Misunderstood(1984 film)
Misunderstood | |
---|---|
Directed by | Jerry Schatzberg |
Written by | Barra Grant |
Based on | Misunderstood byFlorence Montgomery |
Produced by | Tarak Ben Amar |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Pasqualino De Santis |
Edited by | Marc Laub |
Music by | Michael Hoppé |
Production company | |
Distributed by | MGM/UA Entertainment Co. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $10 million |
Box office | $1,525,532 |
Misunderstoodis a 1984 Americandrama filmdirected byJerry Schatzberg,based on the 1869 novelMisunderstoodbyFlorence Montgomery.[1]This film starsHenry Thomasas a young boy who struggles with family, friends, and relationships after his mother's death.
The novelMisunderstoodhad previously been adapted as the 1966 Italian filmIncompreso,which starredAnthony Quayle.[2]
Plot
[edit]Ned Rawley is an American shipowner established in Tunisia where his business thrives and monopolizes him. He lives in a beautiful villa with his two sons, Miles and Andrew, who are cared for by a newly arrived housekeeper because their mother has just died in a hospital abroad. The father decides to hide this tragedy from the youngest, inventing an extended trip for his mother.
For the older one, he continues to treat him as a "man", revealing to him the disappearance of his mother but remaining cold with him, being afraid to express his feelings. He does not realize that his son lacks affection and suffers from the absences and the harshness of education imposed on him by his father who transfers all his attentions to the youngest.
Finally, it is only during an accident caused by Andrew that the father and son will get closer.
Cast
[edit]- Gene Hackmanas Ned Rawley
- Henry Thomasas Andrew
- Rip Tornas Will
- Huckleberry Foxas Miles
- Maureen Kerwin as Kate
- Susan Anspachas Lilly
- June Brownas Mrs. Paley
- Helen Ryanas Lucy
- Nadim Sawalhaas Ahmed
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]Made on a budget of $10 million, the movie was also relying on A-List success ofGene HackmanandHenry Thomas,the latter of which was a successful child star who appeared in several blockbusters during that era. But the film flopped at the box office, opening at #11 with $916,967 in 741 screens, and went on to gross just $1,525,532 in its entire domestic run.
Production
[edit]Prior to the casting ofGene Hackman,directorJerry Schatzberghad consideredMichael Cainefor the role of Ned Rawley.[3]Initially intended to be shot inNew Zealand,Tarak Ben Amar convinced Schatzberg to instead film in his home country ofTunisia.[3]Due to creative differences two endings with Schatzberg preferring a tragic conclusion, while Ben Ammar presided over a more “upbeat” version during editing and inserted flashbacks into Schatzberg’s cut.[3]This resulted inSusan Anspach's performance as Lilly Rawley being substantially reduced and only appearing in flashbacks despite being envisioned as a more prominent character.[3]Further revisions to the film were made byMGM/UAwithout the involvement of Schatzberg or Ben Ammar.[4][3]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^Montgomery, Florence(1869).Misunderstood.New York City: Anson D. F. Randolph & Company.ASINQBAAAAQAAJ.
- ^Zambenedetti 2014,p. 52.
- ^abcde"Making the Grade (1984)".AFI.RetrievedApril 10,2024.
- ^Maslin, Janet (Mar 23, 1984). "At the Movies".New York Times.p. C6.
Sources
[edit]- Zambenedetti, Alberto, ed. (2014).World Film Locations: Florence.United Kingdom: Intellect Ltd. p. 52.ISBN978-1783203604.
External links
[edit]
- 1984 films
- 1984 independent films
- 1984 drama films
- American drama films
- American independent films
- American remakes of Italian films
- Films about brothers
- Films about children
- Films about dysfunctional families
- Films based on British novels
- Films directed by Jerry Schatzberg
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films with screenplays by Barra Grant
- United Artists films
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s American films
- English-language drama films
- English-language independent films
- 1980s drama film stubs
- 1980s American film stubs