I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)

A disturbed,institutionalized 16-year-old girl struggles between fantasy and reality.

Director:

Anthony Page

Writers:

Joanne Greenberg (novel), Gavin Lambert (screenplay),

Stars:

Kathleen Quinlan, Bibi Andersson, Ben Piazza

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Deborah Blake
Bibi Andersson	...	Dr. Fried
Ben Piazza	...	Jay Blake
Lorraine Gary	...	Ester Blake
Martine Bartlett	...	Secret Wife
Margo Ann Berdeshevsky	...	Drawing Patient
Darlene Craviotto	...	Carla
Reni Santoni	...	Hobbs
Susan Tyrrell	...	Lee
Signe Hasso	...	Helene
Norman Alden	...	McPherson
Sylvia Sidney	...	Miss Coral
Dennis Quaid	...	Shark, Baseball Pitcher
Karin de la Penha	...	Nurse (as Elizabeth Dartmoor)
Robert Viharo	...	Anterrabae

Storyline

Based very loosely on the intricate novel by Joanne Greenberg. A young woman's devotion to a childhood fantasy kingdom has taken over her entire life and causes her endless pain and degradation. Placed in a mental hospital, she has the great good fortune to have a truly caring therapist who tries to help her accept reality, even though reality isn't so great either.

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Plot Keywords:

teen | desert | violence | psychiatric hospital | teacher | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Roger Corman: The Official DVD Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1977 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Nunca te prometí un jardín de rosas

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fadsin Cinema Associates, Imorh

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Diane Varsi's last film role.

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Goofs

In the New Year's party scene, Deborah is seen with loose hair talking to Dr. Fried and then there is close-up of Deborah with her hair pulled back from her forehead.

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Connections

Referenced in Ordinary People (1980)

User Reviews

Catch early performances of other actors

Check out Dennis Quaid as the baseball pitcher, and Ron Howard's little brother as the catcher. Also credits at the end of the movie for "The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo" with Dan Elfman. This is the earliest public mention of that entity that I know of...This is Danny Elfman of course from Oingo Boingo(Dead Man's Party/I like little girls), who now does movie soundtracks such as Batman, TV shows "The Simpsons", and "Tales from the Crypt". He is also Jenna Elfman's(Dharma and Greg) uncle. Have fun with all the degrees of separation here.