Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Suzy Amis | ... | Jo Monaghan | |
Bo Hopkins | ... | Frank Badger | |
Ian McKellen | ... | Percy Corcoran | |
David Chung | ... | Tinman Wong | |
Heather Graham | ... | Mary Addie | |
Rene Auberjonois | ... | Streight Hollander | |
Carrie Snodgress | ... | Ruth Badger | |
Anthony Heald | ... | Henry Grey | |
Melissa Leo | ... | Mrs. Grey | |
Sam Robards | ... | Jasper Hill | |
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Olinda Turturro | ... | Elvira |
Ruth Maleczech | ... | Shopkeeper | |
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Jeffrey Andrews | ... | Sam |
Cathy Haase | ... | Mrs. Addie | |
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Peadair S. Addie Sr. | ... | Mr. Addie |
Based on a true story, this is the tale of Josephine Monaghan, a young woman of the mid nineteenth century who is thrown out of her parents' home after being seduced by the family's portrait photographer and giving birth to his child. Josephine quickly learns that young, female, pretty, and alone are a bad combination for life in the wild west. In her desperation to survive, Josephine disguises herself as "Jo", a young man, and struggles to make a life for herself in a dingy frontier mining town. Can "Little Jo" live and love without revealing his secret? Written by Martin Lewison <lewison@pitt.edu>
I found this to be one of those "haunting" films that has stayed with me. Suzy Amis' performance has stuck with me since I first saw this movie in 1994.
As for the story, yes it's hard to believe that no one would notice a "man" who never had any facial hair, whose voice was fairly high and had such narrow shoulders but despite the unrealistic premise, it's a good story that keeps your attention all the way without the need for action (although there is some.)
Amis does transform her looks from a fairly pretty woman to someone that looks like a frail 17-year-old boy. David Chung, who plays her Asian friend (well, more than that) also is very good and Bo Hopkins also has a strong contribution as the neighbor.
But this movie belongs to Amis all the way and just the painful looks on her face alone are memorable enough for me. What a haunting, sad look! Thus, it is not a happy story, but it's powerful one and worth seeing. Worth hearing, too, with some nice guitar work for the soundtrack.
If you are looking for a western that has a different angle, this certainly qualifies.