I Never Promised You A Rose Garden (1977)

A young teenage girl (Kathleen Quinlan) has her own fantasy world which has its secret language. After a suicide attempt, she is sent to an institution for the insane where she is diagnosed as schizophrenic. But with the help of her therapist (Bibi Andersson), she makes a slow recovery to reality. Based on the novel by Joanne Greenberg and directed by Anthony Page (THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER). Movies about mental illness and mental asylums rarely seem authentic and cram their films with raving lunatics. In movies, there are no quiet lunatics. THE SNAKE PIT (1948) may have been simplistic by today's standards in its psychology but films like THE CARETAKERS (1963) and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975) haven't progressed much. This one doesn't work either. Quinlan is ill through most of the film but suddenly 15 minutes before the movie ends, she's cured! Just like that! Greenerg (the novel's author) disowned the film and one can see why. Its mental patients are caricatures. Andersson's doctor comes off best because she's an oasis of calmness in the movie's snake pit and a relief from the hysteria. The film is highly watchable because of the acting. Actors love to play crazy people and the actresses here have a field day. The huge cast includes Dennis Quaid, Sylvia Sidney, Diane Varsi, Signe Hasso, Susan Tyrell, Martine Bartlett, Jeff Conaway, Lorraine Gary, Ben Piazza, Norman Alden, Reni Santoni and Darlene Craviotto.