Lolly-Madonna XXX

This is not a great film, by any means, but they make an honest effort to build up the ridiculous notion of territorial ownership of people, fences, and honor. Robert Ryan (wonderful actor since the 40's) and Rod Steiger (more restrained than usual) are the patriarchs of two rural hillbilly families with an innocent girl standing between them.

Jeff Bridges, Scott Wilson, Gary Busey, and Randy Quaid are some of their brood that puts this slightly above the usual drive-in fare. Kiel Martin is very good. Nice cinematography and none of the cast is coasting, it just never really catches fire. Worth a watch, though. Best performance = Scott Wilson. A 6 out of 10.

I saw this movie on TCM late at night (must be around 2 AM) when I was channel surfing. I was actually intrigued by its title and decided to watch it assuming it was a campy 70's sex romp. But once you see established names like Rod Steiger, Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges, Randy Quaid, Scott Wilson, Ed Lauter and Gary Busey, you know you are wrong.

Though not everybody's cup of tea, Lolly Madonna XXX is a surprise treat - one of those movies that surprise you just when you think you know whats going to happen next or assume nothings going to happen at all. With terrific performances especially by Ed Lauter, a(very thin looking)Randy Quaid and a very young Jeff Bridges besides a beautiful score thats just right,this is a movie you shouldn't miss.

Two rustic families, headed by patriarchs Laban Feather (Rod Steiger)and Pap Gutshall (Robert Ryan), begin a feud. At first, it is comical, with the sons of the two families playing tricks on each other. One such trick gives the Feather boys the idea to kidnap a girl, who turns out to be innocent bystander Roonie, not the made-up girlfriend named Lolly Madonna. As events escalate, Jeff Bridges' character, Zack Feather, and Roonie fall in love and try to bring the others to their senses. What Roonie doesn't know is that Zack has a dark secret, which will explain why there is much real pain between the two families that once were close friends.

The plot really pushes forward in this movie, which I believe is in part an allegory for the mindlessness of war in general, and for Vietnam in particular (the Paris Peace Talks were about to start when the movie was released). The touching performances make you feel for and care about every character, from wannabe "Elvis" Hawk Feather (Ed Lauter) and his sensitive brother, Thrush Feather (Scott Wilson), both patriarchs, each with a different cross to bear, to the patient, wise, quietly suffering matriarchs (Tresa Hughes and Katherine Squire). Relative newcomers Jeff Bridges, Gary Busey and Season Hubley bring focus and hope to the film. Even the simple melodic score is perfect, coming forward at just the right time.

"Lolly-Madonna XXX" brings tears to my eyes every time I see it... and I'm no wimp!

Not a film for all tastes. It's violent, almost nihilistic in outcome, and certainly not a classic Hollywood ending. Like some other reviewers, I take the narrative to be an allegory on war, at least of certain types of war. Here a dispute over a lovely Tennessee meadow escalates tragically into a shooting war between two patriarchal families that devastates both clans. Tragically, neither patriarch (Steiger nor Ryan) exercises the kind of leadership to head off the calamitous results. Thus headstrong elements are allowed to operate at gut level instead of anything reasoned, producing tragic results.

Frankly, I'm not sure whether I liked the film or not. Parts are compelling, especially the sensitive romance between Bridges and Hubley. Both are outstanding; in fact Hubley almost made me feel her painful confusion. Also, the beauty of the rolling hills and meadow contrasts creatively with the clans' destructive emotions. Then too, whose inspiration was balding Edd Lauter's secret fantasy to fly away on his tattooed wings to become the next southern Elvis, his chances about as good as mine. And judging from the dilapidated shacks, their time would be better spent fixing up where they dwell instead of taking each other down.

On the movie's downside is the choppy editing that at times makes the storyline hard to follow, especially when the scene shifts from one clan to the other. Thus the threads can at times be hard to follow. Moreover, except for the few romantic interludes, the mood is unrelentingly grim, not exactly an audience come-on. Anyway, Steiger is uncharacteristically restrained, while Ryan doesn't get the screen time his talent deserves. At the same time, a lot of younger talent does get a chance to shine.

All in all, I guess I respect the movie more than I liked it, its moral certainly meriting that kind of consideration.

I saw this movie when I was a boy and it had an indelible effect on me. I am 41 years old and I still remember how its simple folk and their seemingly insurmountable problem touched me. Like another reviewer I also recall the score as being perfect. See this movie if you can. I am only sorry it is not available on VHS or DVD. I would surely buy it.