Norma Rae 1979 Based on the 1975 book Crystal Lee (Sutton) a Woman of Inheritance by New York Times reporter Henry P. Leifermann. Directed by Martin Ritt. Norma Rae Webster (Sally Field – Best Actress Academy Award) is raising children by two different fathers, one dead, one negligent while employed full time at a cotton mill with low pay, under poor conditions. She marries former co-worker Sonny (Beau Bridges) because he’s the first man who seems reliable.
When Norma meets New York union organizer Reuben Warshowsky (Ron Liebman, excellent), she hears sense in what he says. (Their relationship is credible, deftly written, and makes the film.) Only when her father needlessly dies on the job, however, does the heroine join the movement. She’s gets fired. Her husband tells her to back off. Management retaliates. Things come out well in the end, though history shows this was a mere first step. Evocative. Free with Netflix.
Places in the Heart 1984 Directed by Robert Benton. Best Actress (Sally Field), Best Original Screenplay Academy Awards. Quiet and moving. In a small Texas town during The Great Depression, widow Edna Spalding (Sally Field), is left to raise her children and run a failing farm by herself. Initially refusing, Edna hires African American drifter Moses Hadner – “Moze” (Danny Glover). Banker Albert Denby (Lane Smith) foists his blind nephew, Will (John Malcovich), on her as a paying boarder.
Just when it looks like the farm can’t be saved, a motley crew lead by Moze helps Edna enter a contest…after which there’s good news and bad (violent) news. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Murphy’s Romance 1985 Based on the novella by Max Schott. Directed by Martin Ritt. Divorced, single mother Emma Moriarty (Sally Field) moves to a small Arizona town to try to make a living training and boarding horses. Emma develops an unexpected friendship with local pharmacist, Murphy Jones (James Garner), who has the sense to help by giving her business and emotional support, rather than offering charity. He’s tender, patient, wry, realistic, and reliable.
When her irresponsible husband comes waltzing back, Emma’s tempted to believe his remorse and lets him into her life and bed. Murphy bristles. Though thirty plus years her senior, he’s in love. Realization slowly dawns. Touching and wise. Garner is palpably real. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Punchline 1988 Directed by David Seltzer. A terrific little film. New Jersey Housewife Lilah Krytsick (Sally Field) has two cute girls, a husband (John Goodman) who thinks that wife and mother are all any woman should want to be, and a burning desire to be a comedienne. She sneaks out at night to do stand-up at The Gas Station in Manhattan, even spending vacation money on a packet of old-as-the-hill jokes. Lilah is sympathetic, but unoriginal. Her husband, never having seen the act, pressures her to quit.
The other regular comics are something of a motley family. Steven Gold, (Tom Hanks), whose father thinks he’s in med school, is unquestionably the best. After a year of hoping to be discovered, however, he’s expelled, homeless, and desperate, spinning out when opportunity arises. When Lilah shows compassion, he bitterly responds, then shows her how to garner humor from her own life bringing out hidden skill. Both hard and touching. Good acting, good script. Free with Netflix.
Steel Magnolias 1988 An adaptation of Robert Harling’s play which was based on real life experience of the death of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson. Directed by Herbert Ross. M’Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field) and her husband, Drum (Tom Skerritt), prepare for daughter Shelby’s wedding (Julia Roberts) to the handsome Jackson (Dylan McDermot). M’Lynn’s friends, a sisterhood, are the axis of narrative.
Beautician Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton) is a big-hearted gossip. New resident, apprentice beautician, Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto (Daryl Hannah), has marital problems. Former first mayoral lady, Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis), is wry and grounded. Irascible, curmudgeon Louisa “Ouiser” Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine) has nothing good to say about anything. Shelby is happily married but gets pregnant against doctor’s orders putting her life at risk. M’Lynn agonizes.
The women come together in celebration and tragedy. Death is neither the point nor the heart of this film unless you want to interpret the message as carpe diem. Characters are grand, ensemble work just wonderful. On Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Soapdish 1991 Directed by Michael Hoffman. A behind the scenes story of a popular soap opera, the film is a romantic comedy. Younger actress Montana Moorhead (Cathy Moriarity) tries to usurp the show’s veteran star, Celeste (Sally Field), with sexual favors to producer David Barnes (Robert Downey, Jr.). The star’s ex, Jeffrey Anderson (Kevin Kline), whom she jealously had fired from her last show, is booked to play a romantic interest.
He gravitates towards Celeste’s newly hired niece who turns out to be- wait for it-her daughter! Back-stabbing, rewriting, and ad-libing ensue. Convoluted fun. Also with Whoopie Goldberg, Elizabeth Shue, Carrie Fisher, and Gary Marshall. Rent on Amazon Prime.
Hello, My Name is Doris 2016 Directed by Michael Showalter. Shy, quirky, 60 something Doris Miller (Sally Field) is infatuated with young co-worker, John Freemont (Max Greenfield). She researches John and puts herself repeatedly in his path misinterpreting kindness for interest, then manages to break up his relationship. When he invites her to Thanksgiving, she thinks he’s reciprocating. He isn’t. Sweet, wry and very poignant. Good acting. Free with Amazon Prime.
Lincoln can be found in Streaming Daniel Day-Lewis.
Top Bigstock photo: Sally Field arrives at the “Lincoln” Premiere at the AFI Fest at Graumans Chinese Theater on November 8, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA
