a profound effect on me and made me appreciate my own homelife that much more. I would love to see this movie with my kids someday.