Is a must watch for any Alice fan. The Show is based on the movie which came out in 1974 it had some Laugh Out Loud moments and there is more background info on Mel. We also find out that Alice didn't like Flo in the beginning and Mel's was in Tucson not Phoenix.

I have the movie and it IS really good, I love it, but it doesn't really resemble the TV show that much I don't think.

This Alice *Ellen Burstyn**sp* could actually SING I thought ;)


The pilot episode of Alice resembles the movie more, they used the same Tommy as they used in the movie and I THINK it was called Mel and Ruby's cafe in the pilot instead of Mel's Diner.

I always wondered why they didn't use the original Tommy and I figured he was considered too old.

I agree that the movie is definitely REQUIRED viewing to completely understand and appreciate the whole "Alice" concept. In my youth I was a casual "Alice" watcher, but have become a real "Alice" fan now, especially after finally watching "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Loved Ellyn Burstyn's performance as "Alice" and the original Tommy, although incredibly annoying, was an excellent character actor especially for his age. The appearance of Vic Tayback as Mel is also crucial to the formation of the series on TV I think. The 2 "Flo's" are also interesting, and Linda Lavin's "Alice" is quite a bit different from Ellyn Burstyn's "Alice" but both are suited best for them, with the TV series Alice Hyatt perfect role for Linda. The show lasted for what nine seasons? It definitely struck a chord with America.

I agree that the movie is definitely REQUIRED viewing to completely understand and appreciate the whole "Alice" concept. In my youth I was a casual "Alice" watcher, but have become a real "Alice" fan now, especially after finally watching "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Loved Ellyn Burstyn's performance as "Alice" and the original Tommy, although incredibly annoying, was an excellent character actor especially for his age. The appearance of Vic Tayback as Mel is also crucial to the formation of the series on TV I think. The 2 "Flo's" are also interesting, and Linda Lavin's "Alice" is quite a bit different from Ellyn Burstyn's "Alice" but both are suited best for them, with the TV series Alice Hyatt perfect role for Linda. The show lasted for what nine seasons? It definitely struck a chord with America.


It's surprising though how many Alice fans have NO IDEA that the tv series was even was based on a movie nor that a movie even exists. Hell, I didn't until like the mid 90s. LOL


--spoiler alert--

I always wondered do you think Don was abusive to Alice and Tommy in the TV series like portrayed in the movie?

--spoiler alert--

I always wondered do you think Don was abusive to Alice and Tommy in the TV series like portrayed in the movie?
I impression I got was no, on the Christmas ep to Colorado Alice asks Mel to let her drive for awhile, that she would help Don drive implying they got along. In another episode where Alice thinks Don cheated on her since he left another woman money, we find out it was to pay back a loan from an old woman. He bought Alice a piano. The movie tells us something different like Don hated his job, he wasn't a trucker as one would think he drove a truck for Coke not a semi as we were lead to believe.

Believe it or not this is the Alice house in the movie! In the movie the house is supposed to be in Socorro New Mexico but it's not.

A few years ago I managed to locate the actual house and take some pictures. While I was taking pictures the owner came outside and was puzzled as to why I was taking pictures of his house. I asked him if he new that his house was famous? He said yes I know, it's the Alice house and then he invited us in! This was sort of a dream come true for me. Anyway here are a few pic's. Maybe I'll post more in the gallery if anyone's interested.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b602/yortster/082June12009_zpsf752f17c.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b602/yortster/083June12009_zps2297313a.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b602/yortster/093June12009_zpsc37d39ff.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b602/yortster/094June12009_zpsfeaa788d.jpg

Awesome!!Thanks for sharing.

In the film, Mel's Diner was actually very busy and it showed how difficult this line of work was. In the TV show, there were few customers.

Some other differences:

The movie Alice came from New Mexico after her husband was killed in accident. TV Alice came from New Jersey.

Movie Alice's husband was a mean guy who was abusive, and after the shock of his death, Alice moved on, while TV Alice's husband was revered and loved.

The movie Alice's son Tommy was a major wanker who was actually hit by an exasperated, kind Kris Kristofferson. TV Tommy was a good, kind boy/young man. Movie Tommy was also a skinny geek. TV Tommy grew up taller than a tree.

Really? The house in the movie is not in Socorro NM? The scenery (when they show Socorro New Mexico printed on the screen) definitely looks like New Mexico, so you are saying the house used is somewhere else? It would not surprise me if the house is in a Los Angeles suburb, or Tuscon maybe? They shot most of the movie there did they not?

Really? The house in the movie is not in Socorro NM? The scenery (when they show Socorro New Mexico printed on the screen) definitely looks like New Mexico, so you are saying the house used is somewhere else? It would not surprise me if the house is in a Los Angeles suburb, or Tuscon maybe? They shot most of the movie there did they not?

Yes, the house is in Tuscon, AZ.

I agree that the movie is definitely REQUIRED viewing to completely understand and appreciate the whole "Alice" concept. In my youth I was a casual "Alice" watcher, but have become a real "Alice" fan now, especially after finally watching "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Loved Ellyn Burstyn's performance as "Alice" and the original Tommy, although incredibly annoying, was an excellent character actor especially for his age. The appearance of Vic Tayback as Mel is also crucial to the formation of the series on TV I think. The 2 "Flo's" are also interesting, and Linda Lavin's "Alice" is quite a bit different from Ellyn Burstyn's "Alice" but both are suited best for them, with the TV series Alice Hyatt perfect role for Linda. The show lasted for what nine seasons? It definitely struck a chord with America.

Okay, here we are... an active thread on the original movie.

Now I remember why I've been in no hurry to watch either Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore or the television version... either of the Tommy kids were annoying in their own way, and I'm in no hurry to be reminded of all that just yet!

Okay, here we are... an active thread on the original movie.

Now I remember why I've been in no hurry to watch either Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore or the television version... either of the Tommy kids were annoying in their own way, and I'm in no hurry to be reminded of all that just yet!
Then why post?? It's an old thread.

I still have yet to see the film version. It sounds better than the tv version.

I still have yet to see the film version. It sounds better than the tv version.
It gives more background info on Mel which makes it interesting. Vera's character was the same although not as exaggerated as the tv character.

I'm surprised there are a few posts here saying there's more background info on Mel in the movie. I finally saw the movie for the first time, and the only thing I remember "new" that we learn about Mel is that his wife Ruby died but he kept the name "Mel & Ruby's Café", that's all.

I was also surprised how little the diner was in the movie; not "little" size-wise, but in terms of screen time. Alice doesn't even start working there until at least half way through the movie, maybe even later?

I was surprised too at how much feistier Diane Ladd's Flo was than I would have imagined. Having grown up with Polly as Flo and not being swayed much by Diane's Belle, I just wouldn't have pictured Diane's Flo being as much of the character that she made her; she was great.

Vera's character was the same although not as exaggerated as the tv character.

Vera's character was completely different than from the TV Vera, and I was very surprised by that. Vera on the TV series was sympathetically naïve and hopelessly "lost" like a special little child, but Vera in the film was stranger in a much darker way, i.e., being very into the book The Bride Screamed Murder; she also was a hog-riding girl, and I can't picture Beth Howland's Vera riding a motorcycle, even if just as a passenger. "Film Vera" was also more emotionally unstable, as seen when she breaks down when the diner goes into chaos with her as the only waitress on the floor. I much prefer Beth's Vera! :)

And that was Jodie Foster?? Wow...