Reviews

I saw this as a child in the theater in 1974 when it first came out. Suspense all the way. Steve McQueen and Paul Newman are our heroes and do an outstanding job! Two of The lead women in the film (Faye Dunaway, Susan Blakely) are strictly there for decoration. The true heroine of the film is Jennifer Jones in what would prove to be her last film role. Billed as a supporting character, she has more to do than Dunaway and Blakely combined. Jones as Lisolette is the best role and has more screen time than the other women. Her partnership with Fred Astaire is noteworthy. She is the heart and soul of the film and, really, the only one you really care about, besides Carlos (the bartender) played by Gregory Sierra. Carlos is also a sympathetic character whom one roots for as well, even though the part is very minor. This is a true classic and it's special effects are better than any computerized onesie today's films! A spectacular disaster film from the era of disaster films!

This movie struck so many chords with me! Every time I watch it I cry because of the touching and heartfelt portrayal of the two leads. Nicholas Downs and David Loren make the cutest couple, even though a lot of misunderstandings ensue. David Loren is particularly charming with the southern accent and the shy, good old boy demeanor. There was a special feature where Loren was auditioning for the part of Blaine, but that wouldn't have worked because it wouldn't be believable because the guy is just so beautiful no one would ever believe he would have trouble getting a date. Nicholas Downs, though is the perfect Blaine because, even though, he is a very good looking guy and likable, one can understand why his self esteem is so low and why he's so insecure about his looks. Most gay men are out looking for only hook ups in LA and they become promiscuous and reckless. Those types would Never give Blaine a second look. Not so with Xander who has high standards and looks beyond Blaine's insecurities and sees an adorable, nice guy there. The only thing I didn't find believable was if they had two 6 hour conversations, Xander would have immediately recognized Blaine's voice in person. No one is that stupid.

I would have given this a 10 but I didn't for two reasons: Nick Ferrucci's beard.....covers up his beautiful face and is not attractive on him. And the characters of his lesbian friends are annoying! I could have done without them. Other than that, the performances by Ferrucci and Farmer are absolutely perfect! Their chemistry is palpable and their journey is now complete though I hate to see the series end. The cinematography is beautiful as there are a lot more outdoor scenes this time around. There is another character that is very endearing this time around and that is the character of Ryan, the younger ex-missionary. A very touching part of the story. Kudos to Jon Garcia for a great trilogy of films. The music is wonderful too and the story is engaging and the last two scenes will require you to have Kleenex handy!

In 1977 TV was filled with some great shows that have withstood the test of time and some which have not. "The Fitzpatrick" was a wonderful family show which lasted for only 10 episodes due to the fact that it was programmed against rating powerhouses "Happy Days" and "Laverne and Shirley". In retrospect, "Happy Days" and "Laverne and Shirley" have not aged well. It's a shame that CBS didn't give "The Fitzpatrick" a chance to find its audience because I remember it was like a modern day "Waltons" filled with touching stories and great moral messages. It's one of those forgotten gems that deserved better than CBS gave it. In this case, it was CBS's failure to give the show a break. I was sad when it was cancelled after 10 episodes simply because it had the unfortunate luck to air against the silliness of the ABC shows.

The more you watch this movie, the better it gets. It packs an emotional wallop. Even though the depiction of the two young gay men being totally free and expressing their love outwardly is very unrealistic because Akron is a very homophobic city.

The acting by all is outstanding. Matthew Frias projects the dominant role in the relationship. He makes the first move and takes charge. He's displays the Latino temperament when he's riled, especially in a scene where he blows up at his boyfriend. Edmund Donovan seems to be the sensitive one who grounds Benny when things are tense. His projection of love for Benny is something everyone dreams about. He seems to good to be true and Donovan's acting is touching because you feel his pain as the pawn who is caught in the middle. The scene where he rips into his mother is riveting, yet heartbreaking.

This film does not deserve the rating that it has gotten from IMDb. It deserves better and I wouldn't believe the negative ratings. Despite some of the implausibility of the plot, the performances and the direction overcome that detail.

I loved the series as a child during its first run. Buying the DVDs seemed like a great way to bring back the fun of the 60s and early 70s. In retrospect, Marlo Thomas is a fine actress and comedienne but the majority of the episodes portray her as a scatterbrained, flighty, bird brain air head! If I had been Donald I would have broken up with her after the first few dates! The character is beyond annoying! She gets on your nerves and one just wants to slap her most of the time. There are some episodes that are charming where her character is lovable and endearing but these are the exception! And forget the independence nonsense. She couldn't do anything without Donald. He was the glue that held the show together, in my opinion. Taking nothing from Marlo Thomas's portrayal, I'm sure Miss Thomas is a nice lady but I want to shake "That Girl" into sanity. They really should have gotten married at the end since I don't think anyone but Don could tolerate her excitability and air headedness for more than 5 minutes!