Movie Review #27 - Happy Birthday Wanda June - Sandcastles - OZ - A Circle of Children - Thieves - Before and After

A decade under the influence

Hello again film chums. Today we finish off a big batch of rare 70’s gems, mostly. Please reach out if you want help acquiring any of them.

First off we review the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s (Happy birthday Wanda June 1971) Rod Steiger and Susan York star in yet another in a very long line of 70’s movies based on plays. Also with this one as my English professor used to say “If it gets deep, start swimming.” Next we have (Sandcastles 1972) Which was a made for tv film that sadly sounds a lil more trippy than it is. It is weird though and does have Jan Michael Vincent, and Mariette Hartley from that one episode of Star Trek where Spock gets into primitivism. Travel with us now to (OZ 1976) later called 20th century oz. This is definitely trippy and quite fab n magical in bits. Features the whirlybird pilot in the road warrior.

Next up is (A circle of children 1977). Jane Alexander stars as Mary who takes on the treatment of disabled children, bringing us along for the ride. Far from perfect but it does look right at it which was a definite positive step. Willis from different strokes is here, as well as Rachel Robert’s as Helga. Movin right along to (Thieves 1977) Marlo Thomas and Charles Gordin, Star in this sadly out of print dark comedy directed by John Berry (Claudine- podcast coming very soon) Would you believe that this film is based off a play. Wow.

Finally today we review (Before and after 1979) This is another made for tv film that gets a lot of once taboo stuff out there, so we can talk about it and deal. Here it’s weight loss, anorexia, body image, shitty husbands etc. May be the first film to mention anorexia. Omg Betty White plays quite a sadist in this. stars Patty Duke, Barbara Feldon, Art Hindle, and is directed by Star Trek director Kim Friedman. Written by Hindi Brooks. Thanks for listening everyone.