Daughter of the Mind

I just came across this old TV movie of the week and after reviewing other reviews, it seems we all experienced the same thing in seeing this movie - we were all young when we first saw it, vividly remember the hand in the fishbowl and recall "daddy, daddy, daddy...." Whoever said films don't leave an impact?

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed and Produced by Walter Grauman, for 20th Century-Fox TV, broadcast by ABC-TV. Screenplay by Luther Davis, based on Paul Gallico's novel; Photography by Jack Woolf; Edited by Michael Economou; Music by Robert Drasnin. Starring: Ray Milland, Don Murray, Gene Tierney, Barbara Dana, Ed Asner, Pamela Ferdin, George Macready, John Carradine, William Beckley, Ivor Barry, Virginia Christine, Cecile Ozorio and Frank Maxwell.

Stylish Grauman direction sets this above the run-of-the-mill made for TV horror opuses. Key scientist Milland is subjected to a "daughter back from the dead" supernatural hoax to convince him to defect -his gullibility to psychic suggestion is a most unlikely plot device. Carradine gives a fine cameo as an old-time magician and expert on spiritualist faking. Film ends with an old-fashioned touch: after the hoax is definitively exposed and the film is resolved, Ray hears the voice of his dead daughter saying "Don't forget me" as he gazes at his wife's sculpture of the child.

I had read the book, "The Hand of Mary Constable" in my dad's Reader's Digest Condensed Books, so I was thrilled when I saw that it was going to be a Movie of the Week.

Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the book, as is frequently the case. In particular, the technology supposedly employed by the hero (which was actually the protagonist's name in the book, Alexander Hero) was ridiculously inadequate.

The book had a real downbeat Cold War mood to it and was a highly effective and timely thriller. I first heard the term "cybernetics" there.

Much later, I read the uncondensed version of the book, and though it had a lot more sex (not at all a deterrent), it wasn't as propulsive as the condensed version.

That is what everyone seems to say that I know. We even brought it up at my 30th class reunion! I remember watching it (10 yrs old) and being petrified! But it's all relative. What was scary back then might be cheesy now. But I sure would love to see it again! I found a site called movielead.com that claims to have it but you have to write a request and leave your email, and someone will get back to you. Anyone ever hear of that site and if they are legit? Thank you to all who critiqued it and gave it high ratings. I think the Baby Boomer crowd appreciates this kind of stuff far more than the younger ones. Made for TV movies are sometimes the best, but the hardest to get a copy of!

Ray Milland has been grieving his dead daughter, Mary. Now, oddly, she has begun appearing to him--and it seems so very real. As a result, he goes to see a parapsychologist (Don Murray)--perhaps he can help Milland figure out if he's going crazy or if the child really is trying to contact him. Along the way, they learn that a government agent (Ed Asner) is watching them--unsure if maybe, perhaps, these manifestations are the result of the work of a hostile nation. After all, Milland is a top cybernetics scientist--maybe someone is deliberately messing with his mind. I don't want to say more, as it might divulge where it's going next.

Overall, it's a very tense and interesting made for TV film. However, there are quite a few plot holes and the whole thing seems overly complicated and far-fetched. Some of the film relies on technology that isn't even possible today--more than 40 years later!! Still, it is entertaining and it's nice to see such an accomplished cast (also including Gene Tierney and John Carradine) in a TV movie that often has more light-weight actors!

By the way, Pamelyn Ferdin who plays Ray Milland's dead daughter, Mary, should be a very familiar face and voice if you grew up when I did. She played on a bazillion TV show, such as playing Felix's daughter on "The Odd Couple" and was the voice of Lucy in three Charlie Brown movies/TV shows. Also, there's a tiny role starring Virginia Christine as the housekeeper. You may recognize her as Mrs. Olsen--the Folger Coffee lady.