Daughter of the Mind

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.

Scientist Ray Milland believes he's seeing and speaking to his late young daughter in "Daughter of the Mind," also starring Gene Tierney and Don Murray.

I suspect this was a pilot for a series on psychic phenomenon that was to star Murray; hence the "guest starring" credits for Tierney and Milland.

This is an intriguing drama. Milland is a scientist involved in sensitive government work, and our side is convinced that the messages he's getting from his daughter to quit what he's doing - bringing into play the possibility of defection - are a conjurer's trick by the other side.

George MacCready, who plays Murray's boss, asks him to investigate. There are some sticking points for Murray. He sees the girl's image, he hears her voice - and then, during a séance, a wax replica of her hand appears in water, with verifiable fingerprints yet!

If these things aren't true, how are they being accomplished? John Carradine, who plays an expert in the field of séances and mediums, advises him, "You're going about it the wrong way. Don't ask if it was a trick. Ask yourself, if you were going to do it, how would you?"

Gene Tierney plays Milland's wife. 1969 was the last year she worked with the exception of one appearance in 1980. Though not Laura any longer, the blue eyes are beautiful and vibrant, her smile is lovely, and though illness has taken its toll, she is still beautiful.

Ray Milland is fine as the devastated father though his bad hairpiece is distracting. He lost his hair after a permanent he received for "Reap the Wild Wind," and eventually embraced baldness.

Pamelyn Ferdin, a popular child actress of the day, plays the daughter. All in all, a very interesting story.

Like Curtis, this movie freaked me out when I was eight years old. I always thought that it was Cathy Silvers and tonight I was watching the 30 year reunion for Happy Days and thought, Let's Google!! Well, her filmography didn't list any TV shows (I would have never remembered Daughter of the Mind ) and found the Pamelyn Ferdin website and then ended up here. One of my life's greatest enigmas has been answered and now I plan to try and locate the movie from the vaults of Movie of the Week which gave rise to Mystery of the week which gave rise to McMillan and Wife, Columbo, The Night Stalker, and McCloud. Whew. Isn't the Internet wonderful?!!

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.

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.