Evening Primrose (1966)

A young poet (Anthony Perkins) seeks refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store. There, he is surprised to meet an entire community of elderly people who, similarly, have abandoned the real world to take up residence in the department store, hiding by day and coming out at night. Complications arise when he falls in love with a young girl (Charmian Carr) who is there against her will but she can't leave because of "the dark men" who come and take away burglars, stragglers and anyone else who might give their secret away. Directed by Paul Bogart (TORCH SONG TRILOGY) and based on a short story by John Collier, the film is best known for its Stephen Sondheim score. It's a dark piece of whimsy but it's the Sondheim songs that make it memorable. Curiously, Carr is given "and introducing" billing as if no one were aware of the massive success of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in which she played Liesl. Perkins' vocals are fine but Carr's rendition of the lovely I Remember Sky is a revelation and just about breaks your heart and I've heard it sung by Streisand, Cleo Laine, Judy Collins and Maureen McGovern. With Dorothy Stickney and Larry Gates.