The Member of the Wedding (1997)

Frankie Addams, 12-year-old tomboy, feels disconnected from the world. Frankie's mother died when she was born, and her father is a distant, uncomprehending figure. Her closest companions ... See full summary »

Director:

Fielder Cook

Writers:

Carson McCullers (novel), David W. Rintels

Stars:

Anna Paquin, Alfre Woodard, Corey Dunn

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anna Paquin	...	Frankie Addams
Alfre Woodard	...	Berenice Sadie Brown
Corey Dunn	...	John Henry
Enrico Colantoni	...	Mr. Addams
Anne Tremko	...	Janice
Matt McGrath	...	Jarvis
Pat Hingle	...	Officer Wylie
Jack Landry	...	Red-Haired Soldier
Maggie Marshall	...	Emmaline Williams / Voice of Carson McCullers
Andy Stahl	...	Mr. Williams (as Andrew Stahl)
Joanne Pankow	...	Mrs. Wray
Lou Criscuolo	...	Blue Moon Owner
Stephanie Denise Griffin	...	Winnie (as Stephanie Griffin)
James J. Pence Jr.	...	Minister
Al Wiggins	...	T.T. Williams (as Alfred Wiggins)

Storyline

Frankie Addams, 12-year-old tomboy, feels disconnected from the world. Frankie's mother died when she was born, and her father is a distant, uncomprehending figure. Her closest companions are the family's African American maid, Berenice Sadie Brown, and her six-year-old cousin, John Henry West. She has no friends in her small Southern town and dreams of going away with her brother and his bride-to-be on their honeymoon.

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Plot Keywords:

running away | runaway | wedding | teenager | melancholy | 

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Taglines:

There's a time in a young girl's life when nothing's right...but everything's possible.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Member of the Family

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gideon Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Frankie Addams: How old were you the first time you got married, Berenice?
Berenice Sadie Brown: I was 13.
Frankie Addams: What made you get married so young?
Berenice Sadie Brown: Because I wanted to.
Frankie Addams: Does getting married really stop your growth?
Berenice Sadie Brown: It does, I was 13 when I got married and I ain't growed an inch since.
Frankie Addams: I didn't know marrying stopped your growth.

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Connections

Version of The Member of the Wedding (1952)

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Soundtracks

His Eye is on the Sparrow
Lyrics by Civilla D. Martin
Performed by Alfre Woodard and Anna Paquin

User Reviews

Carson McCullers is turning over in her grave

Paquin's accent isn't great, although she is a reasonably affecting Frankie. Julie Harris she is not, but she has her moments. Woodard is terrific as Berenice, as far as she was allowed to go.

But the novel, which is a dreamy, exquisite book, has been eviscerated. Not only did the writer (or more likely, the producer or the director or Hallmark) simply lop off the rest of the story, but Berenice's big scene, wherein she tells of Ludie's death and her subsequent, hopeless search for "pieces" (as she says) of him, has been eliminated, except for a fragment plopped (why?!) at the beginning of the movie.

Really, I think there should be a law against hacks putting their hands on art. Everything Mrs. McCullers created -- the characters, the pathos, the heat and boredom of that summer, the depth of their sorrow, longing, restlessness, disappointment... oh! and the plot -- has been diluted for easy consumption by the public, most of whom, alas, will not even know the difference. Which, I suppose, is why, and how, the perpetrators of this pale fraud justified this sorry mess. Shame on them.

Read the book and then (and only then) see the original movie. Please.