GINGER IN THE MORNING (1974)
Newly Restored 50th Anniversary
Limited Edition Blu-ray
Label: Film Masters
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: PG
Duration: 95 Minutes 24 Seconds
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Gordon Wiles
Cast: Sissy Spacek, Monte Markham, Susan Oliver, Fred Ward
In the Gordon Wiles (TVs Bigfoot and Wildboy) directed Ginger in the Morning (1974) middle-aged, recently divorced exec, Joe (Monte Markham, Project X), is driving home from the airport on New Year's Eve when he picks up the the much younger free-spirited hitchhiker Ginger (Sissy Spacek, Prime Cut), the misfit and mismatched pair hit it off, singing country songs in the car and talking about life, making a connection for sure. For reasons Joe does not tell her he lives in the Santa Fe area, implying he's heading to Colorado same as her. They attempt to get a motel but as there's no vacancy so he ends takes her back to his pad, pretending that it belongs to a friend, but that ruse is quickly exposed, but she doesn't seem to mind. As the night wears on they get more comfy with each other, there's a bit of making out, and it seems that Joe is genuinely attracted to the hippy hitchhiker, and perhaps even more oddly, she to him. That mutual chemistry is disrupted when Joe's wild, drunken Texan pal Charlie (Mark Miller, Savannah Smiles) unexpectedly arrives at the house, causing unease, with Joe trying to get rid of him quickly by saying disingenuously that Ginger is a "sure thing", unaware that she has overheard him, causing her to believe that he is not the kind of man she thought he was, which threatens to put the kibosh on the start of what he feels might be a relationship worth pursuing. This unintentional cock-block causes friction between him and his pal, and in retaliation Joe invites Charlie's spiteful ex (Susan Oliver, TVs Peyton Place) to his place to help bring in the new year, and to hopefully disrupt what looks to be a connection between Ginger and Charlie, which causes Joe no small amount of jealousy.
It's quite a fun 70's mismatched romance-tale, set on New Year's Eve, we have a potential power keg of volatility, particularly between Charlie and his contentious ex, and some emotional volatility between Joe and Ginger, with the wounded divorcee afraid to commit to a new relationship, and Ginger unsure of Joe after catching him sort of bragging about her being a sure thing, cheapening what was starting to feel like a special night.
It's a well-crafted tale of budding romance on New Years Eve, it;s got some great early 70s vibes, and while it can be pretty sappy on spots it's also quite charming with it's message of love. Spacek does terrific work here making more of the hippy hitchhiker that what's probably what was on the script page, and Markham as the surprisingly sensitive square guy is charming as well. Even the annoying drunk Texan pal played by Mark Miller, who was also the screenwriter, comes as off as likable, getting a pretty decent breakfast table monologue about getting approval from his father during a deer hunt, though a later scene of his ex begging him to come back to her while clutching his leg felt very off to me, but it was the 70's I guess.
It's a simplistic story about a could-be one night stand that seemingly blossoms into something more, potentially derailed by unnecessary asides and tangents, like the arrival of Charlie and his "frigid" ex, and an extended snowball fight sequence, but it does eventually come back around to close out on a solid note, if you can get past the age discrepancy between the Spacek and Markham. We also get a couple of appearances from Slim Pickens (1941) as the local sheriff who keeps encountering Joe and Charlie throughout the later half of the film, and he's always a blast to see in these smaller roles.
Extras include Audio Commentary with C. Courtney Joyner and Amanda Reyes that's terrific, loaded with info and well-researched by both, the track added a lot to my second viewing of the film. There's also an 18-min Remembering Ginger In The Morning: An Interview with Monte Markham who recalls shooting on location, the joy of having his family with him during the filming, and remembrances of the cast and director. We also get two Original 35mm Trailers, plus a 2024 Re-Cut Trailer re-built with restored footage.
We also get a 12-Page Illustrated Booklet with Liner Notes by Susan King looking back at Spacek's early career, specifically Prime Cut, this, Carrie, and Vera: U.S.O. Girl, as well as peppered with quotes from Spacek. This also comes with a Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only) with a striking Purple on marigold color scheme.
Special Edition:
- Audio Commentary with C. Courtney Joyner and Amanda Reyes
- Remembering Ginger In The Morning: An Interview with Monte Markham (18:25)
- Original 35mm Trailer A (1:19)
- Original 35mm Trailer B (1:16)
- 2024 Re-Cut Trailer (1:19)
- 12-Page Illustrated Booklet with Liner Notes by Susan King
- Limited Edition Slipcover
Screenshots from the Film Masters Blu-ray:
Extras:
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