Red Betsy

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BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="589"><div> <B>Red Betsy    </B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="589"><div> Review by Vittorio J. Carli</div> <div> for Reel Movie Critic </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="589"><div> HH<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="589"><div>                                                            Cast</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div>                        Alison Elliott</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Winifred Rounds</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div>                        Leo Burmester</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div>                       Emmet Rounds</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div>                        Lois Smith</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div>                       Helen Rounds</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="589"><div> Directed by Chris Boebel. A drama. Rated PG (for language and thematic elements). Lang Films. Running time: 98 minutes. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> "Red Betsy" is a contrived and over sentimental piece of hokum that takes place in the `40s. It's about how World War II affects a small family in Wisconsin. </div> <bR> <div> The film is similar in tone to one of those infuriating made for TV dramas that air on holidays. As the film was ending, I half expected to see a Hallmark Card commercial. </div> <bR> <div> But the film makes optimal use of its lovely rural Wisconsin setting and it does contain some few effective moments. Also the directing and acting is always at least competent.</div> <bR> <div> "Red Betsy" stars the model turned actress, Alison Elliott. She was terrific in "Wings of the Dove (1997)" where she even held her own against Helena Bonham Carter. She received ecstatic notices for her performance in that film. But her other two films, "The Eternal Kiss of the Mummy" and "The Song of the Lark (1999) did not have much of a commercial or critical impact.</div> <bR> <div> Elliot plays Winifred, a smart and levelheaded schoolteacher who is engaged to be married. She helps to convince her husband to move to Madison, Wisconsin, where they can continue their education.</div> <bR> <div> The biggest obstacle to her plan is her future father-in-law, the curmudgeon, Emmet Rounds (well played by Leo Burmester). He basically sees Winifred as a troublemaker who wants to steal his son away. He thinks she will interfere with his plans to have his son move into the little house in the back and take over the farm.</div> <bR> <div> Of course, after several family tragedies, the mismatched pair is forced to eventually come to terms in a highly predictable sequence. To give away more of the plot would ruin the film.</div> <bR> <div> "Red Betsy" is innocuous, harmless and well intentioned, but it did not hold my interest enough to warrant a recommendation.</div> <bR> <div> Still "Red Betsy" might work fairly well for its demographic target: older viewers and children. There aren't that many family films made that provide a historical perspective.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> Vittorio J. Carli © 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:vito@reelmoviecritic.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:vito@reelmoviecritic.com"><U><U>vito@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>