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The Cracker Factory (1979 TV Movie)
10/10
The Brilliance of Natalie Wood
29 July 2010
Having just finished Suzanne Finstad's biography of Natalie Wood, I was eager to see The Cracker Factory because it was one of Natalie's favorite roles and a performance that she was very proud of. I have seen almost all of Natalie's films, and after watching this one, I can definitely say that it is perhaps her best work as an actress. Don't get me wrong, she was excellent in all of her films, but in The Cracker Factory, her acting was sheer brilliance. She was extremely convincing as Cassie, a depressed alcoholic housewife who drifts in and out of mental treatment. The role not only called for tough dramatic acting, which Wood of course tackles excellently, but also calls for an actress that has great comic timing due to Cassie's acerbic wit, which Natalie displays effortlessly and hilariously.

The supporting cast is also in top form. Peter Haskell is great as the distant husband, Perry King is good as Cassie's psychiatrist, Juliet Mills is excellent as a supportive nurse, and a young Shelley Long is superb as the manic depressive Cara. The film itself is very good overall, although the music and certain parts of the script make it obvious that it is a made for TV movie.

In a great production, however, the highest honors must go to Natalie Wood. In her biography, Finstad writes about how Natalie often felt that her acting was inferior to her peers that had studied Method Acting in New York at the Actor's Studio (like James Dean). Watching The Cracker Factory, it is obvious that she had no reason to feel that way, her acting was brilliant, as good and even better than many of the great Method actors. I only wish that Wood would have received the critical recognition for this performance that she so richly deserved.
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Moving.....
22 May 2001
This is one of the most moving events that occurred in the 20th century. A teenage girl and her family must go into hiding to avoid Nazi concentration camps. The story of Anne Frank is a very sad one, and the makers of this movie did an excellent job! This is the best screen adaption of her story so far in my opinion. The movie draws you in, and you feel as you are actually there in Amsterdam. All I can say is if you missed it, look for an encore, it will really take your breath away.
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Big City (1948)
10/10
Margaret O'Brien at her best.
8 November 2000
I watched this movie on television for the first time, and have to say that it was a great movie. Margaret O'Brien at age 11, was a great actress, acting better than many other famous adults of her times. Danny Thomas and Robert Preston add talent to the movie. One of the best parts of the movie was when Margaret sang the Shu-Shu song. A great family film.
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The Growing Pains Movie (2000 TV Movie)
An excellent reunion of a great series.
5 November 2000
When I saw the preview for this movie, I thought it would just be another reunion movie from an 80's television show. But when I saw this movie, I was greatly surprised. It was a great reunion of the Seaver Family. All of the original cast were great in their roles, and the plot in which Maggie runs for Congress was great. This was a great movie.
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Freaks (1932)
10/10
The Most Shocking Movie I Have Ever Seen
9 October 2000
When I read about this movie in a horror movie book, I expected just a movie about side show performers. But when I watched this movie on tv, what I saw was anything but a simple movie about side shows.

The movie starts out by showing us the background of the Side Show performers, and shows us their daily lives. But when Cleopatra(Olga Baclanova) decides to marry Harry Earle's character for his money,and kill him, the controversy over this film begins. Cleopatra and Hercules are so cruel, spiteful, mean,and evil to the "Freaks" that you almost want something horrible to happen to them.

The most scary part in the film however is when the "Freaks" have their revenge, in a big way. I don't recommend to anyone who cannot bear to watch cruelty to watch this movie. And certainly not to anyone under 13.
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The Best Version of this Movie!!!!
26 July 2000
This movie is one of the best movies of all time. As the older version of The Secret Garden, you know that it must be the best! Margaret O'Brien is great as Mary- a girl that is spoiled but kind. I especially how they used the color only for the Garden, Just like in The Wizard Of Oz, but this movie is better. I found it a lot better than the 70's, 80's, and 90's versions. This movie is great!
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10/10
An Excellent Movie
24 July 2000
This Film is great, I have seen it many times, and each time it Gets Better. The Halloween Part is the best. I hope they don't make a remake, it would never compare. The acting is also very good, especially by the two youngest actors in the movie- Joan Carroll and Margaret O'Brien.
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