Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Nighthawk76 · 05-16-2008, 01:03 AM

Has anyone here seen the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese and staring Ellen Burstyn. I've been a Scorsese fan for a long time but until recently I've regarded this film as one of his lesser works.

The film is a woman's liberation piece about a woman named Alice (Burstyn) who finds herself on her own and having to raise and take care of her young son after the sudden death of her abusive husband. Over the course of the film, Alice finds herself and realizes that she doesn't need a man to take care of her.

Alice reminds me a great deal of Ann Romano from One Day At A Time who finds herself having to grow up later in life for the sake of her child (children in Ann's case) and herself. Alice and Ann even have the same hairstyle.

It hasn't been until recently that I have discovered how powerful this movie truly is. It delivers a great message about personal independence, the characters are classic troubled Scorsese people, and Ellen Burstyn turns in one of the best performance of the 1970's. Also, like any Scorsese film, the director uses music as a character in the film.

If you have seen this movie, what do you think of it? If you haven't, go see it!

Mikado · 05-16-2008, 01:18 AM

It certainly was better than the TV show that it spawned, Alice!
(Ironically, the woman who played Flo in the movie, replaced the Flo character with a new one, Belle, on the TV show)

Jude The Obscure · 05-16-2008, 11:52 PM

I own the movie and recently rewatched it. There are plenty of posts over at the Alice board talking about it.

Ireneparalegal · 05-16-2008, 11:54 PM

Good thing Martha Raye wasn't in the movie.

Jude The Obscure · 05-17-2008, 12:07 AM

BITE YOUR DO YA YOU THINK i'M SEXY TONGUE!!!!

Ireneparalegal · 05-17-2008, 12:10 AM

GARFIELDKOOL · 05-17-2008, 10:14 PM

Yes, I saw this movie on cable quite a few times and I like it. I don't own it, but I would buy for my collection. One thing I will say that most people probably wouldn't agree is that I think Ellen Burstyn did a better job as Alice in the movie than Linda Lavin did in the series. The simple reason is that Ellen played that part to the bone and she was so dramatic. She also wasn't self-centered and didn't have an ego like Linda. Anyway, I think Ellen would have been better in the series than Linda would have. But, that's my opinion.

Ireneparalegal · 05-17-2008, 11:51 PM

Kool

I can't help but hear you say Alice is a b**ch.

Zebra 3 · 06-06-2008, 01:41 PM

One of the better movies of the 1970s.

05-16-2008, 01:03 AM	#1
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Has anyone here seen the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese and staring Ellen Burstyn. I've been a Scorsese fan for a long time but until recently I've regarded this film as one of his lesser works. The film is a woman's liberation piece about a woman named Alice (Burstyn) who finds herself on her own and having to raise and take care of her young son after the sudden death of her abusive husband. Over the course of the film, Alice finds herself and realizes that she doesn't need a man to take care of her. Alice reminds me a great deal of Ann Romano from One Day At A Time who finds herself having to grow up later in life for the sake of her child (children in Ann's case) and herself. Alice and Ann even have the same hairstyle. It hasn't been until recently that I have discovered how powerful this movie truly is. It delivers a great message about personal independence, the characters are classic troubled Scorsese people, and Ellen Burstyn turns in one of the best performance of the 1970's. Also, like any Scorsese film, the director uses music as a character in the film. If you have seen this movie, what do you think of it? If you haven't, go see it!

05-16-2008, 11:54 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Good thing Martha Raye wasn't in the movie.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

06-06-2008, 01:41 PM	#9
Zebra 3 Striped Tomato Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 26, 2002 Location: Bay City Posts: 5,811	One of the better movies of the 1970s.
	__________________ Sitcoms Online STARSKY & HUTCH Message Board

05-16-2008, 01:18 AM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,886	It certainly was better than the TV show that it spawned, Alice! (Ironically, the woman who played Flo in the movie, replaced the Flo character with a new one, Belle, on the TV show)

05-16-2008, 11:52 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I own the movie and recently rewatched it. There are plenty of posts over at the Alice board talking about it.

05-17-2008, 12:07 AM	#5
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	BITE YOUR DO YA YOU THINK i'M SEXY TONGUE!!!!

05-17-2008, 12:10 AM	#6
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691

05-17-2008, 10:14 PM	#7
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Yes, I saw this movie on cable quite a few times and I like it. I don't own it, but I would buy for my collection. One thing I will say that most people probably wouldn't agree is that I think Ellen Burstyn did a better job as Alice in the movie than Linda Lavin did in the series. The simple reason is that Ellen played that part to the bone and she was so dramatic. She also wasn't self-centered and didn't have an ego like Linda. Anyway, I think Ellen would have been better in the series than Linda would have. But, that's my opinion.

05-17-2008, 11:51 PM	#8
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Kool I can't help but hear you say Alice is a b**ch.