This was a very touching movie. This movie made me cry upon thinking of it the next day. Very few movies have done that to me. I was particularly struck by what a sweet and pure performance that Sondra Locke gave as Mick. And the loneliness that Alan Arkin portrayed as John Singer really resonated with me. I really liked how Mick dealt with this and the snobbery too. Why no one received an Oscar for this movie is beyond me.
My only criticism with this film is that is seemed to try to hit too many emotional chords in too short a span of time. It tried to do too much all at once and I noticed myself being left with a slight disappointment and rushed feeling that points were left undeveloped. The loneliness and snobbery were quite enough to deal with without all the racism too. It seemed like a whole other movie was somehow lurking in the background. Perhaps this is the fault of the book. I plan to read it since I think it will develop these points much better.
Although all the racism had a definite impact, I can't help thinking that the movie would have been simpler and sweeter without it. I suppose longing for a simple and sweet melancholy resolution and being left with an unsettled feeling was what Carson McCullers may have been after.
Still a great and timeless movie!