RELEASED TO TV IN 1975 and written & directed by Jeremy Kagan, "Katherine" is a docudrama loosely based on Diana Oughton, who sprung from an affluent Illinois family and went off to university in the early 60s, but gave up graduate school to teach poor farm workers how to read & write in Guatemala for a couple of years in the mid-60s. Back at graduate school in the states in 1966, she eventually decided to work full time for the Children's Community School, an alternative means of education, where she met and fell in love with CCS teacher Bill Ayers. During these years she morphed from liberal to loony liberal radical, eventually joining the so-called Weather Underground. She died in 1970 at the premature age of 28 due to an accidental nail bomb explosion, which was intended for a dance of non-commissioned officers and their loved ones at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Sissy Spacek effectively plays the fictitious title character (aka Oughton). She was 25 during filming and never looked better (speaking as someone who never thought she was particularly attractive, but she certainly has a nice figure). Sissy was a formidable rising star at the time after "Badlands" (1973), but she wouldn't truly break out until the year after "Katherine" with "Carrie" (1976). Henry Winkler plays the Ayers character while taking a break from Happy Days. Imagine The Fonz as a college liberal in the '60s and you'll have a pretty good picture of his performance. Art Carney and Jane Wyatt are also on hand as Katherine's parents.
When this movie debuted on television in October '75, Oughton's crest fall five years prior was still fairly fresh in the minds of North Americans; and the strange Patty Hearst saga of 1974-75 was only then winding down with Patty's arrest the previous month. The public was naturally wondering how intelligent young American women could give up wealthy socialite standing to embrace poverty and join nutty revolutionary groups. "Katherine" is a minor hidden gem that effectually shows how. The movie wisely takes the middle road between far left and far right. It helps us to sympathize with Katherine's mindset while plainly showing that it's a doomed path.
Forget its TV origins, this is a good realistic drama about life in America during the turbulent 60s & early 70s. The movie showcases the political and social craziness of those times and how it changed youths, for better or worse. It's akin to 1980's "A Small Circle of Friends" and 2000's underrated "The 70s." The soundtrack features several hits from the 60s, but they're not the original songs by the original artists, obviously to save money and prevent licensing problems.
THE MOVIE RUNS 97 minutes and was shot in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Tucson & Old Tucson, Arizona. ADDITIONAL CAST: Julie Kavner and Jenny Sullivan appear as Katherine's best friend and sister respectively. Catlin Adams is also on hand.
GRADE: B+
