Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

Ellen Burstyn shines in this portrait of a single mother with a young son in post-Vietnam America, seeking a living and following a hope westward to Monterey, California. Like an old-time California gold prospector, Alice dreams of success as a singer but marks time as a diner waitress, until she meets a good man (Kristofferson) who sets her on a new path. Tender and wise, the film presents tale of yet another pilgrim’s response to the promise of the west, but the story turns on feminine values—a surprising turn in Martin Scorsese’s first feature following Mean Streets (1972).

Producer: David Susskind, Audrey Maas. Screenwriter: Robert Getchell. Cinematographer: Kent L. Wakeford. Editor: Marcia Lucas. Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd,Valerie Curtin, Jodie Foster. Presented in English dialogue. 35mm, Color, 112 min.