Customer Reviews

Cinderella Liberty

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember watching this movie when it first came to the theater and thinking that the actors were exactly as I had envisioned them while I was reading the book. Great movie. Marsha Mason is a delight and deservedly got the Oscar nomination. James Caan is perfect as the put-upon sailor whose records have been misplaced causing him to be land-locked. Mason is wonderful as a hooker who is perpetually down-on-her-luck. This movie should be on DVD. I'll add it to my collection.

The uncertainty of life in the early 70's is on display in this movie and James Caan and Marsha Mason handle the tough assigment with outstanding performances. This is not a formula romantic comedy by any stretch of the imagination and thank goodness for that.

Caan stars as John Baggs Jr, a Navy man, who finds the freedom of life on the seas very much to his liking. That is, until he meets Marsha Mason's character Maggie (possibly named after Stephen Crane's charater Maggie: A Girl of the Streets) a troubled single mother and barfly. The two meet naturally enough in a bar, end up at Maggie's place for what both accept will be a one night stand, but turns into a real relationship soon afterwards. It's at this point when the movie really excels and allows the two stars to work their craft. Many issues are tackled and the director pulls no punches in illustrating life at the bottom of the socio-economic level.

This movie is a must see for anyone interested in seeing two actors who can really act, in a story that makes you think, and is well supported by several fine supporting actors (especially the boy playing Maggie's son).

Great Acting on all parts. Marsha Mason, James Caan, Kirk Calloway and the great Eli Wallach. The interaction between Kirk Calloway and James Caan is untouchable.

I enlisted in the Navy at age 17 in February, 1945 and became a "lifer," staying for over 20 years. This movie was made in the 70's but depicts much of what it was like when I was in. As I watched it I was reminded of the time I spent in the old Brooklyn receiving station waiting for transportation to a new ship, and the liberties in Brooklyn, New York in the early fifties.

I don't recall ever seeing a "bar girl" that looked like Marsha Mason but I have seen hundreds of them, not only on New York, but in seaport bars around the world, and miss Mason played the part as though she had lived it, with all the pathos and exuberance one would see in those sad and lonely women. She deserved her nomination and should have won.

James Caan could have been me or any number of sailors who found a home in the Navy and loved the life at sea. He was a Bos'n Mate First Class, the senior right arm rate when I entered the Navy, one that was all Navy and much admired by by the rest of the crew. His predicament of having his service records misplaced, while not a usual occurance, did happen at times with all the accompanying problems. I got a kick out of the pay line scene. They used to post the pay list on bulletin boards showing how much money each man had coming and he would then fill out a pay "chit" which he presented to the paymaster who would dole out the money, usually including several $2 bills.

So now my reminiscences are over and I am feeling all nostalgic, and that should tell you that this movie is a classic portrayal of part of Navy life as it was in the past, when sailors had to pick up their liberty cards before leaving the ship or station, when the Master At Arms was king and when no civilian clothes were allowed. Watch the movie and enjoy it as much as I did. I waited for the DVD to come along and I will order one. My VHS tape is worn out, as am I.

1) Marsh Mason (Good Bye Girl) 2) Kirk Calloway in the best first acting job (with little training) in history. 3) Burt Young, an ex-fighter, who also played the sick hit man who died while driving away (after wacking his target) in one of the Godfather movies. James Caan and the movie's dialog is as unforgettable as that best movie of all time-The Godfather. Watching this will show anyone the extent that the movie industry has deteriorated. The slow cook method of making a masterpiece does not happen today. The scenes were shot on location or modified locations. You will agree that Caan and Mason are not just perfect. They are a glorious treat.
The baby delivery scene was of a real person of poverty giving birth. Many other break-through, (first ever filmed) events were introduced in this picture. Even though the screen play was written from only one chapter in a book, every scene is a masterpiece. It is a story of the hopelessness of a past history loaded with heavy baggage. The clawing and slipping is as tragic as a Greek play, but so real and gritty. Falling back to the sloppy comfort that is safe (but still damaging) happens all around us but is all most never filmed. This movie has the best ending in all of moviedom.

A sailor, whose papers are missing is forced to stay in the area, falls for a hooker with a street wise kid, and falls for both. The subsequent story of love, frustration, and questioning of feasibility for change make this Cinderella movie a heart warming, message bearing,"feel good" story. Excellent portrayals by Marsha Mason and James Caan.

The film is good, but the soundtrack is absolutely fabulous; it's one of the
most touching, romantic, and beautiful that I have ever heard. "Nice to be
Around" (from the movie) is just so gorgeous. John and Paul Williams did the
wonderful jazz based score and song. It's only available on vinyl now, but I
obtained a perfectly enhanced cd-rom copy recently that was worth every
penny. The harmonica solo's by the great Toots Thielemans comprise some
of the best work he's ever done, and really evoke the emotionally touching
scenes from the film. It's a fine military film with some excellent work from
Caan and Mason in a doomed romance, but it's the music soundtrack that's
superb; still readily available on vinyl.

"Cinderella Liberty" is another example as to why the Seventies were so great. Filmmakers could tackle more provocative subject matter but not at the expense of character. James Caan's turn as John Baggs, a loner Navy lifer, couldn't be anymore different than Sonny Corleone. This is a nuanced performance of quiet understatement that holds your attention as well as the film together. Caan was inexplicably overlooked by the Academy. Why I don't give the film the full five star treatment is I didn't buy the central romance between Baggs and Maggie the streetwalker played by Marsha Mason, who was nominated. Outside of a plot convenience I didn't get this relationship at all. For that matter I didn't buy Mason as a worldweary lady of the night. There is more chemistry between Baggs and Maggie's bi-racial son Doug played by Kirk Calloway. There is a streetwise naturalness to Calloway's performance that you almost believe he was plucked from the mean streets. Another debit is the god-awful warbling of Paul Williams on the soundtrack. Williams won an Oscar for his treacly "Evergreen" in 1976. Randy Newman had to wait 16 times before he won. Go figure. Of note is that this is one of two naval flicks released in 1973 based on Daryl Ponicsan novels, the other being "The Last Detail" starring Jack Nicholson and directed by Hal Ashby. I give "The Last Detail" the edge here but both would make a superb double-bill.

I couldn't believe my eyes when i read this movie was finally being released on dvd next year; i had to blink and read it again! A minor gem, w/great acting across the board. I believe this earned Mason her first Best Actress nom, and boy it was well-deserved. Caan is great as always. I would love to hear a commentary by director Mark Rydell, but will settle for just a good, cleaned up dvd transfer; the VCR version looks pretty shoddy. Highly recommended! (Look for some other great actors in smaller parts too!)

Very good movie, probably James Caan's best role other than Sonny Corleone. Oscar nominated Marsha Mason is perfect! Good songs by Randy Newman. A litle dated in spots, but worht it for Mason alone!