The Late Ellen O'Mara's Superb Performance as Alice Blake.

As a child I remember that scene more then anyother.
Years later I started collecting 16mm film prints from various sellars around the country and was able to buy a copy of this for $35.
I screened it for my friends, who are much younger then me, and was amazed at the expressions on their faces after that scene.
Its timeless.
That poor girl. I think all of us have known someone like her.
Sorry to hear the actress passed on.

alfiehitchie:

I know it's been a year since you posted your comments, but I want to very belatedly echo your opinion. I saw the movie when it came out and have never seen it again, but I still remember the scene Sarris talks about with Ellen O'Mara and Brian Bedford. She certainly was not a typical ingenue type and must have been hard to cast, but she deserved a better film career than she had.

I always thought that the scene where Patrick Bedford corrects Alice's letter for grammar and spelling is like something from a horror movie. I saw that scene when I was a kid and never forgot it.

I wholeheartedly agree; Ms. O'Mara's performance was absolutely brilliant. I remember that scene from the novel; it appeared as Alice's note in print with Mr. Barringer's corrections on it. I remember chuckling at it every one of the numerous times I read the book. But seeing this on the screen, with Ellen O'Mara's wonderful body language, my heart was broken as surely as Alice's.

ALFIE:

I agree with you 100% - heartbreaking performance...timeless sequence...I've been there. I know how that feels. She was perfect.

Enrique Sanchez

An absolutely stunning scene. I think of all the action films with their supposedly "cool" violence, and that's such a fantasy. This scene is true violence -- quiet, deliberate, horribly cruel. Especially since the teacher probably thinks he's being quite clever in dealing with what he would consider a pathetic crush. It's clear he simply does not see Alice as a human being, someone with feelings & an easily broken heart. The casual way in which he dismisses & destroys a vulnerable girl is horrifying. And Ellen O'Mara is so good, letting just enough hint of anguish to flicker behind her almost impassive face -- which makes it overflow with emotion that we feel more than see.

I just saw the movie on TCM: the main interest at first was seeing Sandy Dennis after just having watched 'The Out of Towners'. I came to really really enjoy the movie as a whole even more, due to the of 1960's NYC time capsule effect and the excellent drama.

The scene of the subject of this thread was the show stealer of the whole film though, and for reasons said so well so far in this thread.

Two things struck me as well:

The deceptively polished way Mr Barringer masks the brutality of the "correcting" of the letter, and then his crass reaction during the recrimination(s) with the principal/asst principal following Alice's suicide attempt. It was like it was no big deal to him, other than the grilling he was getting.

One one hand I can possibly identify with one aspect of his reaction in that he may feel put upon by the reaction of a mixed-up teenaged girl; being originally no fault of his own. Hence his statement "...and encourage a neurotic teenager". Instead of pulling that stunt of correcting her letter in front of her, he should have just told her tactfully that he appreciated her thought but her overtures were inappropriate, especially in view of their age differences and societal structure. At least she would feel better being rejected that way than being splattered all over a sidewalk or courtyard.

Anyway, superb acting on their parts, and really, pretty much the whole cast. I like the way the kids, because of the environment they were from; were brash/sassy, even while trying to be what they thought was respectful Ms Barrett.

As much as this movie is a tour de force for Sandy Dennis, it is also quite an ensemble work too. There are SO many wonderful minor characters, done so very, very well. But one performance indeed stands out - Ellen O'Mara's portrayal of Alice Blake. As good as this movie is, I always considered it (like most adaptations of great novels) not quite as good as the book, EXCEPT - Ellen O'Mara's performance. She so nailed that character, in look, demeanor, diction, in EVERY way possible. The naivete, adolescent insecurity, awkwardness, and pathetic hopefulness of the age - man, did she ever EXUDE all that. As you say, it :tears your heart out". This is an unsung performance in a largely forgotten film that deserves more.