MovieChat Forums > I Never Sang for My Father (1971) Discussion > Very sad but such great actors

Very sad but such great actors

posted 15 years ago by teaandoranges
9 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching this movie on TCM.....what a heartbreaker especially so early in the morning. Melvyn Douglas was so great as the father who never learned how to show love to his children (Although he did love them) and a son who never understood the way his father showed love. Most of us in the 50's and 60's whose fathers became successful after rough childhoods can identify with this family. Gene Hackman tore my heart out too. But Estelle Parsons's character left me cold.

[–] practicepiano 15 years ago

It is an amazing film.

I understand all of the characters, to some extent, including Estelle Parson's portrayal of the daughter.

Her still being bitter and angry, rather than just shrugging off the parts of his personality that were difficult, was sad and compelling to me -- I felt for her in her weakness, almost as much as I did for Hackman's character.

But I think she felt she had truly been abused, and seen such ugliness in her father that he could not be forgiven. And I think it was a fairly realistic portrayal.

Considering that, in real life, people in her position often disappear from a family forever, the fact that she was there to mourn her mother and be with her brother, and was willing to discuss the issue of the father's future, showed something positive about her.

[–] teaandoranges 15 years ago

When you put it that way I suppose she did do the right thing in the end and come home. Gene Hackman was pretty cold when he left the house and then didn'tsee much of his father til his death. Its just so sad and to any one who had issues with either mother or father, it really hits home.

[–] generalusgrant 15 years ago

Extremely depressing film but truly great performances from both Douglas and Hackman. For anyone dealing with an aging parent, this will be particularly brutal to watch.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

And for anyone dealing with a deceased parent, it's even more brutal.

[–] KlutzyGirl 14 years ago

Most of us are familiar with Hackman, but Douglas is probably less well known. I think he's one of the finest actors ever. He's wonderful in his early career of mostly comedy, but even better in his later dramas, especially this film, Hud, and Being There. Check him out!

[–] gioconda 13 years ago

Melvyn Douglas was as fine a screen actor as there ever was. If you want to see great acting, check him out in Hud, where all the acting is top flight.

This is a sad, sad movie with a classic breakdown of family dynamics. I watched it at 4AM on the morning of Father's Day. I'd just had an ugly argument with my 90 yr-old mother about "would have, could have should have" earlier in the week, and this movie hit home. I called her Sunday and apologized for that awful argument mainly due to this movie.

That's what great art has the power to do. Affect people's lives in a very real way.

[–] Helena727 10 years ago

Thank you for three meaningful thoughts/insights.

[–] greenbudgie 10 years ago

I thought that Alice (Estelle Parsons) was most unsympathetic. Although we have to take it that she felt aggrieved at her father chucking out at an early age. Strangely enough, most of my sympathy goes to the father. Good performance by Melvyn Douglas as you say.

[–] kino66 9 years ago

"Estelle Parsons's character left me cold."
"I thought that Alice (Estelle Parsons) was most unsympathetic."

Interesting perspective on the Alice character, but I don't share it.
I think Alice's point of view is a variation on theme to Gene's POV: Alice "fought" the father, whereas Gene "fawned" at the father.
Alice & Gene represent 2 alternatives on how to deal with a person like the Father, whether this person is a relative or not.
People like their father don't give one much alternative: Either you do what they want (which means surrendering your "self"), so that you're accepted OR you chose your "self" over what the other person wants you to be, which results in being rejected.
Alice chose the latter, while Gene chose the former, but eventually chose the same path as Alice.