Cinderella Liberty

• Director: Mark Rydell
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Romantic Drama
• Themes: Down on Their Luck, Prostitutes, Military Life
• Main Cast: James Caan, Kirk Calloway, Marsha Mason, Eli Wallach
• Release Year: 1973
• Country: US
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

A "Cinderella Liberty" is Navy jargon for a pass that runs out at midnight. Sailor John Baggs, Jr. (James Caan) has such a pass, and intends to make the most of it while his ship is docked in Seattle. He "wins" prostitute Maggie (Marsha Mason) in a pool game, but backs off at a "wham-bam-thank you ma'am" when he finds out that Maggie has a son, an 11-year-old mulatto (Kirk Calloway) -- and that there's another baby on the way. John has so much empathy for Maggie's travails that he marries her. When she loses her baby, however, Maggie feels unable to resign herself to living with John, plagued by both guilt and an unwillingness to be tied down -- thus forcing John to fight for her. Darryl Ponicsan adapted his own novel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Review

At the time of its release, Cinderella Liberty was praised for the presentation of the gritty lives of Baggs and Maggie. This tended to obscure the fact that the story was the overly familiar "boy-loves-hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold" that had been told many times before, and it is the triteness of the basic story that makes Cinderella a good rather than great movie -- especially when the triteness produces situations that strain credulity almost past the breaking point. However, Cinderella does serve as a fine showcase for some first-rate performances. Marsha Mason has rarely been better; the manipulative, studied quality that mars much of her work is largely absent here, and she takes advantage of the range of emotions the character offers to show just what she is capable of. James Caan also gives one of his strongest performances, bringing forth the believable tenderness and touching innocence that lies underneath the surface of his character. And Eli Wallach, in a supporting role, is marvelous, especially in the scene in which he is expelled from the Navy. Mark Rydell's direction is solid, giving the actors plenty of room to work. Paul Williams' songs are poor and obtrusive but don't damage the film too much. Cinderella Liberty is a sweet-natured film, which will affect most viewers, even as they feel annoyed at some of the turns it takes. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Cast

Allan Arbus - Drunken Sailor; Don Calfa - Lewis; Kirk Calloway - Doug; Ted D'Arms - Cook; John Kauffman - Sailor; Bruno Kirby - Alcott; Sally Kirkland - Fleet Chick; Jon Korkes - Dental Corpsman; Marsha Mason - Maggie; Allyn Ann McLerie - Miss Watkins; David Proval - Sailor No. I; Chris Rydell - Boy Fishing; Fred Sadoff - Dr. Osgood; Eli Wallach - Forshay; Burt Young - Master at Arms; James Caan - John Baggs, Jr.; Dabney Coleman - Executive Director; Niles Brewster - Paymaster; Clayton Corzatte - Doctor; James DeCloss; Joe Locke - Club Owner; Paul Jackson - Sam

Credit

Rita Riggs - Costume Designer, Mark Rydell - Director, Donn Cambern - Editor, Patrick Kennedy - Editor, John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Paul Williams - Songwriter, Leon Ericksen - Production Designer, Vilmos Zsigmond - Cinematographer, Mark Rydell - Producer, Barry Thomas - Sound/Sound Designer, Theodore Soderberg - Sound/Sound Designer, Kay Rose - Sound Editor, Darryl Ponicsan - Screenwriter, Darryl Ponicsan - Book Author

Similar Movies

The Gift

Liberty that expires at midnight. Used mostly in foreign ports where the captain is concerned for the safety of his crew or as a subliminal form of punishment.

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