The Bell Jar (1979)

Details a young woman's summer in New York working for a Mademoiselle-like magazine, return home to New England, and subsequent breakdown all amidst the horrors of the fifties, from news of... See full summary »

Director:

Larry Peerce

Writers:

Marjorie Kellogg, Sylvia Plath (novel)

Stars:

Marilyn Hassett, Julie Harris, Jameson Parker

Cast

Credited cast:
Marilyn Hassett	...	Esther Greenwood
Julie Harris	...	Mrs. Greenwood
Jameson Parker	...	Buddy Willard
Anne Jackson	...	Dr. Nolan
Barbara Barrie	...	Jay Cee
Robert Klein	...	Lenny
Donna Mitchell	...	Joan
Mary Louise Weller	...	Doreen
Thaao Penghlis	...	Marco
Scott McKay	...	Mr. Gilling
Meg Mundy	...	Bea Ramsey
Carole Monferdini	...	Hilda
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ruth Antonofsky	...	Singer
Dick Carballo	...	Frankie
Allan Eisenman	...	Cab driver

Storyline

Details a young woman's summer in New York working for a Mademoiselle-like magazine, return home to New England, and subsequent breakdown all amidst the horrors of the fifties, from news of the Rosenbergs' execution to sleazy disc jockeys and predatory college boys.

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Plot Keywords:

disc jockey | overdose | craziness | insanity | 1950s | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes just being a woman is an act of courage.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1979 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Canção para Uma Louca

Company Credits

Production Co:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Early in the picture an early-'50s New York cab has a telephone number on it beginning with "555". The all-numeric phone numbers were not put into use for another decade.

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Connections

Version of The Bell Jar

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Soundtracks

"Here Comes The Night"
Written and Performed by Janis Ian

User Reviews

What could they possibly have been thinking?

Jameson Parker And Marilyn Hassett are the screen's most unbelievable couple since John Travolta and Lily Tomlin. Larry Peerce's direction wavers uncontrollably between black farce and Roman tragedy. Robert Klein certainly think it's the former and his self-centered performance in a minor role underscores the total lack of balance and chemistry between the players in the film. Normally, I don't like to let myself get so ascerbic, but The Bell Jar is one of my all-time favorite books, and to watch what they did with it makes me literally crazy.