David and Lisa

This is my favorite movie from the 1960's and there were a number of outstanding black and white films made during this period such as "The Balcony", "Children's Hour", "The Mark", and "The Pawnbroker". David and Lisa was a low budget film with outstanding acting. It's worth seeing.

Although I viewed this film over 40 years ago, it still comes back to my mind from time to time. It packs an emotional punch that is rarely seen in cinema today. The young Keir Dullea gives a very convincing performance as a highly intelligent, but mentally disturbed young man. The cinematography is excellent, burning images into the mind that are still there 40 years later. I recommend this film highly to anyone interested in the cinematic art, as well as those who enjoy a strong story. The fact that the film was shot in black and white is a definite plus. It tends to accentuate the starkness of David's world and subliminally takes the viewer into a world of absolutes, where shades of gray have no place.

This is an American film influenced by the European New Wave. It takes the form of a psychological drama centred on a school for mentally ill youngsters, in particular a boy named David who is terrified of being touched and a girl Lisa who has a split personality and speaks in rhyme. It's a quality production all round with a couple of great central turns from Keir (2001 a Space Odyssey) Dullea and the beautiful Janet Margolin in the two central roles. The material is handled very well and you are definitely on board and behind the main characters. It was nominated for some Oscars and won a Bafta - not that this often means much but in this case it was quite deserved in my opinion.

Frank Perry's incredibly poignant drama about a psycho-neurotic young man named David, remarkably played by the handsome Keir Dullea, who is send to a private mental institution for emotionally disturbed teens by his parents. David has a great fear of being touched by anyone, he literally thinks he will die if touched, and is extremely resistant to forming friendships. He is also obsessed by clocks and time. While at the facility David meets Lisa, marvelously played by the beautiful Janet Margolin, a young schizophrenic girl who speaks in rhymes and is disassociated from reality. David who is antagonistic to everyone else, treats Lisa with mild compassion and caring and soon an odd romance begins when these two troubled youngsters realized that they can each help each. Brilliant direction by Perry in his directorial debut, which along with his engrossing screenplay earned him Oscar nominations. Gorgeous black & white cinematography by Leonard Hirschfield, and wonderful supporting performances by Howard Da Silva, Nava Patterson, Clifton Jones, Richard McMurray, Karen Gorney and Jaime Sanchez. One of the finest films ever made about mental illness.

This beautiful movie has more humanity and intensity than any violent or sexual-filled film that Hollywood puts out today. The magic and conviction of this film will look in your eyes and reach deep into your heart. The acting is superb.You feel like a voyeur uninvited watching a drama unfold.The actress has a sweet demeanor which is very rare in actresses today.The actor just pulls on your heartstrings with his ability to convey to the viewer that he cant touch,yet wants to ...desparat.ely. The simple scene in which the lead actor shares a slice of chocolate cake with the psychiatrist,shows an enormous amount of two humans interacting on a level of the patient and the doctor,yet each learning and teaching from another.The vulnerability and rawness of the film reaches so many different levels and scenes throughout the movie.This film has much more raw emotion than Nicholson's film"One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest".And that is because the story gets right to the point.It is beautifully done simple,and not trying to hard.

Dr.Petersen