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that I taped years ago and watch every so often. It's a good thing I did as it is not yet available on either VHS or DVD. The first time I ever saw this movie on television was way back when I was a teenager and I was babysitting. It's one of those movies where each time I watch it I see things I missed before; either in someone's performance or in the way a scene is filmed or something else. Fredric March is just flawless as a self-made businessman and widower in his fifties and Kim Novak is edgy as the beautiful but damaged and insecure young woman working at his company. Everyone calls her somnambulistic, but in this movie I could feel her nerves jump right through her skin at times. I thought she was very good in the role. I have to mention that one of my favorite characters in it is the son-in-law, Jack, played by Martin Balsam--a fantastic actor, of course, but he is so great in this, that, although he's not in many scenes--he just knocks me over every time I watch it. The characters all sound so true to life, of course, because they were written by Paddy Chayefsky. I found the subject matter fascinating and believable and although the standout performance was definitely that of Fredric March, playing all facets of a mature man, all actors involved were right on the mark. When WILL they make this movie available on VHS or DVD? My home-made tape looks crummy, I admit it! (And the movie is hardly ever shown on television any more) Anyway, this is one of my favorite 100 films.

Mel Gibson laid himself on the line emotionally in this film, as the father caught between his need to nurture and protect his family and the deep well of savagery he has subjugated years before. This is brought to a test by the pressure of the Revolution finally appearing literally at his doorstep. I think he is wonderful in this film. Acting kudoes should also have gone to Heath Ledger, Tom Wilkinson and Jason Isaacs, as well as numerous other character actors in the film. People have quibbled about the historical accuracy, but this was made as a fictional story about a family during the American Revolution, not a documentary. In little details they were scrupulous as to accuracy. Mel's fictional character was BASED ON a composite of three separate people in real life, including Frances Marion, "The Swamp Fox". The battle at the end was BASED ON a composite of two different battles, one of them being Cowpens. I didn't expect to care much for this movie, ordinarily being more interested in the Civil War than the Revolutionary War, but found this story very compelling. In my humble opinion movies made today have to have unbelievable action in them to satisfy 95% of the movie-going public and they usually require a great leap of faith somewhere in the film during an action scene, sometimes more than once. ("Well, that was impossible in real life, but we'll just ignore that and move on"). I've heard and read complaints about scenes in this film that were sort of unbelievable, too, but I think that this film was no different in that respect from many others I've seen that are considered wonderful movies. Evidently because it's placed in an historical context they consider this a major flaw but again I feel they are expecting a documentary and not a movie. I went back to see this movie 3 or 4 times and dragged different friends and family every time who all went out afterwards raving about what a great movie it was. I got the DVD for Christmas. I have minor complaints, like some anachronistic phrases sprinkled throughout during humorous scenes. But these are so minor. I still think it's a fantastic movie.