Danny Huston, son of legendary director John Huston, directs this adaption of the whimsical Thornton Wilder novel with young Anthony Edwards in the title role. John Huston was to have had a prominent role in this production, but his own mortality caught up with him.
As it was Huston missed a pretty good picture to be in even if was directed by his son. Robert Mitchum took his place as the recluse millionaire kept as such and infirm by his greedy relatives led by daughter Tammy Grimes.
Edwards is the ingenuous young Theophilus North who is a Yale graduate and spending the summer in Newport looking for odd work here and there maybe for a permanent spot with one of the millionaire folks who summer there. He's a scholar without any particular career ambitions, but he has one natural talent although most would consider it a curse. He charges static electricity more than most and gives out some nasty shocks when he touches people.
Through an interesting combination of circumstances, Edwards gets the undeserved and unwanted reputation of a healer. That's the basis of the plot and a lot of the action that follows.
Mitchum does quite well in a role you would not normally consider him for. However I can see how John Huston would have owned this part had he lived to finish it.
Lauren Bacall is also in the film, playing another Newport society swell. It's too bad that she and Mitchum did not have any good scenes together.
Mr. North is an interesting and feel good kind of film. Nice family entertainment as well with an interesting moral about folks who have a vested interest in the status quo.
As it was Huston missed a pretty good picture to be in even if was directed by his son. Robert Mitchum took his place as the recluse millionaire kept as such and infirm by his greedy relatives led by daughter Tammy Grimes.
Edwards is the ingenuous young Theophilus North who is a Yale graduate and spending the summer in Newport looking for odd work here and there maybe for a permanent spot with one of the millionaire folks who summer there. He's a scholar without any particular career ambitions, but he has one natural talent although most would consider it a curse. He charges static electricity more than most and gives out some nasty shocks when he touches people.
Through an interesting combination of circumstances, Edwards gets the undeserved and unwanted reputation of a healer. That's the basis of the plot and a lot of the action that follows.
Mitchum does quite well in a role you would not normally consider him for. However I can see how John Huston would have owned this part had he lived to finish it.
Lauren Bacall is also in the film, playing another Newport society swell. It's too bad that she and Mitchum did not have any good scenes together.
Mr. North is an interesting and feel good kind of film. Nice family entertainment as well with an interesting moral about folks who have a vested interest in the status quo.