Watch This Property Is Condemned For Free

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

I first saw this movie on Netflix and watched it non-stop until they took it off. Then I bought this movie and put it on my Macbook. I have no clue how many times I have watched it. I know it is over 50 times. You can ask me any question about any scene and I can tell you every word spoken and answer any question about any scene. If I play the movie and walk away , I don't even need to see what scene is playing. I can see it in my head very vividly and i know exactly what that scene looks like. I say I love this movie is a gross understatement. But if you ask my why I love it this much, I do not know how to answer. I often wonder why I love this movie as much as I do. There is something inside of me that this movie triggers beyond belief. I wish I knew what it was.

When gloomy blooms of what will be becomes an overwhelming, lonely , very lonely cloud... now; all gathered by its decorative string parts the meaning bless of each task becomes a mortal wound and its place a garden and its fountain... tears, memories, had story.Each event.Each well rehearsal. Each script.Each explanation, opportunity, crisis,tomorrow... Each either unacceptable fear or obstacles struck... So this is how this movie feels!

Willie Starr (Mary Badham) is walking the train tracks next to her home in Dodson, Mississippi. It's her family's boarding house since condemned. She is befriended by Tom and she recounts the former glory days of the lively house. The beauty of her sister Alva (Natalie Wood) entrances newly arrived railway man Owen Legate (Robert Redford). Everybody wants her including mama's boyfriend J.J. Nichols (Charles Bronson). It's later revealed Owen's true purpose in town.This was adapted from a Tennessee Williams one act play. Writers include Francis Ford Coppola and the director is Sydney Pollack. With such great beautiful stars, this really can't lose. Natalie Wood is vamping for all her worth but Redford is holding back in a cool demeanor. Mary Badham played Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. It's too bad that she couldn't succeed beyond a child star. She's loads of energy and has a very compelling screen presence. This may not be a classic but it does hold some nice stuff that movie lovers should check out. The length is a bit over-extended. When they leave the town, the movie loses a bit of intensity. It would be better to resolve the story and ride out into the sunset.

Drama takes place during the Depression. Owen Legate (Robert Redford) goes to a small town in Mississippi to lay off railroad workers (the towns only source of income). There he meets wild Alva Starr (Natalie Wood) and her overbearing mother Hazel (Kate Reid). Alva wants to get out of the town and see Owen as her ticket...but her mother has other ideas. It's all ends tragically.This was based on one of Tennessee Williams' one act plays. It was adapted by THREE writers (one being the unknown Francis Coppola). When Williams saw the final result he was (understandably) horrified. It's easy to see why--this just comes across as a very bad Williams play. It moves slowly, has characters making speeches instead of talking and has sexual situations that were probably shocking in their day but are merely tame (and silly) today. Abrupt ending too. Worst of all is Redford who gives a TERRIBLE performance. Totally stone-faced throughout showing no reaction or feelings at all. This film gets a 5 because it IS well-done. It looks good and captures the feel of its era pretty convincingly. Also Reid and Wood are excellent in their roles giving this better performances than it deserves. Those two alone make this worth watching at least once. I'm giving this a marginal recommendation because of those two. Look for a very young Robert Blake and Charles Bronsan in small roles.