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About What's happening. (Eugene, OR) 1982-1993 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1987)
Maureen Stapleton glowingly warm Review by Ross West Sweet Lorraine As the holidays near and shop ping grows ever more like some perverse capitalist martial art, you may want a break from the mad ness, an escape, say, to a lovely old resort where the staff is friendly, the crowds small and a good time is had by all. I might suggest the Lorraine, the Sweet Lorraine. Each year Lillian (Maureen Stapleton) opens the doors of the Lorraine, a rambling, once magnificent resort hotel in New York’s Catskill Mountains, to a tubby, mostly kosher clientele. She staffs the Lorraine with a good natured group of college students whom she treats almost like fami ly, and with Sam (Lee Richard son), her big-hearted kitchenboss/ lover. Everything is running as it should until Lillian’s granddaughter Molly (Trini Alvarado, Rich Kids) shows up. Molly, a college stu dent, wants to avoid returning home where her parents are in the eighth round of a divorce. While Molly is learning the ins and outs of running a sprawling old hotel, Lillian is under increasing pressure to sell the Lorraine to developers who want to raze the building that’s been home to generations of family memories. Beyond this, summertime romance, a wonder fully bad comedian (Freddie Roman), and some snappy ensem ble acting round out Sweet Lorraine. If ingredients were listed on movies the way they are on soup cans, sweetness, gentleness and heart would top the list for Sweet Lorraine. First time director Steve Gomer hit a (heart of) goldmine when he signed on the glowingly warm Maureen Stapleton in Angelika Films’ Sweet Lorraine. Maureen Stapleton in the starring role. Richardson, as Sam, is a charmer, and the misty-eyed Alvarado comes across with a kind of rosy-cheeked innocence that’s difficult not to fall for. Her char acter’s ambition not to be a doctor, not to be a computer whiz or young exec, but to continue on the family tradition at the Lorraine is equally endearing. Sweet Lorraine is awash in good feelings, and it’s no surprise, given the film’s history. In the early part of this century director Gomer’s family ran the hotel where Sweet Lorraine would eventually be shot. When Gomer started writing sketches based on his childhood memories, he decided to return to the Hotel Heiden/a.k.a. Lorraine to refresh his memory. While there he met and soon married the daughter of the hotel’s present owners. The script for Sweet Lor raine was finished at just about the time the hotel was sold. Gomer convinced the developers to hold off demolition of the building until he could complete his film. Three days after the last frames of Sweet Lorraine were shot, the main building of the hotel was rubble. The setting for Sweet Lorraine is similar to that of The Education of Duddy Kravitz, an early and quite dark Richard Dreyfuss film in which Dreyfuss plays a Catskill busboy. The similarity ends there, however, since Duddy Kravitz overflowed with wrenching con flicts, avarice, hatred, racism, love betrayed, etc., etc. Without any of these elements Sweet Lorraine (where even the developers escape being caricatured as ghouls!) tends to be—as advertised—quite sweet. The absence of even one ripple of anything but the best of feelings among all parties concerned works against the film, moving it, unfor tunately, in the direction of emo tional monochrome. To the film’s credit, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a film sweet enough and with enough courage to place the decades-old romantic involvement of a couple in their 60s/70s above the summer romance of a pretty 20-year-old and a strapping blond handyman. Sweet Lorraine is a bright, light, optimistic film, a sweet summer breeze blowing through December. Great Food at Affordable Prices NOW OPEN FOR DINNER! Evening Hours 5 pm-9 pm Tues, thru Sat. 454 WILLAMETTE ST. INTO THE NIGHT KESTREL CAFE Stocking Stuffers! Uncommon Scents has a great selection of little gifts for the whole family—and friends. Luxury soaps; travel tooth brushes; bubble bath; men's grooming accesso ries; plus Uncommon Scents, brand lotions, creams, perfumes, and oils; just to name a few. I Fifth Street Public Market • 485-8164 Valley River Center • 342-4455 Uncommon Scents STEP OUT IN STYLE with quality resale clothing! THE THRIFT & GIFT SHOP A Eugene Tradition For 32 years Eugene’s finest clothing and gift resale shop for all ages. 2839 Willamette St. (use our Southtowne side Oak St parking lot) r Open M-S, 10-4 i/ Anatolia i J (Greek for 6 The Land East) The Land East) Greek & Indian Food 992 Willamette • 343-9661 0999990999990999 49.9,9 Give the Coast for Christmas "THE OREGON COAST: An Adventure Awaits” A Home Video Winner of First Prize for documen taries in the Eugene Celebration Video Contest Come explore the beauty of the Oregon Coast on this delightful, narrated video journey. lour the many scenic, historic, and entertaining sites, from Astoria to Brookings. This unique video can be a memento to be enjoyed time and time again, or a source of information for those planning to enjoy the adventures of the Oregon coast. Just send $29.95 check or money order and indicate format type (VHS or Beta). MEDIA CRAFT ASSOCIATES VIDEO PRODUCTION SERVICES I 180 Waite Street Eugene. OR 97402 Ph. (503) 461-0423 BREAD), a STOP 4 *MPWTe * Hohdab/floneu fruitcake Made with uimmred dried fruit, organic fiour, nutt. and sakedinrum. . A * ^tvll&i » 4 Made with candied lemon peel, s0me with crankerrie,, nutmeg, * cardamon. • Gnnamon Rolls : vans of cinnamon rolls, covered " with nuts and glaze. Place uour orders now! .* • favour new sourdough * breadz,availabearourrerall A n * ore. %1478 Willamette Street 345-4811 You are cordially invited to the 1988 State of the City luncheon. 12 noon -1:30 p.m., Monday, January 4 Eugene Community Conference Center Hosted by the City of Eugene's Mayor and City Council All are welcome to attend. Paid reservations are required by December 28 for those wishing to purchase lunch. Lunch tickets are $7.50 and include gratuity. For lunch reservations or information, please call the City Manager's Office, City of Eugene, 687-5010.
