Between the Lines (1977)

55% of users liked it
(92 ratings)

Director Joan Micklin Silver's follow-up to her acclaimed debut, Hester Street, is a more ambitious film that manages to be both an entertaining comedy and a pointed look at the corrupting power of money on an idealistic enterprise. Writer Fred Barron's characters are all associated with a weekly… More Director Joan Micklin Silver's follow-up to her acclaimed debut, Hester Street, is a more ambitious film that manages to be both an entertaining comedy and a pointed look at the corrupting power of money on an idealistic enterprise. Writer Fred Barron's characters are all associated with a weekly alternative newspaper in Boston, modeled after the Phoenix. (Silver did once work on the Village Voice, but this enterprise is several rungs below that esteemed paper.) Harry (John Heard) is an ambitious reporter romantically involved with Abbie (Lindsay Crouse), the paper's star photographer. Michael (Stephen Collins) is a writer trying to work on a novel and stay faithful to his loving wife, Laura (Gwen Welles), while Max (Jeff Goldblum), the paper's rock critic, shamelessly uses his job to try to pick up women. Lynn (Jill Eikenberry), a typist who is the paper's mother-hen figure, is also its most principled employee. When a publishing mogul (Lane Smith) buys the paper and promises changes that will compromise its aggressive political stance in favor of more "lifestyle" articles, Lynn resigns, and it's clear to the group that their carefree days are behind them. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Joan Micklin Silver
Written By: Fred Barron
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1977 Wide
Studio: Midwest Films

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The film serves more as a showcase for its talented performers (John Heard, Jeff Goldblum, Lindsay Crouse) than as critical view of the underground press or a compelling study of disenchantment among 1960s radicals.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Enjoyable film.

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