The Sterile Cuckoo

The Sterile Cuckoo (released in the UK as Pookie) is a 1969 American comedy-drama film released by Paramount Pictures that tells the story of an eccentric young couple whose relationship deepens despite their differences and inadequacies. It stars Liza Minnelli, Wendell Burton, and Tim McIntire.[2]

This article is about the 1969 film. For the novel on which it was based, see The Sterile Cuckoo (novel).
The Sterile Cuckoo
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlan J. Pakula
Produced byDavid Lange
Alan J. Pakula
Written byAlvin Sargent
Based onThe Sterile Cuckoo
by John Nichols
StarringLiza Minnelli
Wendell Burton
Tim McIntire
Music byFred Karlin
CinematographyMilton R. Krasner
Edited bySam O'Steen
Production
company
Boardwalk Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • October 22, 1969 (1969-10-22)
Running time
107 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$14 million[1]

The film was adapted by Alvin Sargent from the 1965 novel by John Nichols, and directed by Alan J. Pakula in his directing debut.[2]

The film received two Oscar nominations for the 42nd Academy Awards: Liza Minnelli for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and; Fred Karlin and Dory Previn's song "Come Saturday Morning" for Best Original Song.

Plot

Mary Ann "Pookie" Adams is a quirky teenage oddball who meets quiet, reserved Jerry Payne while waiting for a bus heading to their colleges; both are freshmen and their colleges are near each other. Jerry immediately sees that Pookie is different, even strange: she lies to a nun on the bus so the nun will switch seats with her.

As Jerry is beginning to settle into college life with his roommate, Charlie Schumacher, the aggressive Pookie arrives unannounced one Saturday morning. Pookie and Jerry spend much time together over the weekend, and soon begin to see each other regularly.

Jerry falls in love with Pookie, but their different personalities start to pull them apart. After they have sex, Pookie tells Jerry she might be pregnant. When the pregnancy scare is over, Jerry wants to spend spring break alone to catch up on his studies. Pookie pleads to stay with him, and he relents.

A week alone with the needy, somewhat unstable Pookie makes Jerry realize that they need time apart. Later he discovers that she has dropped out of school, and he finds her in the same boardinghouse where she had been staying the first time she visited him. He puts her on a bus for home and the young lovers part ways.

Cast

Production

Much of The Sterile Cuckoo was filmed at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Some of it was filmed in Sylvan Beach, New York, including the Sylvan Beach Union Chapel. Some scenes, including the later bus-stop scenes, were filmed at the central park in Vernon Center, New York. The first bus-stop scene was filmed in front of the Ontario State Bank Block at 300 South Euclid Avenue in Ontario, California.

Reception

The film was well-received by critics, and holds an 88% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.[3] It grossed $14 million in the United States and Canada,[1] making it the 13th highest-grossing film of 1969.

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See also

References
  1. "Box Office Information for The Sterile Cuckoo". The Numbers. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  2. Canby, Vincent (October 23, 1969). "The Sterile Cuckoo (1969) Screen: 'The Sterile Cuckoo,' Old-Style TV Drama". The New York Times.
  3. The Sterile Cuckoo, Movie Reviews. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
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