Robert Mulligan's "The Other" (1972)

[Chris Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Has anybody seen Dark secret of Harvest Home? I believe that was also based on a Tryon novel. I was only 11 when I saw it but I remember it being pretty decent for a tv movie.

It ain't bad, although like you I've not seen it in years. It was indeed based on Tryon's novel (which, while good, wasn't close to the same league as The Other) and I agree did a decent job, esp. for TV.

[Ray Kanne]

Originally Posted by Alex D

Wasn't A TALE OF TWO SISTERS based on the traditional Korean folk tale, 'Janghwa and Hongryeon' or 'Red flower, Red Lotus'? There have been various film verions of it over the years

Yes it was. Who knows maybe Thomas Tryon was inspired by it while writing his book. I kind of doubt it but I'm pretty sure "Tale of two sisters" didn't copy his story. I've never read the novel but the film is great. I'll be picking this one up.

[paul h.]

Hmm. Fullscreen. Could be open matte and accurate. I don't think this was a 2.35 scope movie. Makes me wonder about the transfer source. I think I'll wait for some reviews before I purchase. I do love the film though.

[Grant W]

Review here

Grant

[Scott Mosley]

Originally Posted by Alex D

Wasn't A TALE OF TWO SISTERS based on the traditional Korean folk tale, 'Janghwa and Hongryeon' or 'Red flower, Red Lotus'? There have been various film verions of it over the years

It probably was just as something very treadbare. The only Asian folktales I'm familiar with are the wonderful Lacadio Hearn translations, which were brought to the screen as KWAIDAN. It should be noted that none of them would make adequate material for a feature film. Although I don't speak Korean and would never be able to find out, most films that use folklore as source material have to be really developed further. Just as a film like UGETSU was very loosely based on the Ueda ghost stories. However A TALE OF TWO SISTERS follows the exact story structure of Tryon's script right down to the "twist" and character arch. It's hard to heap the praises that so many throw at the film as "a modern fairy tale" if you're familiar with Mulligan's film. Unintentional it maybe, but the comparisons are strongly evident.

[Ray Kanne]

Originally Posted by Scott Mosley

It probably was just as something very treadbare. The only Asian folktales I'm familiar with are the wonderful Lacadio Hearn translations, which were brought to the screen as KWAIDAN. It should be noted that none of them would make adequate material for a feature film. Although I don't speak Korean and would never be able to find out, most films that use folklore as source material have to be really developed further. Just as a film like UGETSU was very loosely based on the Ueda ghost stories. However A TALE OF TWO SISTERS follows the exact story structure of Tryon's script right down to the "twist" and character arch. It's hard to heap the praises that so many throw at the film as "a modern fairy tale" if you're familiar with Mulligan's film. Unintentional it maybe, but the comparisons are strongly evident.

I'd seen the film many times when I saw 'Tale of two sisters' and I never made the connection. I haven't read the book though.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Has anybody seen Dark secret of Harvest Home? I believe that was also based on a Tryon novel. I was only 11 when I saw it but I remember it being pretty decent for a tv movie.

I saw this as an impressionable youngster and I would love to see it again. It creeped me out is what I remember but not much more. There was a road bridge that was sort of a portal, and a couple coming to live in this gothic town... and Bette Davis....that's about it.

It might have been instrumental in preparing me for the horror genre, that one and Goliath Awaits, though I wouldn't be caught dead seeing a horror film at the time.

[paul h.]

Thanks for the review link Grant! Sounds like a nice product.

[Dylan B]

just watched it; wonderful timeless psychological horror piece, good for repeat viewings!

[Lorne Marshall]

Originally Posted by Dylan B

just watched it; wonderful timeless psychological horror piece, good for repeat viewings!

Amen.

Just a note for reference purposes. I did a side-by-side comparison of the Eureka PAL disc with the old CBS Fox tape. They are virtually identical, save for the 20th Century Fox intro on the DVD. Of course, despite that 23-second addition, the version on the NTSC tape is about 4% longer:

Eureka DVD - 1:36:10
CBS Fox VHS - 1:39:45

This rich “ghost” story has always been one of my favorite horror films, and it is one of dozens of movies that prove 1972 was the greatest year for this genre (a subjective declaration, I know).

[Philo MacDuff]

As painful as it might be I noticed that AMC is airing this late tonight at Midnight. I've never seen it before so I'm gonna record it and check it out. Reading the comments here have made me real curious.

[Wayne Schmidt]

"Painful" is right. I can't imagine Mulligan's delicate menace working very well in AMC's chop-o-vision. I hadn't watched AMC in years, but TIVOd HAND OF DEATH a week or so ago, since it's so rare and I'd never seen it. What a freakin joke that station's turned into. So go ahead and check it out if you must Philo, but if it doesn't work for you give it another chance when it presented properly.