La belle entêtée

In trying to break the Samantha Stevens image, Elizabeth Montgomery stars in this television movie about Belle Starr, who made friends with outlaws such as the James brothers, the Dalton brothers and the Younger brothers. It doesn't really start at the beginning, though, explaining how she met them. We open on her living just outside a small town (in the west, but of course.) She goes into town to see her daughter, Pearl, who stays in town being taught piano and singing lessons and all the etiquette a young girl should know, her father being Cole Younger. But the churchwomen don't like Belle in their town, even though she really isn't hurting anybody and she's not wanted by the law. (She's never done anything illegal, but she does spend time with wanted criminals.) When preacher man Geoffrey Lewis proposes a union with him as a possible solution, she turns him down and he and others (with hoods on) proceed to burn down her property and run her finally out of town. Then, she and son are off to try start over somewhere else. While it may seem (to a lot of people) like Ms. Montgomery was so famous and so recognizable in her day, that all you see is Elizabeth in her TV movies, here she really is so enmeshed in character and all that's around her, you forget her and see Belle Starr, a lady who's not a real lady but who wants the respect ladies get. Written by James Lee Barrett, this was a very intelligent look at the life of one who took up with the wrong kind and payed the consequences for it. Her son doesn't like the creeps to take up residence there when they come, and he really lets her know what's what. I don't know how true to facts this TV movie is, but it really impressed me with three-dimensional characters and people you care about what happens to them, and Ms. Montgomery gives a great performance as a strong-minded woman who lives how she wants to, without caring about what others think of her. "Belle Starr" is another Elizabeth Montgomery TV movie to see, if you care about seeing her as more than just your average lovable witch.

Yes, Elizabeth Montgomery is great at playing this other role as the homely, manly. Tom-boyish Belle Starr! This sort. Belle Starr, is exactly why the ladys of today, do not get treated with respect or get to stay home and raise their children. Have no respect for Belle Starr or that Jesse Jamss cheated on his beautiful wife Zee mimms and deserted his beautiful 4 children, 2 living 2 dead twin sons, to hook up with this tomboy! The part of Belle Starr is carried out perfectly, but it enraged me, as I respect the sort Belle's daughter is, NOT the thing that took Jesse away from his lady wife Zee and helped him abandon them and leave them penniless for this dirtbag!

I am not a huge fan of westerns but I can watch Elizabeth Montgomery apply Prep-H on Karl Malden! She is one of those rare actresses than can make anything look good. Here she plays "Belle Starr". She robs trains, sleeps with whomever she wants, including an indian and an assortment of villians. She even talks back to the local preacher. One funny scene is where the preacher very slyly suggests that she sleep with him in order to get the local townspeople off her back. She tells the preacher, "What you need at night is a good hand of Solitaire to ease your burden". Well, with that, they burn her out later that night. Even her own son is very resentful of his mother because she can't act like a normal mom and give up crime. Liz is great in this movie, good supporting cast too including Cliff Potts (who raped her in 1974's "A Case of Rape"). Not a great western but watchable, especially if you are a fan of Elizabeth Montgomery. I won't tell you what happens at the end but it's a surprise. It shouldn't take too long to figure out what happened.

If you're a fan of the late, great Elizabeth Montgomery as I am you'll love watching this film. She plays the role with such aplomb bringing the perfect mixture of self-assured strong woman living life according to her own sense of dignity and then the vulnerable woman who is on the receiving end of society's injustices...she does this so well, the scene after the nighttime visit where she just sits on the wagon looking forlorn, no dialogue needed, her acting skills alone evoke the exact emotional response. Interesting that the child actor who plays her daughter Pearl also played her daughter Sulie in the three part saga The Awakening Land. In my opinion Elizabeth Montgomery was a brilliant actor having learnt her skills from the years on stage and because she was more interested in the craft of acting than the fame and celebrity it brought her. She is sadly missed. This is a film well worth watching.

This is an alright film for all viewers to watch. The crew could have created this film better but it was still good to watch. The storyline of this film was a bit weak but it was enough. The cast selection was fine. They really committed and connected to the storyline and to their respective characters. Elizabeth Montgomery was a great cast selection for the lead character role. The legacy that she left behind will continue forever. This film reveals to viewers the real struggles of life. Everyone struggles through life in their own way. My whole lifetime has been a real struggle. I was born with severe disabilities and health conditions. I also have been alone, bullied, depressed and hated all my life. This is an alright film for everyone to watch.