The Cracker Factory (TV 1979)

Suicidal suburban housewife drifts in and out of asylums.

Director:

Burt Brinckerhoff

Writers:

Joyce Burditt (novel), Richard Alan Shapiro

Stars:

Natalie Wood, Perry King, Peter Haskell

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natalie Wood	...	Cassie Barrett
Perry King	...	Dr. Edwin Alexander
Peter Haskell	...	Charlie Barrett
Shelley Long	...	Clara
Vivian Blaine	...	Helen
Marian Mercer	...	Eleanor
Juliet Mills	...	Tinkerbell
Shane Butterworth	...	Greg Barrett
David Comfort	...	Steven Barrett
Tonya Crowe	...	Jenny Barrett
Robert Perault	...	Bobby Barrett
Art Evans	...	Abdul
Donald Hotten	...	Ludwig
Sydney Lassick	...	Ernie
Delia Salvi	...	Norma

Storyline

Suicidal suburban housewife drifts in and out of asylums.

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Plot Keywords:

mental illness | three word title | depression | alcoholism | based on novel

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Taglines:

The only way to stop feeling trapped was to stop feeling at all. [Video Australia]

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Diario íntimo de una mujer casada

Company Credits

Production Co:

EMI Films, Roger Gimbel Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Natalie Wood startingly good as an alcoholic

I had read the book by Joyce Burditt -- even wrote her a fan letter, so was prepared NOT to like this television movie. Boy, was I wrong. Natalie Wood plays a wise-cracking suburban mom with a severe alcohol addiction. She loses control in a supermarket and ends up on the seventh floor of a hospital where they put the addicts and mentally ill. She has a crush on her psychiatrist and a wonderfully warm relationship with the night supervisor played by Juliet Mills. She confronts the pain she puts her family through, especially the children. Despite the serious subject matter, she is so charming and witty you can laugh and then cry with her. Highly recommend.