shiannedog

Message To My Daughter is a movie you will only find in the archives of movie making. A creative, thoughtful, and absorbing film with enough meaning to touch even the most disconnected soul. One can only wish that these performances were captured on better quality film and sound recordings. The acting was real and full of genuineness that anyone who lived through those years could relate to. The story is heart wrenching and sad but also carries with it a thread of hope for a happy ending which doesn't disappoint. The idea of a dying mother to leave recordings for her daughter is beautiful and touching. May we all be so thoughtful. 7.3/10.

This western is rather different in style while at the same time presenting a common theme. Robert Blake was superb as Willie Boy. He made the film worth watching. Truly a great performance. Apart from him I would give it a much lower rating. The camera loves Redford but other than his pretty looks, he adds little quality to the film. He can't seem to dialog more than a few words at a time. There is a very good supporting cast and the screen play makes it interesting. The music is also a perfect fit. If I had a do-over I would replace Redford with Steve McQueen or Charles Bronson and give the sheriff a bit more to say. 6.7/10.

I didn't have any expectations when viewing this movie so I couldn't say I was disappointed. In fact the performances of the actors came across as quite impressive, especially Martin Sheen's performance. So well did he do that it seemed to bring out the best in many of the other actors also. Another aspect of this film that I thought was exceptional was the writing. The dialog was captivating. Being a made for TV picture gave it serious limitations I'm sure but the end product turned out excellent. My compliments to the film markers. I will yield to the other reviewers as to the historical accuracy of the story but in no way should the qualities of this movie take a hit because it was deeply moving and interesting. 7.4 out of 10.