The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)

Two students from neighboring colleges in upstate New York are swept up in a tragic romantic interlude calling for a maturity of vision beyond their experience of capabilities. Pookie Adams... See full summary »

Director:

Alan J. Pakula

Writers:

John Nichols (novel), Alvin Sargent (screenplay)

Stars:

Liza Minnelli, Wendell Burton, Tim McIntire

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Liza Minnelli	...	Pookie Adams
Wendell Burton	...	Jerry Payne
Tim McIntire	...	Charlie Schumacher

Storyline

Two students from neighboring colleges in upstate New York are swept up in a tragic romantic interlude calling for a maturity of vision beyond their experience of capabilities. Pookie Adams - a kooky, lonely misfit with no family and no place to go, insists on calling all those who won't participate in her world, "weirdos," clings to a quiet studious Jerry, who has the ability to make a choice of living in Pookie's private little world or be accepted by the society that Pookie rejects. Unwittingly, it is through their awkward relationship that Pookie actually prepares Jerry for the world of "weirdos" that she doesn't fit into or wish to be apart of.

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Plot Keywords:

college | broken heart | dormitory | adult humor | bus | 

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Taglines:

First love is beautiful hurt....if it happens to you once, you're lucky.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pookie

Filming Locations:

Clinton, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boardwalk Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After winning the part of Pookie Adams, Liza Minnelli had a copy of the script sent over to her mother, Judy Garland, who read it and thought the part of this troubled, friendless girl would be an unattractive role for her daughter. Liza says she became defensive and argued that Pookie was a great role for any actress, but that Garland was personally concerned Liza identified too closely with Pookie.

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Goofs

Jerry Payne twice refers to roommate Charlie Schumacher as "Charlie Schoonover." The character's name in the novel was "Harry Schoonover."

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Quotes

'Pookie' Adams: It's gonna be nice to get away from all these weirdos.

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Connections

Referenced in L.A. Law: The Unsterile Cuckoo (1989)

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Soundtracks

"House of The Rising Sun"
American folk song

User Reviews

One of my favorite films of all time.

I saw The Sterile Cuckoo by accident in 1970. I went to the movie theater to see True Grit because John Wayne had been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. The double feature that day included The Sterile Cuckoo and it changed the way I would view movies from that day on. I loved every second of this achingly beautiful story about first love for a gangly, awkward, pushy, scared girl and a shy young man. Liza Minnelli is so incredible in this role as she conveys the desperation of a woman who has probably never been loved and can't understand that it scares people away if you hold too tight and reveal too much. She has no game to play and it costs her. She is the whole movie as all the emotions of the part are captured in her beautiful, expressive eyes. Her monologue in the phone booth near the end of the film should be required viewing for anyone interested in persuing an acting career. Few before her or since have pulled off such a challenging feat with such seamless realism. She was fantastic in Cabaret because it showcased the full range of her talents but this is her best work as an actress.