Ginger: Melanie Mayron's likeable character

One of the more likeable characters in Harry & Tonto is Ginger, played by Melanie Mayron. Ginger is an interesting character, although her development is limited (she is not the focus of the movie). Nevertheless she steals the film in almost all the scenes she's in.

Ginger is a friendly teenage hippie chick, and runaway from home. Her destination is a commune in Boulder, Colorado. (I think the communal lifestyle was on the way out in '73-74 when the movie was made, so I wonder how long she wound up staying there until she realized it was necessary to get a real job.) Harry picks her up as she and another guy is hitchhiking along the road. When the other guy departs, Ginger continues on with him to Chicago & beyond.

In a slightly risque scene (but rather tame by today's standards), Harry and Ginger check into a motel as they are traveling West. While Harry is talking about his career as a teacher, Ginger changes into her nightclothes. As she leaves the bathroom, she retrieves her night garmement that is lying on the bed. In the process she bares her breasts for a few seconds. Harry is caught off guard, and looks away in embarassment. However he admits that Ginger reminds her of Jessie, an old lover. This awkward moment leads to their search for Jessie, who now resides in a nursing home. Through Ginger's urging, they find Jesse and reunite.

In Chicago, Ginger meets Norman, Harry's grandson, who is also into the counterculture lifestyle. They eventually fall in love and decide to move on to Boulder together. It would have been nice to see how Ginger and Norman's relationship played out, but as they are just secondary characters, it's not to be. However, in my mind, I've imagined that they eventually would settle down in a city, but never miss an opportunity to catch the Grateful Dead when they would come to their town!!!!

Since seeing that movie years ago I always wished to have a girlfriend just like Ginger. Such a free spirit.