THE GIRLS OF HUNTINGTON HOUSE
US, 1973, 90 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Jones, Mercedes Mc Cambridge, Pamela Sue Martin, William Windom, Sissy Spacek.
Directed by Alf Kjellin.
The Girls of Huntington House is a brief early '70s telemovie about a home for unmarried mothers, their being under age, the need for education and care. Mercedes Mc Cambridge has the role of the proprietor of the house. Shirley Jones gives a good dramatic performance as the inhibited teacher who breaks through emotionally in sympathy with the girls. Amongst the girls are Pamela Sue Martin who was to make her name on Dynasty and the central role goes to Sissy Spacek at the beginning of a very successful film career.
The film offers reflections on the plight of these young girls, their need for affirmation, their potential.
1. An interesting and entertaining telemovie? The style of the telemovie for home audiences? Coping with the theme of the unmarried mothers?
2. The atmosphere of the streets, the school? Musical score?
3. The fact of the pregnant girls, their having to cope, what could be done for them, their parents, the fathers of the babies, the role of the staff?
4. The focus on Anne: in herself, the nervousness of her arrival, not having a degree, the interview with the Head? Doris and her experience of 23 years? The initial confusion? Her English classes and getting the girls to read Edith Wharton etc.? Sarah and her reactions? Challenging Anne about her feelings? The man in her life? The clashes? The final friendship? Anne's mistake about Marilyn and her essay? Her being upset and trying to remedy the situation? Marilyn's gratitude? Gail and her friendship? The various girls? Her friendship with Sam, talking things over with him, going out with him? Sarah's crisis and her leaving? Her growing to understand Sarah? Emotional involvement with the girls? Marilyn's baby? Her finally covering for Sarah? The graduation and her delight in the girls? The talk with Sarah's parents, her taking a stance on Sarah’s side? The clash with Doris? Her being fired? Her returning to Sam? A changed person?
5. The portrait of Sarah: her arrival, with Sandy in the van? Her being away from home? Tough attitudes? Her relationship with the various girls, friendship with Gail? Her writing abilities? Her insight? The clashes with Anne and her taunting her? Her own problems? The decision to leave? The return and Anne covering for her? Seeing her parents? Their proper background? Their wanting her to return home? Her hopes for Sandy’s return? The graduation? Anne's supporting her? Sandy coming back?
6. Gail and her mother and her flashiness, her severity? friendship and wisdom?
7. Mary Lou and the soldier, his coming to visit her, asking her for the ring back? The reaction of the girls? Her eventual marriage?
8. Marilyn and her being put down? irony that she had written it and Mary Lou copied it? affirmation from Anne? The baby? The problem of-the essay?
9. Doris and her experience of 23 years? Compassion? Strict running of the house? Her attitude towards Sarah and her parents? Anne's leaving? Rodriguez and her help with the girls?
10. The attitude of the screenplay towards the F.O.Bs, the fathers of the babies - Sandy and his going away; his return? The soldier who came to see Mary Lou? The disappearing fathers?
11. The film's brief focus on parents?. Sarah's parents and their concern, her feeling constricted by them? Gail’s flash and arrogant mother?
12. The role of the school? The help that it gave? Teaching, support, affection, discipline? Its rules? The effect on the various girls?
13. The film as an entertaining way of alerting the television audience to this social problem?
