The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
Starring: Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Alexis Smith
Writer: Laird Koenig
Director: Nicholas Gessner
Synopsis:
The story begins on Halloween night. Frank Hallet shows up to a house unannounced, where he meets 13 year old Rynn Jacobs celebrating her birthday alone. He says he is a friend of her father, who is a poet, locked away in his studies and not to be disturbed. Frank has unnatural feelings toward young girls, and once that clicks in Rynn's head he abruptly leaves, just as his two children show up trick or treating. Frank's mother is the landlady of the house, and she shows up the next day looking for Rynn's father. It seems that anytime someone drops by to see Mr. Jacobs, he is either busy studying or away on business. The landlady becomes reluctant to believe the girl's stories about the true whereabouts of her father, and this poses as a major problem.
Rant:
Nicholas Gessner's The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is based on a 1974 novel of the same name. The writer, Laird Koenig, additionally wrote the screenplay for the film, as well as writing up an adaptation for a stage play. Having never read the novel or seen the play, I can't really make any comparisons on how closely they follow one another. But Gessner's film is a well crafted slow burning dramatic thriller. It was only just recently that I discovered some of the hindrances that went on behind the cameras during filming. For starters, Jodie Foster considers this as one of her least favorite films that she starred in, even going as far as saying if your heart's not in it then it's not a good movie. I have to disagree hard, but I'll get into that later.
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- Moreover, Foster had a lot of problems with the sexual situations between her and Scott Jacoby, who played Mario, her character's eventual boyfriend. Foster was 13 years old at the time of production, and the part of Rynn required a nude scene --which is weird enough, in itself. Her older sister ended up filling in for the part, but it was still something that grated on the nerves of the young starlet, as she was in fear of viewers still believing it was her. I can understand the uncomfortableness of the scenes of her in bed with Jacoby, too, whether she was fully clothed under covers or not. As mentioned, she was 13 at the time and he was 20. Additionally, there's a scene where Martin Sheen --playing Frank Hallet-- burns a hamster with a cigarette then throws it into a lit fireplace. Apparently, it was an already dead hamster, but it still put Foster in a fit of rage. I don't really have an opinion on her reaction to this, but the scene is fairly uncomfortable for a PG film. I'm not so sure I could put a cigarette out on a dead hamster, myself, but the effect in the film is that the critter is still alive. It's a fucking nuts scene, I'll give it that.
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Gessner uses the less is more approach for camera direction. Nothing really stands out, but I believe this works in the film's favor. As previously mentioned, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is a slow moving film, though, not boring in any sense. It's very character driven, and even the minor performances are fleshed out enough to make everyone interesting. There are a few instances of tight intensity, ****spoilers→such as a few glimpses of the death within the cellar of the house←spoilers****. Also, the build up to the finale, where we see an eerie and uncomfortable couple of shots with the trap door to the cellar coming open.
Onto acting. This is where I gotta call bullshit on Jodie Foster for saying if the passion isn't there, it makes for a bad film. If she wasn't interested in excelling in the role of Rynn, she fooled the fuck out of me. It can't be easy to portray a character who is a believable liar, especially when the lies even fool the viewer on more than one occasion. Foster pulled this shit off with ease. Also impressive is Martin Sheen, as Frank Hallet, a man with irregular intentions towards underage girls. It's all implied, but nevertheless, uneasy. I would say it has to be awkward to work oneself into a role like this, and Sheen makes for the ultimate creeper. He's a man that seems unaware that his actions aren't in any sense wrong. Scott Jacoby plays Mario, a young aspiring town magician who has a limp due to polio. Mario and Rynn hit it off rather quickly after assisting her in a favor, and they ultimately fall for each other. Calling bullshit on Foster once more, because her and Jacoby work so well together, not to mention the intense moment at the house with Sheen, Foster and Jacoby is some true edge of your seat shit. Alexis Smith lands resident bitch as Mrs. Hallet, the landlady hellbent on discovering the whereabouts of Rynn's father. Once again, calling bullshit on Foster, because the clashing personalities of these two characters being pitted together are excellent, due to the performances. Lastly, Mort Shuman as Officer Miglioriti. It's a limited role, but noteworthy, because of --once again-- how well Foster works with him. This is where Rynn has to make her bending of truths believable, and it certainly is. With a lesser performance, it would not have been... so what the hell are you talking about, Jodie?
Christian Gaubert's sometimes jazzy, other times solemn film score is amazing and works as a perfect companion piece for the film. Reportedly it has never been released on CD or any other format, not even in bootleg form. Quite a shame, as I would love to be an owner of it. There's also excellent use of Chopin's epic Piano Concerto No.1 E-Minor for the film's oh so righteous finale. Love it.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is light on horror, more mystery than anything. The first viewing is really special, as there's quite a few twists that left me pretty bewildered. It still holds up on multiple viewings, which is rare for a film that works so accordingly to its surprises. Thank the performances for that.
