Kathleen Quinlan portrays Deborah Blake, a teenager taken to a mental hospital after a suicide attempt. While she moves in and out of reality - she has a very rich fantasy life - her dedicated psychiatrist, Dr. Fried (Bibi Andersson), tries to reach her.
"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" earns some points for being so brutally straightforward about what it does. Director Anthony Page obviously tries to be as realistic as possible in portraying the day to day lives of women with severe mental issues. It's easy to see why some people would consider it disturbing. It's fairly powerful stuff.
A lot of credit goes to the actresses. Although, unfortunately, we don't really get to know any of these characters that well, the ladies all leave an impression. Young Quinlan delivers a performance of incredible maturity. Rather than creating a traditional, sort of artificial performance as a "crazy" person, she feels completely authentic, as do her co-stars. Susan Tyrrell, Signe Hasso, Sylvia Sidney, and Nancy Parsons all do creditable work.
Lots of other familiar faces turn up in roles big and small: Ben Piazza and Lorraine Gary as Deborahs' parents, Reni Santoni as a cruel orderly, and Norman Alden, Dennis Quaid, Robert Viharo, Diane Varsi, Lynne Marie Stewart, Clint Howard, Jeff Conaway, and Richard Herd as well.
One criticism this viewer had was that things seemed to get wrapped a little too quickly and neatly as Deborah finds her salvation. Still, it is a relief to get a respite from the oppressive hospital environment in the films' closing minutes.
So, while not all that satisfying, this is still a decent and well intentioned production with some sobering moments. It really stands out from other New World product of the time.
Seven out of 10.
"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" earns some points for being so brutally straightforward about what it does. Director Anthony Page obviously tries to be as realistic as possible in portraying the day to day lives of women with severe mental issues. It's easy to see why some people would consider it disturbing. It's fairly powerful stuff.
A lot of credit goes to the actresses. Although, unfortunately, we don't really get to know any of these characters that well, the ladies all leave an impression. Young Quinlan delivers a performance of incredible maturity. Rather than creating a traditional, sort of artificial performance as a "crazy" person, she feels completely authentic, as do her co-stars. Susan Tyrrell, Signe Hasso, Sylvia Sidney, and Nancy Parsons all do creditable work.
Lots of other familiar faces turn up in roles big and small: Ben Piazza and Lorraine Gary as Deborahs' parents, Reni Santoni as a cruel orderly, and Norman Alden, Dennis Quaid, Robert Viharo, Diane Varsi, Lynne Marie Stewart, Clint Howard, Jeff Conaway, and Richard Herd as well.
One criticism this viewer had was that things seemed to get wrapped a little too quickly and neatly as Deborah finds her salvation. Still, it is a relief to get a respite from the oppressive hospital environment in the films' closing minutes.
So, while not all that satisfying, this is still a decent and well intentioned production with some sobering moments. It really stands out from other New World product of the time.
Seven out of 10.