Misunderstood *** (1984, Gene Hackman, Henry Thomas, Rip Torn, Huckleberry Fox) – Classic Movie Review 10,053

The 1984 drama film Misunderstood features outstanding performances from Gene Hackman and little Henry Thomas as a busy father and his son desperate for love after the mother’s death.

Director Jerry Schatzberg’s 1984 drama film Misunderstood features outstanding performances from Gene Hackman and little Henry Thomas (the boy from ET: The Extra-Terrestrial), as Ned Rawley and Andrew, a cold, busy father and his son desperate for love after the mother’s death.

It is the performances of Hackman and Thomas that distinguish this sensitive and thoughtful family drama. Directed by Schatzberg in Tunisia, this American, Italian and Tunisian co-production is low key and tasteful but very worthwhile. Rip Torn adds his usual oomph as Hackman’s brother Will.

Barra Grant’s screenplay is based on English novelist Florence Montgomery’s 1869 novel, filmed in Italy in 1966 as Incompreso with Anthony Quayle.

Also in the cast are Maureen Kerwin, Susan Anspach, June Brown, Helen Ryan and Nadim Sawalha.

Producer Tarak Ben Ammar decided to film it in his home country of Tunisia. Two endings were shot, with Ammar’s final cut preferring the more upbeat conclusion and inserting flashbacks. Susan Anspach’s performance was greatly reduced, only appearing in the flashbacks. Distributors MGM/UA then made further revisions.

It was all in vain. Made on a budget of $10 million, the film flopped at the US box office, grossing just $1,525,532,

Misunderstood is directed by Jerry Schatzberg, runs 91 minutes, is made by ACCENT Films, Producers Sales Organization (PSO) and Vides Cinematografica, is released by MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1984) (US), is written by Barra Grant, based on Florence Montgomery’s novel, is shot in colour by Pasqualino De Santis, is produced by Keith Barish (executive producer), Craig Baumgarten (executive producer) and Tarak Ben Ammar, is scored by Michael Hoppe, and designed by Joel Schiller.

It was filmed in the summer of 1982 but not released until 30 March 1984. The video from Odyssey came out in 1985.

The cast

The cast are Gene Hackman as Ned Rawley, Henry Thomas as Andrew, Rip Torn as Will, Huckleberry Fox as Miles, Maureen Kerwin as Kate, Susan Anspach as Lilly, June Brown as Mrs Paley, Helen Ryan as Lucy, and Nadim Sawalha as Ahmed.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,053

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com