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IMDbPro

The Sterile Cuckoo

  • 19691969
  • MM
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
In this romantic comedy, an eccentric girl forces a reluctant college student into an affair. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best Song "Come Saturday Morning.
Play trailer1:21
1 Video
23 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance
In this romantic comedy, an eccentric girl forces a reluctant college student into an affair. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best Song "Come Saturday Morning.In this romantic comedy, an eccentric girl forces a reluctant college student into an affair. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best Song "Come Saturday Morning.In this romantic comedy, an eccentric girl forces a reluctant college student into an affair. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best Song "Come Saturday Morning.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
    • Alan J. Pakula
    • John Nichols(novel "The Sterile Cuckoo")
    • Alvin Sargent(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Liza Minnelli
    • Wendell Burton
    • Tim McIntire
    • Alan J. Pakula
    • John Nichols(novel "The Sterile Cuckoo")
    • Alvin Sargent(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Liza Minnelli
    • Wendell Burton
    • Tim McIntire
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    Watch Trailer

    Photos23

    Tim McIntire and Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
    Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
    Wendell Burton and Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
    Wendell Burton and Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
    Wendell Burton and Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
    Wendell Burton and Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
    "Sterile Cuckoo, The" Liza Minnelli. 1969/Paramount
    "Sterile Cuckoo, The" Wendell Burton and Liza Minnelli. 1969/Paramount
    "Sterile Cuckoo, The" Liza Minnelli, 1969.
    "Sterile Cuckoo, The" Liza Minnelli, 1969.
    "Sterile Cuckoo, The" Liza Minnelli, 1969.
    "Sterile Cuckoo, The" Liza Minnelli.  1969.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Liza Minnelli
    Liza Minnelli
    • Pookie Adams
    Wendell Burton
    • Jerry Payne
    Tim McIntire
    Tim McIntire
    • Charlie Schumacher
    Anita Alberts
      Eric Best
        Chris Bugbee
        • Eddie Roe
        • (uncredited)
        Becki Davis
        Becki Davis
          Philip S. Derfler
            Sandy Faison
            • Nancy Putnam
            • (uncredited)
            Mark P. Fish
              A. Frederick Gooseen
                Austin Green
                • Pookie's Father
                • (uncredited)
                Elizabeth Harrower
                Elizabeth Harrower
                • Landlady
                • (uncredited)
                Cynthia Hull
                Cynthia Hull
                  John Hussey
                    Tim Laurie
                      Fred Lerner
                      Fred Lerner
                        Margaret Markov
                        Margaret Markov
                            • Alan J. Pakula
                            • John Nichols(novel "The Sterile Cuckoo")
                            • Alvin Sargent(screenplay)
                          • All cast & crew
                          • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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                          Storyline

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                          Did you know

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                          • 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. Minnelli says she became defensive and argued that Pookie was a great role for any actress, but that Garland was personally concerned Minnelli identified too closely with Pookie.
                          • Goofs
                            When they are walking by the cows he's telling her about all the stuff he read in her letters and she's wearing a short skirt with a pink blouse. Then they show them from the back in a far away shot as they walking away from the cows and their clothing has changed to the ones they were wearing when they were flying the kite.
                          • Quotes

                            'Pookie' Adams: [a little brassily, during her first tryst with Jerry] So, would you like to peel a tomato?

                            Jerry Payne: [confused] What?

                            'Pookie' Adams: [quieter, more seductively] Do you want to strip me?

                          • Connections
                            Featured in At the Movies: Babe: Pig in the City/Home Fries/Ringmaster/Very Bad Things/Savior (1998)
                          • Soundtracks
                            Come Saturday Morning
                            Lyric Dory Previn Music Fred Karlin

                            Performed by The Sandpipers

                            A & M Records Recording Artists

                          User reviews40

                          Review
                          Review
                          Featured review
                          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.
                          helpful•65
                          4
                          • Natalie-31
                          • Dec 27, 2000

                          Details

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                          • Release date
                            • October 22, 1969 (United States)
                            • United States
                            • English
                          • Also known as
                          • Filming locations
                            • Vernon Center, New York, USA
                          • Production company
                            • Boardwalk Productions
                          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

                          Box office

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                          See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

                          Technical specs

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                          • 1 hour 47 minutes
                            • Mono

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