The West Side Waltz (1995)

An aging widowed pianist (Shirley MacLaine) lives a secluded life in a Manhattan apartment. Her only companion is an uptight virginal neighbor (Liza Minnelli). But she opens up her life to include a homeless woman (Kathy Bates) and an aspiring actress (Jennifer Grey). Based on the play by Ernest Thompson (ON GOLDEN POND) and directed by Thompson, who also has a small role as a Julliard drama teacher. The play, which starred Katharine Hepburn, was a flop and if this adaptation is any indication, it's easy to see why. The material is as thin as a wafer, there's no body to it and there's not much the actresses can do with it except inhabit the cliches which we've all seen before: the acerbic artist intimidating everyone, the needy friend, the tough talking chick and the wise all seeing homeless person and, of course, everything tied up with a neat little string by the end. With Robert Pastorelli, Hal Williams and Tsai Chin.