Janet Margolin and Keir Dullea, play Lisa and David, two young people who are being treated in an institution for teens with mental issues. She talks in rhymes, and he can't stand to be touched, but this is a movie that probes below the surface of all its characters. As Dr. Swinford the compassionate head of the institution played by Howard Da Silva says, "Sickness makes people do things they don't want to do".
As he helps David, they touch on many subjects, including the things that trouble most people. Howard Da Silva gives a thoughtful performance as Dr Swinford, a man who also has vulnerabilities, but his reticence also make him less threatening, and David's problems revolve around threat, real or otherwise. As David starts to deal with his issues, he helps Lisa overcome some of hers, although her problems are far deeper than his.
This was Frank Perry's first directorial effort and his wife, Eleanor, wrote the screenplay. To bring their emotion-charged story to life they needed actors who could match its intensity. Fortunately, their choice was inspired.
This was also Janet Margolin's first movie and it was early in Keir Dullea's career. What formidable talents they were. Janet Margolin was simply one of the most beautiful actresses you would ever hope to see - she is luminous in this movie and her performance is heart wrenching. Keir Dullea also had a look; arrogance and sensitivity all at once - he had real presence with intensity to spare. Both had backgrounds in the theatre; they were just as comfortable on the stage as on the sound stage; intimidating talents for actors who only worked in film.
Neither star had the huge career in movies that one would have predicted for them in 1962. Keir Dullea of course had a big one with Kubrick's 2001, and gave powerful performances in a number of other films such as "The Fox", but apparently he enjoyed more success on the stage.
Why an actress as beautiful and talented as Janet Margolin wasn't besieged with offers for some of the big roles in the 60's and 70's is a mystery. Although she did a couple of films with Woody Allen, most of her work seems to have been in television. One movie I really liked her in was the moody, seriously underrated Hitchcock homage, "The Last Embrace", made seventeen years after this one.
"David and Lisa" was another fresh, brilliant work from a period that was a fertile one for dramatic films. As well as being Frank Perry's first film, it was probably his best. What an eclectic career he had, everything from "The Swimmer" to "Monsignor".
However, he and his brilliant young stars created something truly special with this film. To paraphrase a line from "David and Lisa" - it's a pearl of a movie.
As he helps David, they touch on many subjects, including the things that trouble most people. Howard Da Silva gives a thoughtful performance as Dr Swinford, a man who also has vulnerabilities, but his reticence also make him less threatening, and David's problems revolve around threat, real or otherwise. As David starts to deal with his issues, he helps Lisa overcome some of hers, although her problems are far deeper than his.
This was Frank Perry's first directorial effort and his wife, Eleanor, wrote the screenplay. To bring their emotion-charged story to life they needed actors who could match its intensity. Fortunately, their choice was inspired.
This was also Janet Margolin's first movie and it was early in Keir Dullea's career. What formidable talents they were. Janet Margolin was simply one of the most beautiful actresses you would ever hope to see - she is luminous in this movie and her performance is heart wrenching. Keir Dullea also had a look; arrogance and sensitivity all at once - he had real presence with intensity to spare. Both had backgrounds in the theatre; they were just as comfortable on the stage as on the sound stage; intimidating talents for actors who only worked in film.
Neither star had the huge career in movies that one would have predicted for them in 1962. Keir Dullea of course had a big one with Kubrick's 2001, and gave powerful performances in a number of other films such as "The Fox", but apparently he enjoyed more success on the stage.
Why an actress as beautiful and talented as Janet Margolin wasn't besieged with offers for some of the big roles in the 60's and 70's is a mystery. Although she did a couple of films with Woody Allen, most of her work seems to have been in television. One movie I really liked her in was the moody, seriously underrated Hitchcock homage, "The Last Embrace", made seventeen years after this one.
"David and Lisa" was another fresh, brilliant work from a period that was a fertile one for dramatic films. As well as being Frank Perry's first film, it was probably his best. What an eclectic career he had, everything from "The Swimmer" to "Monsignor".
However, he and his brilliant young stars created something truly special with this film. To paraphrase a line from "David and Lisa" - it's a pearl of a movie.