Audrey Rose (1977)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Frank De Felitta (screenplay)
Frank De Felitta (novel)

Release Date:

6 April 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A haunting vision of reincarnation.

Plot:

A stranger attempts to convince a happily married couple that their daughter is actually his daughter reincarnated.

Plot Keywords:

Reincarnation | Stranger | Nightmare | Window | Scream

Cast

Marsha Mason	...	Janice Templeton
Anthony Hopkins	...	Elliot Hoover
John Beck	...	Bill Templeton
Susan Swift	...	Ivy Templeton
Norman Lloyd	...	Dr. Steven Lipscomb
John Hillerman	...	Scott Velie
Robert Walden	...	Brice Mack
Philip Sterling	...	Judge Langley
Ivy Jones	...	Mary Lou Sides
Stephen Pearlman	...	Russ Rothman
Aly Wassil	...	Maharishi Gupta Pradesh
Mary Jackson	...	Mother Veronica
Richard Lawson	...	Policeman #1
Tony Brande	...	Detective Fallon
Elizabeth Farley	...	Carole Rothman

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-16 | USA:PG (certificate #24794) | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 (1980) | Sweden:15 | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16

Company:

Sterobcar Productions

Trivia:

According to the book, "The Case for Reincarnation" by Joe Fisher, the screenplay for "Audrey Rose" was inspired by an actual incident in author De Felitta's life. Hearing expert ragtime piano coming from his family's music room, he was astonished to discover it was being produced by his six-year-old son, who had never had a music lesson. "My fingers are doing it by themselves, Daddy!", the boy said. "Isn't it wonderful?" The experience set him to contemplating the possibility of reincarnation.

Quotes:

Elliot Hoover: It's alright now. It's alright. The soul is set free. The soul is set free.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blue Nude (1977)

Very avant garde for the time

I've recently seen this movie again after at least 15 years. The first time it scared me a lot, probably for the weird look in Ivy's eyes and the screaming scenes...

Keep in mind that reincarnation was not a very common subject at the time, and I took it just as many other people, as a poor Exorcist copy. Now, knowing a lot more on the subject, I think it was not too bad given the time it was filmed. The hipnotic regression scene is well done, even though the ending probably can't happen in real life after a regression to a past life.

It was great also watching a young Anthony Hopkins in such role. As always, he convinces you of what he is feeling, and the movie, not being excellent, keeps you interested.

I gave it a 6, considering the good original screenplay (for 1977), and the performances of Anthony Hopkins and Marsha Mason. I must say she seems a little "too dramatic", but that was her style.

If you like Anthony Hopkins and you want to watch a good old thriller, you must see "Magic" too.