You'll be Ozified!

A 'Tard is Born

I thought I would blog about some of my favorite feature films and movies-of-the-week that always proved to be a "special" occasion.

When it came to "handicapable"- themed films, I was not a slow learner, and discovered at a young age that when an actor chose to play a character with mental retardation, you were apt to either get (1) a moving experience of watching a 'special needs' person overcome obstacles and prejudice, or (2) an actor milking the retard role for acclaim and (hopeful) award wins - and crossing the line into unintentional humor.

Ernest Borgnine played the slow-witted Marty in 1955 to an Oscar win. Some could argue that the determined and likeable Rocky Balboa in Rocky (1976) was a little "touched" himself.

In 1979 , we got 2 memorable films about mentally retarded adults finding love:

Like Normal People starring Linda Purl and Shaun Cassidy.

(On the grade school playground, we'd imitate Linda's call to her retarded true love: "ROOOOOGGGEEER!"). This film was nominated for a Golden Globe.

and

No Other Love starring Julie Kavner and Richard Thomas.

In 1981, Mickey Rooney won critical acclaim for his role of a retarded man in the TV film Bill.

Rooney enjoyed the raves and awards so much (after decades of schlock films, voice-overs, and Disney fare) that he reprised Bill again for a sequel Bill: On His Own (1983).

After Oscar-nominated Leonardo Dicaprio wow-ed critics and brilliantly drooled his way into our hearts as "Arnie" in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), film studios gave us a retarded Juliette Lewis in Garry Marshall's heart-tugger The Other Sister (1999) and Oscar-nominated Sean Penn as a retarded man fighting for his parental rights in I Am Sam (2001).

Retarded characters seemed to be back on the map again, then Rosie O'Donnell came along as loudmouthed retarded "Beth" in Riding the Bus with My Sister (2005).

This TV film (about a special-needs adult bewildered by life transitions) harkened back to the genres' heyday of the 70s and 80s, except Rosie's acting was met with snickers by snarky bloggers (ahem) and talk shows.

Some thought Rosie's performance was over-the-top, condescending and forced - with many critics questioning her choice of using baby-talk and high volume ("I need a new toiwet seat ovah heeahh !" she yells to a store clerk in one scene). Despite being directed by Anjelica Huston, the film did not earn any awards (shocker!).

Here are some highlights:

Rosemary Kennedy's Day Off

This little known true life tale is seldom discussed, but since my friend Lorraine ("a Kennedy expert") wrote about it on the 30th anniversary of the Chicago incident (October 5, 2005), I thought I would repost her recap here.

The event screams for an Oliver Stone feature-film retelling and has an uncanny similarity to 2 films shot on the same Chicago streets where it happened. As you read about lobotomized 57-year-old Rosemary Kennedy's day of freedom, you may be reminded of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) and Baby's Day Out (1994).
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October 5, 1975 was to have been a reunion of sorts for sisters Rosemary and Eunice Kennedy, the latter was in Chicago attending a fundraiser for her husband, democratic presidential candidate R. Sargeant Shriver. The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi brought Rosemary to Chicago to meet Eunice. Eunice had a full Sunday of activities planned for Rosemary – morning mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Madison Street, lunch at the Palmer House, and then a long walk along the glorious Lake Michigan lakefront.

After the 11 o’clock mass, Rosemary was at Eunice’s side in the church vestibule when Eunice stopped to examine some religious booklets. When she looked up into the crowded vestibule, Eunice told police, Rosemary was gone. Eunice, along with the priest and two other women searched the church for a half hour. Eunice went into the street and flagged down a passing squad car. The police woman drove Eunice slowly up and down the surrounding streets, not realizing she was the wife of the 1976 democratic presidential candidate or that the person they were searching for was the retarded sister of the late President Kennedy.

Eunice finally identified herself and the policewoman notified Lt. Joseph Locallo, watch commander for the Chicago Police Department’s Central District. Fearful that Rosemary might be found by a person who could hold her for ransom or harm her, Lt. Locallo ordered 50 police officers to ride or walk the Loop streets looking for her.

Meanwhile Rosemary, dressed in a belted, puffy white coat and red pants, strolled the streets. She carried no money or identification, and because of the lobotomy that her father ordered for her decades before, she was unable to talk except to identify herself. For the first time in 24 years Rosemary was free, away from the scrutiny of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, who never gave her a moment’s peace. Downtown Chicago was unusually crowded that Sunday. Rosemary was swept away in the crowd hurrying down the sidewalks, joining the flow of life like a seasoned urbanite.

For the next five hours Rosemary was lost while a frantic Eunice rode in the back of a squad car searching for a glimpse of her sister’s red pants. Police radios broadcasted Rosemary’s description at regular intervals. Soon, the Chicago media also heard of Rosemary’s disappearance. They, too, combed the streets looking for her, not so much to find her, but to be the first to get fresh photos of President Kennedy’s retarded sister.

WGN radio reported that Sen. Ted Kennedy, the lone surviving son of Joe and Rose, had also been contacted. One can only imagine his conversation with Eunice. (“GODDAMIT, EUNICE, HOW COULD YOU LOSE HER!”) Police searched public buildings, restaurants and alleys, but no Rosemary.

Finally, Peter Nolan, a reporter for WBBM-TV, spotted Rosemary as she walked north on Michigan Avenue, looking at display windows in the Monroe Building at 104 S. Michigan Ave., about five blocks from where she disappeared. Nolan asked if she was looking for Eunice. “Yes,” Rosemary replied, quickly turning back to her window shopping. Two policemen observed the encounter and took Rosemary away.

After Rosemary was reunited with Eunice at 800 S. Michigan Ave., Eunice cried, “Rosie, are you all right?” The two sisters were interviewed at the Central District station. Security was tightened to keep away the swarm of reporters, but still they managed to get pictures of Rosemary leaving the station in her snowsuit jacket with her nun caretakers and Eunice looking sheepish and embarrassed.

“Goodbye, thank you very much. You were marvelous, your whole force was,” Eunice told the district commander, clutching his hand. Eunice left with Ald. Edward Burke, a friend of the Kennedy family who was active in fundraising for the mentally retarded. Rosemary was returned to St. Coletta’s School for Exceptional Children where she remained out of sight until her death at age 86.