Six Weeks

I don't even remember when and where I first saw this movie but I always loved it as a young girl. It has an old fashioned quality about it. The lead adult players to not end up in bed and I like that. I loved Katherine Healys performance in this and I was shocked to see that it was her only film role. She didn't have that prototype hollywood look, that has to be the only reason she didn't become a huge star. I think the is adorable and very talented.

I used to watch this movie on cable and when I got older I just had to buy it on VHS. Since then I have probably watched it at least once a year. Today as I was flipping channels, I came across it and it just warmed my heart. WE (the Womens Entertainment channel) is running it now and I watched with the commercials and all.

I recommend it.

Worth seeing only for Katherine Healey, the thirteen year old girl, who is the real lead of the film. Strange that we haven't seen her in other movies.

She is Niki, a thirteen year old daughter of a rich woman (Mary Tyler Moore), but sick of leukemia, who wants to do something with her life, before it's too late. By chance she meets a politician, Patrick Dalton (Dudley Moore) who is running for Congress, and persuades her mother to support him financially. As he takes fancy in Niki, she tries to bring him and her mother together, in spite of the fact that he already has her own family.

The magic in the film lies in Healey's performance, which makes us want her project to succeed, even though Patricks own family are quite sympathetic. It is quite strange, that Hollywood has left such a talent alone after this movie.

A classy movie, a little long winded like most 1982 movies, but definitely worth the time. Its a sad yet uplifting story. Katharine Healy did a great job of being a precocious child dealing with her eminent death from lukimia. She encounters an up and coming politician, Dudley Moore, who forms an instant bond, with her and her mother (Mary Tyler Moore). But did i mention he was married and has his own child? He sort of lives a double life with them. Its very frustrating and an awkward arrangement. You can definately feel the conflict. Plus the little girl only has 6 weeks to live. Lots of ballet arrangements, and musical renditions! Bring the tissues!!!!!!!!

I was the same age as Katherine Healy when this film opened, I have life threatening disabilities from birth. At this movie's release, I'd lost two siblings during childhood to the same illness, so Six Weeks touched a serious cord in my heart.

Some critics resented this movie's heartfelt message as 'sappy' but I felt this movie was realistic.

Nowadays we have make a wish foundations for kids with terminal, critical, life threatening health conditions. I feel the message of the movie Six Weeks helped make these wish charities happen.

The movie was also a perk to the New York City tourists industry that was in the process of cleaning up times square etcetera for a retail and family friendly vacation location, (for example the Central Park horse carriage rides, skating, riding the subway) all showed viewers how great a New York City vacation could be instead of cinema examples like Midnight Cowboy.

I absolutely LOVE this movie. Is it a tear-jerker that will pull on your heartstrings? Yes. Is it a little manipulative with your emotions at times? Sure, but in this world of Lifetime movies that have totally screwed up the perception of how powerful an old-fashioned emotional love story can be, it is very easy to overlook this very well made little gem of a film.

The performances of the three leads are stellar and that vaults the story passed what could be complete dreck in lesser hands. Dudley Moore and Mary Tyler Moore give two of the best performances of their careers and it's sad that not too many people know about or remember this one. The young girl who played Mary Tyler Moore's daughter, Katherine Healy, only made this one film and was never heard from again. Too bad, since she showed quite a bit of promise. It would have been nice to see what she would have done after this. She was very mature for her age and I would love to know whatever happened to her.

I truly believe that if the powers that be see fit to one day release this on DVD, more people would give this film a chance. I hope that happens so that more people can experience what I have loved for many, many years. Plus I only have it on a very well-worn VHS tape and fear losing it forever if it were to ever break.