Audrey Rose *** (1977, Anthony Hopkins, Marsha Mason, John Beck) – Classic Movie Review 8217

Director Robert Wise’s 1977 fantasy horror thriller Audrey Rose is based on the novel by Frank DeFelitta and stars Anthony Hopkins, who gives a believable performance as Elliot Hoover, a man who is convinced that a 12-year-old girl Ivy Templeton (Susan Swift) is his own deceased daughter Audrey Rose reincarnated.

Marsha Mason and John Beck also star as the girl’s parents, Janice and Bill Templeton. Norman Lloyd, John Hillerman and Robert Walden head the strong support cast.

This sleek, smart, eminently watchable adaptation of DeFelitta’s 1975 bestselling spiritualist thriller novel is however a rather sedate film from director Wise. More The Exorcist-style shocks would have been livelier.

Also in the cast are Philip Sterling, Ivy Jones, Stephen Pearlman, Aly Wassil, Mary Jackson, Richard Lawson, Tony Brande, Elizabeth Farley, Ruth Manning, Stanley Brock, David Wilson, David Fresco, Pat Corley, Eunice Christopher, Karen Anders and Fred D Scott.

Wise had the unique luxury of a full week of rehearsals before shooting. He said: ‘I don’t think we’re going to prove reincarnation in this picture, but I’m very open to the whole possibility of the supernatural, the paranormal, the possibility of dimensions out there.’

De Felitta also penned the screenplay and was a producer. He wrote a sequel novel called For Love of Audrey Rose, published in 1982 when The Entity, adapted from De Felitta’s 1978 book, debuted.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8217

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