It was about 40 years ago that I saw the film "Alfie" which stared Michael Caine in the lead roll. He made such an impression on me that whenever he appeared in a film I had to go see it.
When "Is Anybody There" staring Michael Caine came to town I had to go see it! I hadn't read much about the film but what I did read was that at 76 he was portraying an elderly gentleman and did not want any steps taken to look younger than his age. Sure enough, he looked his age but still looked good to me!
The film is about Clarence Parkinson, a grumpy old traveling magician who reluctantly goes to live in a retirement home. A young couple has converted their home to accommodate the elderly residents. When Clarence arrives at the home the couple's 10 year old son, Edward, played by Bill Milner, has to give up his room to the new resident. He's not happy about that!
Even though Clarence and Edward have a rocky start, their friendship grows, they need each other. Clarence teaches Edward some magic tricks, and the boy helps the magician out of his depression. He even gets Clarence to put on a magic show for the residents. Sometimes things can go wrong and boy, do they ever.
The residents at this retirement home are "old-old" characters. There was one in particular that looked famillar to me. Everytime the camera was on him, his hands were shaking and I was wondering if perhaps that actor really has "a problem."
I was the one that suggested this movie to "the girls" and thought they would enjoy it. As it happens one of "the girls" was VERY upset about the content of the movie. She said,"if I had known what it was about I would not have gone to see it."
Hearing that, and having seen the movie, it got me thinking. It can be too close to home for "a person of a certain age" and can't imagine that "the young people" would care to see it either. With all that said - I'm glad I saw the movie - Watching Michael Caine in this film made me feel that HE was Clarence - just like he made me feel that HE was "Alfie."