Pookie (1969)

Pookie: Directed by Alan J. Pakula. With Liza Minnelli, Wendell Burton, Tim McIntire, Anita Alberts. In this romantic comedy, an eccentric girl forces a reluctant college student into an affair. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best Song “Come Saturday Morning.

“For years, I put off watching this film, and when I finally did turn it on, the title and everything Iu0026#39;d read about it led me to think that I was going to be seeing a classic late sixties type comedy on the general level of THE TIGER MAKES OUT, THE HEARTBREAK KID and GOODBYE COLUMBUS. Instead, I was treated to a moving, somber, slow paced but intriguing story of two very ordinary and very real people. There are few genuine laughs, but even fewer false notes in this obscure little gem that probably would have been totally forgotten, if not for Liza Minelli.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn recent years, Lizau0026#39;s talents seem to have gotten all but lost in all the hype and scandal around her. People remember that sheu0026#39;s her motheru0026#39;s daughter, they remember that she was in rehab, they remember her reputation for marrying gay men and beating them up, and they remember cartoon like portrayals of her in places like the recent Broadway show, THE BOY FROM OZ. What they donu0026#39;t remember is that, besides being a great singer, Liza is truly a sensational actress.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFilm work is far more eternal than any other kind, in entertainment, especially these days when everything is on video, and there are hundreds of premium movie stations available. But while Judy Garland might have done more movies before she was twenty than her daughter did, in her entire life up to this point, Iu0026#39;m not sure if Judy ever gave a performance that was as real, as sensitive and as genuine as Lizau0026#39;s performance here.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you ever think that Lizau0026#39;s success was due to her mother, remember that Judy had two other children who tried, but didnu0026#39;t quite succeed in the forever fickle entertainment industry. Then watch this film, that a relatively inexperienced Liza did when she was in her early twenties, and ask yourself if she deserves her success.”