For young drifter Robert Walker (Jr.), stopping by a random house on the road to ask for a glass of water, it's the biggest mistake of his life. A still beautiful older woman (the legendary Rita Hayworth) mistakenly believes him to be her son, brings him in, feeds him, and plays on the illusion. A neighborly friend, Ed Begley (Sr.), goes in with her delusion, as does Hayworth's still at home daughter, Mimsy Farmer, who seems to have an affectionate relationship with her brother that goes beyond hugs and harmless kidding around.
There's also Begley's daughter (Sophie Hardy), the only one who doesn't go along with the illusion, but eventually tells Walker about Rocky, the missing son. Hayworth continues to think of Walker as her son but looks on in quiet disgust when she sees him in bed with Farmer. Only Hardy seems open to the disgusting truth, while Begley, secretly in love with Hayworth tries to no avail to court her. The delusion of Hayworth's fantasy begins to get even worse, creating what TNT used to play on Friday late nights, movies that they considered "weird".
It's nice to see this truly obscure Rita Hayworth film, but like other beauty legends of the 30's and 40's (Davis, Turner, Lake, Goddard), their early to mid 70's careers had these obscure freaky films that their most devoted fans will find beneath them. Hayworth looks great though in spite of the scandalous suggestive plot, and Walker does give a good performance as well. Begley, in his last film, comes off as an old letch. Definitely a curiosity even though I felt like I needed a shower when it was done.
There's also Begley's daughter (Sophie Hardy), the only one who doesn't go along with the illusion, but eventually tells Walker about Rocky, the missing son. Hayworth continues to think of Walker as her son but looks on in quiet disgust when she sees him in bed with Farmer. Only Hardy seems open to the disgusting truth, while Begley, secretly in love with Hayworth tries to no avail to court her. The delusion of Hayworth's fantasy begins to get even worse, creating what TNT used to play on Friday late nights, movies that they considered "weird".
It's nice to see this truly obscure Rita Hayworth film, but like other beauty legends of the 30's and 40's (Davis, Turner, Lake, Goddard), their early to mid 70's careers had these obscure freaky films that their most devoted fans will find beneath them. Hayworth looks great though in spite of the scandalous suggestive plot, and Walker does give a good performance as well. Begley, in his last film, comes off as an old letch. Definitely a curiosity even though I felt like I needed a shower when it was done.