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I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)

Director: Anthony Page

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From Time Out Film Guide

This Roger Corman production, faithful in detail to Hannah Green's book (generally regarded as one of the best lay descriptions of schizophrenia), has 16-year-old Deborah Blake (Quin- lan) struggling with her fantasy-world-turned-remorseless-possessor and gradually being rehabilitated with the help of her hospital doctor. Unlike the book, though, the film fairly hurtles along, missing any real analysis of mental disturbance while going all out for Emotion. The inevitably beautiful victim suffers heavily sexual demons; the tragi-comic antics of her fellow inmates are exploited to the full; and the end is imbued with the peachy tints of a full-blown rose. But it's enjoyable and the performances are excellent, in particular Bibi Andersson's doctor and Kathleen Quinlan's staggering portrayal of Deborah. Nutsploitation of a superior kind.

Author: HM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Anthony Page

Producer: Daniel H Blatt, Michael Hausman, Terence F Deane

Cast: Bibi Andersson, Kathleen Quinlan, Sylvia Sidney, Ben Piazza, Lorraine Gary, Darlene Craviotto, Reni Santoni, Susan Tyrrell, Signe Hasso, Diane Varsi full cast

Duration: 96 mins


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