That Cold Day in the Park
With Sandy Dennis, Michael Burns, Susanne Benton.
US, 1969, 35mm, color, 112 min.
Print source: UCLA
Initially leaving critics and audiences slightly chilled, That Cold Day in the Park marks a critical turning point for Altman as his earliest feature film to expressively and naturalistically convey the sociopsychological themes that would recur throughout his career. Sandy Dennis’ lonely, wealthy, repressed Frances is the first of many Altman women who are imprisoned within cryptically prismatic emotional confines. In this case, the peculiar, nervous Frances responds by trapping a differently estranged creature in an impromptu web of dependence. Aided by atmospheric New Hollywood cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, Altman artfully deploys mirrors, translucence, and a sensual, disorienting darkness while disclosing information in seductive, veiled increments. His audience is therefore alert and sensitive to the subtle fluctuations and power shifts within Frances’ obsessive relationship with her mysterious prisoner.
Part of film series
Screenings from this program
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
Vincent & Theo
Fool for Love
Prêt-à-porter
California Split
Thieves Like Us
A Perfect Couple
A Prairie Home Companion
O.C. and Stiggs
That Cold Day in the Park
Corn's-A-Poppin'
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
The Gingerbread Man
Dr. T and the Women
Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
