The Grass Harp **** (1995, Edward Furlong, Piper Laurie, Sissy Spacek, Walter Matthau) – Classic Movie Review 1452

Director Charles Matthau’s 1995 film is a civilised treat. The 18-year-old Edward Furlong stars as an orphan boy who, back in the 1930s, goes to live with his two dotty aunts (Piper Laurie, Sissy Spacek) in this sweet and affecting movie of Truman Capote’s novel.

Capote’s story is based in part on his youth, living with a pair of aunts in a US Southern town. In the story, after his mother’s death, Collin Fenwick (Furlong) is raised by his father’s cousins, the wealthy, greedy and controlly Verena Talbo (Spacek), and her compliant, earthy sister Dolly (Laurie).

Director Charles with his father Walter Matthau.

It is packed with lovely performances from a very special cast. The three principals are perfect while the director’s father Walter Matthau scores strongly as the old judge, and so do Joe Don Baker as the sheriff and Roddy McDowall as the waspish barber. Jack Lemmon and Mary Steenburgen give comically eccentric performances as tricksters. The admirable young Furlong manages not to be intimidated or overwhelmed by all the scene-stealing going on around him.

It was the final filmed screenplay written by legendary screen-writer Stirling Silliphant, writing with Kirk Ellis.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1452

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