Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Clint Eastwood | ... | John McBurney | |
Geraldine Page | ... | Martha | |
Elizabeth Hartman | ... | Edwina | |
Jo Ann Harris | ... | Carol | |
Darleen Carr | ... | Doris | |
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Mae Mercer | ... | Hallie |
Pamelyn Ferdin | ... | Amy | |
Melody Thomas Scott | ... | Abigail (as Melody Thomas) | |
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Peggy Drier | ... | Lizzie |
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Patricia Mattick | ... | Janie (as Pattye Mattick) |
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Charlie Briggs | ... | 1st Confederate Captain (as Charles Briggs) |
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George Dunn | ... | Sam Jefferson |
Charles G. Martin | ... | 2nd Confederate Captain | |
Matt Clark | ... | Scrogins | |
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Patrick Culliton | ... | Miles Farnswoth |
As the costly American Civil War still rages on, a 12-year-old student of the forgotten Miss Martha Farnsworth's Seminary for Young Ladies in warm and humid Mississippi stumbles upon a gravely wounded Union soldier, John McBurney. Taken in to recover from his injuries, the Corporal is imprisoned in a small room inside the mansion, however, before long, the seductive and unwanted guest will manage to take advantage of the female inhabitants' wartime-subdued desires. But is really McBurney in control over the situation? Written by Nick Riganas
This Don Siegel/Clint Eastwood strange and hypnotic drama was left by the wayside in 1971 and what a pity. A fascinating character study with some great women for Squint to deal with. Geraldine Page was one of our supreme actresses and she's perfectly cast. Young Jo Ann Harris is a flirty minx, and Elizabeth Hartman (who died too young) is undeniably repressed.
A 7 out of 10. Best performance = C. Eastwood. Released the same year as DIRTY HARRY, this did no business, beside getting some good reviews. Seek this out unless you're only into "Explosion" films. Very subtle and frightening, this piece will stick with you.