Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter

STRANGERS: THE STORY OF A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER was a deeply moving 1979 TV movie that brought the divine Bette Davis to the small screen near the end of her career. Davis plays a cranky old woman who is totally thrown by the appearance of her daughter (Gene Rowlands)who has come to stay with her, despite the fact that they have been estranged for years. Davis' Lucy can't understand why Rowlands' Abigail now wants to have a relationship with her until it is revealed that Abigail is dying and wants to make peace with her mother. Bette Davis won an Emmy for her work in this well-written tearjerker but Rowlands is equally effective as a woman thrown a devastating curve in her life and realizes that she needs the mother she had forsaken so many years ago. Watching these two dance around reconnecting with each other is sometimes difficult to watch, but these two amazing actresses make this TV movie grand television.

I "discovered" Bette Davis when I was a teenager and read her autobiography. After that I made every effort to view as many of her movies as I could and became an avid fan. This movie is an example of some of her finest work. I can vividly remember, even after all this time, one particularly emotional scene between Bette and Gena in which Bette, as the mother, lets her daughter know how painful it is to love someone the way she loves her daughter. It's powerful stuff and quite thought provoking. If this movie is ever replayed on TV or is available on video, do yourself a favor and watch it. You'll see why Davis is considered one of the greatest actresses of all time.

"Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter" is a made for TV movie with a plot very similar to "Terms of Endearment", which came out a few years later. However, while I didn't particularly enjoy the latter movie, I really thought this made for TV film was terrific...and the acting was so incredibly real and honest.

The story begins with Abigail (Gena Rowlands) arriving unannounced on her mother's doorstep. Now, considering that they haven't talked or communicated for years, it's a surprise. And, when Lucy (Bette Davis) lets her in the house, she refuses to speak to her for some time. During this painful silence, Abigail reacts by talking and talking. Finally, an avalanche of hate, anger and hurt come pouring out of Lucy...and she tells her she wants her to leave. But Abigail refuses...and the next few days are painful. Why would she stay when he clearly isn't wanted? Well, it turns out Abigail is dying...and she wants to mend fences with her mom and find a place to die.

The story is depressing...that can't be denied. But the acting by both Rowlands and Davis is wonderful...uncompromising and honest. It's really a treat to see two such terrific actresses and instead of trying to upstage each other, they complemented each other well. It also helped that there was a terrific script. Well worth seeing...and a film to see with some Kleenex nearby.

Strangers is a fine made for TV drama, short on plot, but long and deep on character portrayal. The two characters here are mother and daughter Bette Davis and Gena Rowlands and Gena Rowlands has come home to her Rhode Island home town after years away.

Davis is not thrilled to see her and we only get bits and pieces of why she left and stayed away. It was a nasty split though.

The film is the story of their reconciliation and Rowlands has a terrible secret that she eventually tells Davis.

Bette Davis won an Emmy to go with her two Oscars for Strangers. It's a pity that the Emmy couldn't be given jointly to both women. Davis and Rowlands play beautifully off each other.

One of the best made for TV films out there. For Gena's and Bette's fans a must.

Irreproachable middle-aged woman comes home to her strong-willed mother to reconcile their differences--ostensibly; turns out she has a problem to share, which causes her mercurial mama to take offense. Thanks in no small part to the superlative performances by Emmy-winner Bette Davis and Gena Rowlands (two incomparable actresses), this made-for-TV drama turns out to be a wrenching and moving examination of an estranged relationship with a begrudging love still left inside. Milton Katselas' beautiful direction, from a careful, thoughtful teleplay from Michael De Guzman, allows the two ladies room to emote and sound off, yet the histrionics aren't over-the-top. Katselas is able to weave the intricate, touchy emotions together into a nearly-seamless pattern, making this a real acting showpiece for his stars.