Julie Harris created the role of Frankie,
the 12 year old tomboy who can't come to terms with her older brother's
marriage, in the Broadway production of Carson McCullers' "The Member of
the Wedding" and she's magnificent recreating the role in Fred
Zinnemann's film version. It was her screen debut and she was nominated
for the Oscar. She was also 26 at the time and makes for a very
convincing 12 year old; it was a tour-de-force. Zinnemann also wisely
cast Ethel Waters as the black housekeeper Berenice and 10 year old
Brandon De Wilde as Frankie's young friend John Henry, also both from
the original Broadway production. They, too, are superb.
The
piece itself is slighter than its reputation might suggest and Zinnemann
does nothing to open it up. Edward and Edna Anhalt did the adaptation
and their script retains a good deal of McCullers' poetry.
Fundamentally, though, this is an actor's piece and it's the three
principals who carry it. It isn't much of a film but at least it
preserves three great theatrical performances and that's enough.
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