The Cracker Factory

An underrated TV movie.

Though it's a little dated and the variety of psychiatric stereotypes is a little annoying, but really it's a very good TV movie that I wish were available on video. It's one of Natalie Wood's best performances and she captures the Cassie Barrett character right on. The Cleveland setting gives it a great middle America setting and Marian Mercer, Shelley Long (before "Cheers") and the supporting cast are as up for this as is Natalie.

It's about alcoholism and promotes AA but doesn't go overboard in preaching to us. To the contrary, The "Cassie" character, thanks to the writing and to Natalie Wood, kick the wind out of the "typical" therapy people and methods.

I have always been a big fan of Natalie Wood and own several of her movies, those of which can be purchased on DVD/Video. I have been buying her movies on DVD, or video (when DVD's can't be found). And, while seeing a little sketch of "The Cracker Factory" upon watching a TV biography of Natalie's, I became interested, realizing here was a Natalie Wood movie I have never seen but haven't been able to find. Just now I realized it was a 'made for TV movie'. I'm wondering is there any way to get a copy of this movie? I have read some good reviews from fans here, and it is highly recommended, so it makes me want to watch it even more (sorry for rambling, I was trying to get the minimum lines required).

Of course, the book is usually better. The author has time to develope the characters, while the film makers do not. That having been said, "The Cracker Factory" is a very good movie. I was pleasantly surprised. Natalie Wood did a remarkably good job of bringing Joyce Burditt's "Cassie" to life. The supporting cast was also good, especially Juliet Mills as Tinkerbell, the night nurse. A good book to read, a good movie to watch, either way, you won't feel let down.

There are three kinds of TV movies. First, fiction stories which look like the big screen films, but cheaper: thrillers, comedies, westerns; nothing really exciting most of the time. Second, you have TV movies related to real life of people, gloomy, depressing, not the kind of stuff that most audiences will pay for in a theater, when they go to forget their daily problems, especially when they are with their kids whilst eating popcorn, eccept maybe some films from directors such as Paul Mazursky, Daniel Mann or Peter Bodganovitch. And third, you have, in TV industry, biopics, biographies of famous folks: politics, show bizeness, sport. So this one belongs to the second category, destined to home audiences, people sitting in their sofa and seeking in this kind of movies, some things in common with their own problems; with sometimes a bit of peeping tom line too. Guilty pleasure to observe distress, hopeles, despair. Nathalie Wood is of course excellent here and I think she did not play better for the big screen, where most of time, she played in major, famous movies, with only her presence, her beauty and charisma instead a real actress' play. In TV industry, at least, she could be a real actress and show her skills. That's my own opinion, i can be wrong. This movie is good enough for me but certainly not DAY OF WINE AND ROSES or LOST WEEK END. It is too light hearted for such a subject, not a comedy, but only not depressing, as I expected.

Natalie Wood's performance in 'The Cracker Factory' is quite simply, brilliant. The fact she wasn't nominated for an Emmy for this performance is unforgivable. Her character is a nuanced mix of and belligerence and insecurity - with real depth and humour. When she found a part she could really relate to, there was such honesty in her work.

The film itself rises above the 70's telemovie 'disease of the week' cliche, although it would have made an interesting feature film under the right director.

It's a shame that Natalie died two years after this film, it would have been fascinating to watch her grow and mature as an actress. We have such a great gallery of portraits from her - from child parts (Tomorrow is Forever, Miracle on 34th St) to ingenue roles (Rebel Without a Cause) to the leading lady material of Splendor in the Grass and Love with the Proper Stranger. She didn't do too many films in the 70's or 80's - but The Cracker Factory shows how well she had developed.

Great support by Shelley Long, Juliet Mills etc... (the music score is a little distracting though - esp. during her speech to Perry King)

I have seen the movie several times and am floored by Wood's performance each time. Highly recommended.