The Bell Jar (1979)

Director:

Larry Peerce

Writers:

Marjorie Kellogg (writer)
Sylvia Plath (novel)

Release Date:

26 October 1981 (Sweden)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

Sometimes just being a woman is an act of courage.

Plot:

Details a young woman's summer in New York working for a Mademoiselle-like magazine, return home to New England...

Plot Keywords:

Disc Jockey | Autobiographical | Magazine Editor | 1950s | Overdose

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
Christine Estabrook	...	Student editor
David Faulkner	...	Professor Edwards
Annie Gagen	...	Student editor (as ruth van poons)
Michael Gordon	...	Cab driver
Nicholas Guest	...	Young man
Margaret Hall	...	Jane McLode
Dan Hannafin	...	Doorman
Roxanne Hart
Karen Howard	...	Toni LaBouchere
Elizabeth Hubbard	...	Vikki St. John
Carolyn Hurlburt	...	Jody
Beth McDonald	...	Student editor
Debbie McLeod	...	Betsy
Bonnie Sue Parker	...	Nurse
Gil Rogers	...	Dr. Richards
Shelley Rogers	...	Student editor
Boomer Tibbs	...	Waiter
Peggy E. Turnley	...	Nurse
Ruth Van Poons	...	Student editor

Runtime:

107 min | Australia:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Company:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Bell Jar (2011)

Soundtrack:

Here Comes The Night

Instead of "Sylvia" see this original movie about Plath

This movie is one of the few I actually bought several copies of. Though it is circa 1979, it is not dated, and so much more effective than the recent "Sylvia" film, which is dominated by Gwyneth Paltrow's persona.

Marilyn Hassett plays the principal role, and does an excellent job. She does not overshadow the personality of Sylvia Plath, who was an interesting, conflicted and brilliant individual.

The story follows Sylvia at Smith College, where a young Donna Mitchell ("Mona Lisa Smile" mother to Kirsten Dunst), plays her best friend. The scenery invokes New England autumn, promise and hope. Julie Harris is perfect as Aurelia Plath, Sylvia's mother. We can almost feel Sylvia's disdain, as her mother reminds Sylvia ...""you got nothing but straight A's....oh, except for deportment"... Her mother is always at her, and this mirrors Sylvia's eventual faltering self-image.

The story progresses as she wins a scholarship to NY where ..."ëvery one envied me that summer"... However, there is the fateful backdrop of the Rosenbergs, the Eisenhower era, and Sylvia's doubts about her future. We see fashion shows, jewelry, cosmetics, and the fear Sylvia has of what awaits her. One should also read the book to get her true impressions, which are quite astute, reflecting women's roles in the late 1950's.

Since it was the late 50's Sylvia was expected to marry, but does not see this as a viable solution, indeed it is a hindrance to her writing career. She is on the brink of decision, when she has the ultimate breakdown; I will not delineate the detail, you must watch the brilliantly constructed story, which leads her to her decision. The main issue I liked was that her life was shown, not in conjunction with a man (like the more recent movie) but how SHE was affected, and what life meant to her.