Endearing love story On Golden Pond focuses on relationships between generations, highlighting the difficulties facing a couple in their twilight years.
Hollywood actress Stephanie Powers plays Ethel Thayer, the long-suffering wife of cantankerous Norman, whose sarcastic comments are superbly delivered by Richard Johnson.
Ethel tries to smooth over the hostilities between father and daughter Chelsea (Elizabeth Carling), but at times creates problems for herself. When Chelsea brings her new boyfriend home, it is his 14-year-old son Billy (Graeme Dalling) who bonds with Norman and causes the family to finally get closer by sorting out some of their issues.
Veteran actors Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda starred in the classic film which won three Oscars.
Johnson’s portrayal is excellent and he brings an added warmth to the part, letting us see that, although opinionated, the man has a heart.
He also captures Norman’s frailties as he approaches his 80th birthday.
Powers’ performance, while commendably understated, brings little new to the role of Ethel, even copying Hepburn’s unmistakable tones. For an actress of Stephanie’s standing, there was plenty of scope to make the character her own.
It is hard to understand why director Michael Lunney opted for this interpretation.
He gets a lot right, however, with his version containing more humour than the film. Lunney also deserves credit for designing an impressive set of a log cabin on the pond.
The cast, completed by Kasper Michaels, Tom Roberts and Victoria May, ensure Ernest Thompson’s gentle story does not become overly sentimental.
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