Has anyone seen the movie? What did you think?

I liked it, even though it wasn't funny.

I didn't buy the Vera waitress. She wasn't believable.

I have yet to see it, but I have heard a lot of good things about it. Was anybody from the tv show in the movie?

Vic Tayback was. He played Mel. But it was Mel and Ruby's Diner. He was a widower. Also Dianne Ladd who played Belle Dupree played Flo.

Alfred Lutter,who played Tommy in the movie was in the pilot episode of Alice(replaced by Philip McKeon in the second episode).
The movie was different from the series,although in the pilot they tried to keep some elements from it,like Vera being more childlike,Mel a little meaner,Tommy more obnoxious and the diner was called Mel and Ruby's Cafe as well.
In the movie,Alice and Tommy were from New Mexico,not New Jersey like in the series.
Instead of Phoenix,the setting for the diner in the movie was Tucson.
Flo mentioned having a daughter in the movie,but in the series she had no children.

I love the movie. But I love most of Martin Scorcese's movies too. I liked the performances of both Ellen Burstyn and Alfred Lutter (Alice and Tommy).

It's kind of unusual that a dramatic movie was remade into comedic TV show. How often does something switch genres like that?

Alfred Lutter,who played Tommy in the movie was in the pilot episode of Alice(replaced by Philip McKeon in the second episode).
The movie was different from the series,although in the pilot they tried to keep some elements from it,like Vera being more childlike,Mel a little meaner,Tommy more obnoxious and the diner was called Mel and Ruby's Cafe as well.
In the movie,Alice and Tommy were from New Mexico,not New Jersey like in the series.
Instead of Phoenix,the setting for the diner in the movie was Tucson.
Flo mentioned having a daughter in the movie,but in the series she had no children.


Interesting, thank you very much. I really want to check out this movie now. lol

Jodie Foster is even in it. She plays a friend of Tommy's.

I have the movie on DVD and love it!

when did the movie come out on DVD I think the guy who plays Mel on The Series was in the movie as well

when did the movie come out on DVD I think the guy who plays Mel on The Series was in the movie as well


The movie came out in 2002 on dvd. Yes Mel was in the movie and Diane Ladd who played Belle Dupree in the tv series. You should pick up the movie it was good!!

Thanks for the info

Interesting, thank you very much. I really want to check out this movie now. lol


so Brian, did you ever check it out? :)

I absolutely LOVED this movie. I caught it on cable at some point in the mid-1980's and was about 1/2 through it when I got an odd sense of deja vu....

I was so glad when I purchased it on DVD 3 years ago.

On a side note, I read a VERY interesting tid bit about the evolution of the movie in Ellen Burstyn's autobiography.

She mentions that she went out and found the script, found the director, and most of the cast, yet she failed to assert herself when it came to creative differences with Scorcese and Warner Bros.

Nowadays, if an actor (or actress) had been that involved in the genesis of a project, he/she would have made sure their name appeared as a producer.

She also claimed she was totaly left out of the TV series deal and that the entire experience taught her a valuable life lesson about taking credit for what you have achieved, yet not being a "bitch" about it -- something a man never has to worry about, btw.

I've never seen it, but I probably should. I'll see if the library has it.

You should, Monika! I've written thoughts on the movie in other threads on the Alice board

You should, Monika! I've written thoughts on the movie in other threads on the Alice board
OK! Next time I'm at the library I'll keep my eyes peeled. :D

Hi, Catlover:

I hope you get a chance to see this film. What I found so amazing about it was that it had definate moments that were funny and it wasn't making a big effort to do so.

The perfect example, IMO, is a short scene between Alice and Flo when they're sunbathing. I won't give anything away but watch this scene and let me know what you think.

As much as I loved the sitcom, I'm surprised they did not make an hour-long drama out of it, as opposed to a sitcom.

^ Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Does the DVD have any extras?

I haven't seen the DVD version. I own the VHS.

^ Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Does the DVD have any extras?


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JRZQAKWXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Theatrical Trailer

Audio Commentary by Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, & Martin Scorsese

Second Chances: The Making Of 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' Documentary

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JRZQAKWXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Theatrical Trailer

Audio Commentary by Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, & Martin Scorsese

Second Chances: The Making Of 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' Documentary
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. :D

I remember seeing it YEARS ago; when It was first on TV. (I remember it was shown on NBC on a saturday night). From what I recall, it was ok; but that's all.
From what I remember though; it was a definate "chick flick".

In one of life's many coincidences, I created a thread over on the movie board about the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore starring Ellen Burstyn and directed by Martin Scorsese. I am a huge fan of Scorsese and even wrote an article on him that was published in a film magazine several years ago. However, until recently, I considered Alice to be one of is minor works. I also always found it strange that a director of such films as Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver chose to direct a picture that was a woman's liberation film.

In 1973, Ellen Burstyn was filming The Exorcist for Warner Brothers and as dailes came in, Warner Bros told Burstyn that they were very interested in making another film with her. After turning down dozens of scripts, the actress finally came across the one for Alice. Burstyn sought out director Francis Ford Coppola and asked him if he knew of a young filmmaker who he felt would be right for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Coppola suggested that Ellen watch the 1973 film Mean Streets, directed by a young man named Martin Scorsese. Burstyn watched and really liked the movie, but considering that Mean Streets is the story of a group of young men, she asked Scorsese if he knew anything about women, in which he replied, "No, but I would like to learn".

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore also stars singer Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd as Flo, Scorsese regular Harvey Keitel as Ben and introduced a very young Jodie Foster as Audrey. Two years later, the young Foster would appear in Scorsese's Taxi Driver in which she would earn an Oscar.

The movie is about 35 year old Alice, who after the death of her abusive husband discovers for the first time in her life that she has to be an adult for the sake of herself as well as her son. In my other thread, I compared Alice to Ann Romano (played by Bonnie Franklin) in the sitcom One Day At A Time in that both ladies are in their 30's (Ann is 34) and find that they have to take care of themselves after losing a husband (in the case of Ann it was a devorve) who had always taken care of them. Alice learns by the end of the movie that she is more than capable of taking care of herself and doesn't need a man. The movie is about self-discovery and in that message is where it's power lies. Burstyn also gives a great perfomance, which won her an Oscar.

If you haven't seen Alive Doesn't Live Here Anymore, see it! :)

like I said; it's a DEFINATE "chick flick".

Well, I'm not a CHICK, but I love the chicks in it :D

Someone posted that the diner was called "Mel and Ruby's Cafe" in the movie; the diner was also called "Mel and Ruby's Cafe" in the first episode (pilot) of the TV series - you can see it on the door.

Alfred Lutter,who played Tommy in the movie was in the pilot episode of Alice(replaced by Philip McKeon in the second episode).
The movie was different from the series,although in the pilot they tried to keep some elements from it,like Vera being more childlike,Mel a little meaner,Tommy more obnoxious and the diner was called Mel and Ruby's Cafe as well.
In the movie,Alice and Tommy were from New Mexico,not New Jersey like in the series.
Instead of Phoenix,the setting for the diner in the movie was Tucson.
Flo mentioned having a daughter in the movie,but in the series she had no children.

Not to mention Kris Kristofferson all over the place.

It was a Martin Scorsese movie, so it was surprisingly not very violent.

In one of life's many coincidences, I created a thread over on the movie board about the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore starring Ellen Burstyn and directed by Martin Scorsese. I am a huge fan of Scorsese and even wrote an article on him that was published in a film magazine several years ago. However, until recently, I considered Alice to be one of is minor works. I also always found it strange that a director of such films as Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver chose to direct a picture that was a woman's liberation film.

In 1973, Ellen Burstyn was filming The Exorcist for Warner Brothers and as dailes came in, Warner Bros told Burstyn that they were very interested in making another film with her. After turning down dozens of scripts, the actress finally came across the one for Alice. Burstyn sought out director Francis Ford Coppola and asked him if he knew of a young filmmaker who he felt would be right for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Coppola suggested that Ellen watch the 1973 film Mean Streets, directed by a young man named Martin Scorsese. Burstyn watched and really liked the movie, but considering that Mean Streets is the story of a group of young men, she asked Scorsese if he knew anything about women, in which he replied, "No, but I would like to learn".

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore also stars singer Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd as Flo, Scorsese regular Harvey Keitel as Ben and introduced a very young Jodie Foster as Audrey. Two years later, the young Foster would appear in Scorsese's Taxi Driver in which she would earn an Oscar.

The movie is about 35 year old Alice, who after the death of her abusive husband discovers for the first time in her life that she has to be an adult for the sake of herself as well as her son. In my other thread, I compared Alice to Ann Romano (played by Bonnie Franklin) in the sitcom One Day At A Time in that both ladies are in their 30's (Ann is 34) and find that they have to take care of themselves after losing a husband (in the case of Ann it was a devorve) who had always taken care of them. Alice learns by the end of the movie that she is more than capable of taking care of herself and doesn't need a man. The movie is about self-discovery and in that message is where it's power lies. Burstyn also gives a great perfomance, which won her an Oscar.

If you haven't seen Alive Doesn't Live Here Anymore, see it! :)

Good synopsis.

"Alice" always reminds me of M*A*S*H based on a film, that by the end of the run had almost nothing in common with the original.

Someone posted that the diner was called "Mel and Ruby's Cafe" in the movie; the diner was also called "Mel and Ruby's Cafe" in the first episode (pilot) of the TV series - you can see it on the door.

I've never seen the pilot, I hope to catch it someday.