9 Replies to “The Member Of The Wedding 1952 Julie Harris & Ethel Waters”

  5. Julie Christie's character, Frankie would drive anyone mad to be around. I had a hard time listening to her rambling on. She "shaved her head" according to Bessie (reminds me of Mia Farrow back in the 60's) was a definite sign of mental illness. She was an outcast by the other girls because of her anger. They didn't want her in their club.
    At that age I was reading books, in the Girl Scouts and still enjoying stuffed toys on my bed. Frankie is not a very likeable person to say the least! She lived in a fantasy world and there wasn't any mental health care in those days. The 2 worst parts of the movie were when she hid in the Bride and Groom's car and attempted to impose herself on them without asking. Then Frankie almost got herself raped by running away from home and drinking in a bar. Lady Luck was on her side. She could have killed the soldier by bashing him over the head with a liquor bottle.
    The best character was Bessie, the older black woman. She had the patience of a saint with Frankie. No matter what advice she tried to guide Frankie with, that girl would not listen. Very dark difficult movie to watch but excellent acting.

  8. My parents made sure their two children saw this as it was deeply loved by both. It pretty much began a family preoccupation with the work of Julie Harris which was memorably rounded off by seeing THE BELLE OF AMHERST and THE LAST OF MRS LINCOLN on stage. That last, in particular, was unforgettable. And this after all these years remains perfection, with always vigilant Ethel Waters as its Overseeing Heart. Any chance that its companion, the equally perfect THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER (1968) can be seen? Thanks, much.

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