Review - Audrey Rose

Audrey Rose is a strange yet interesting trip down reincarnation highway . . .

Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, this film puts it right out there in front of you and you cannot help but feel for all the parties involved. Especially Ivy- a.k.a. Audrey Rose- (Susan Swift) who is nothing but confused about all that is happening around her. Her little girl mind just cannot wrap itself around the possibilities that are thrust out in front of her; and Elliot Hoover (Anthony Hopkins) a father who is so bereft with guilt over the death of his wife and child that he is seeking every avenue possible to have one more moment with his baby girl; or what about Janice Templeton (Marsha Mason) the mother of Ivy who cannot stand to see her daughter in any more pain and of course her husband, Bill Templeton (John Beck) who seems to be so very angry throughout the film that he can't see past his own emotion into anyone else's pain.

These four are brought together by Elliot's search for his daughter's soul which he has been told is still in turmoil, that she was brought back into this world too soon after her accident. His search ends at the doorstep of the Templetons whose daughter Ivy has had strange outbursts on each of her birthdays and who is having them more frequently now.

After a botched kidnaping attempt by Elliot, the Templetons are divided on what exactly is wrong with their daughter. But Bill agrees to a hypnosis procedure that should regress Ivy back to her past lives even though he doesn't believe in any of this reincarnation. What transpires is both terribly sad and encouraging at the same time (encouraging that is if you are a believer in reincarnation).

Although I found Audrey Rose to be almost torturously slow moving at times, it did have some high points in the acting department. Even though it was really strange for me to see Anthony Hopkins so young, he does a really great job as a grieving father and strong believer in reincarnation. Marsha Mason plays the conflicted mother role to a "T" and Susan Swift was perfect as a curious little girl who knew not what was in store for her.

As I said before, a strange yet interesting trip down reincarnation highway. It may leave you asking yourself exactly what it is that you believe . . .

Audrey Rose Movie Cast and Credits

Directed by
Robert Wise

Writing credits
Frank De Felitta (also wrote the novel)

Cast (in credits order)
Marsha Mason .... Janice Templeton
Anthony Hopkins .... Elliot Hoover
John Beck .... Bill Templeton
Susan Swift .... Ivy Templeton aka Audrey Rose
Norman Lloyd .... Doctor Steven Lipscomb
John Hillerman .... Prosecutor Scott Velie
Robert Walden .... Brice Mack
Philip Sterling .... Judge Harmon Langley
Ivy Jones .... Mary Lou Sides
Stephen Pearlman .... Russ Rothman
Aly Wassil .... Maharishi Gupta Pradesh
Mary Jackson .... Mother Veronica
Richard Lawson .... Policeman #1
Tony Brande .... Detective Fallon
Elizabeth Farley .... Carole Rothman
Ruth Manning .... Customer in Store
Stanley Brock .... Cashier in Store
David Wilson .... Policeman #2
David Fresco .... Dominick the Doorman
Pat Corley .... Dr. Webster
Eunice Christopher .... Mrs. Carbone
Karen Anders .... Maria (waitress)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hanns Manship .... Reporter (uncredited)
Fred D. Scott .... (uncredited)