Tam Lin (1970)

Director:

Roddy McDowall

Writers:

Robert Burns (poem)
William Spier (writer)

Release Date:

September 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Based on an ancient Scottish folk song, an older woman (Gardner) uses witchcraft to keep her young jet-set friends.

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Ava Gardner	...	Michaela Cazaret
Ian McShane	...	Tom Lynn
Richard Wattis	...	Elroy
Cyril Cusack	...	Vicar Julian Ainsley
Stephanie Beacham	...	Janet Ainsley
David Whitman	...	Oliver
Fabia Drake	...	Miss Gibson
Sinéad Cusack	...	Rose (as Sinead Cusack)
Joanna Lumley	...	Georgia
Jenny Hanley	...	Caroline
Madeline Smith	...	Sue
Bruce Robinson	...	Alan
Pamela Fairbrother	...	Vanna (as Pamela Farbrother)
Rosemary Blake	...	Kate
Michael Bills	...	Michael

Also Known As:

Games and Toys (UK) (working title)
The Ballad of Tam-Lin
The Devil's Widow (USA)
The Devil's Woman

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:AA | Spain:18 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Commonwealth United Entertainment

Trivia:

This is the only film directed by Roddy McDowall.

Soundtrack:

Tam Lin

sense of presence for the film

I enjoyed Ava Gardner's sense of age of Aquarius presence for the film. I would have appreciated seeing more films directed by Roddy McDowall. True works of art always have always been birthed from turmoil. The male leads were memorable (Ian McShane)…."You wasted my life….You won't let me go…". The movie helped me respect my middle-age and desire to have something more to life than impending old age and empty nest syndrome. I can't wait to find a bright orange outfit like the one Ava wore in the opening scene. "Give him back……." (so memorable). The character's Scottish retreat appears to offer the viewer a permanent round of relaxation and welcome (along with a picnic basket of memorable one liners!) All the characters were interesting to watch unfold - male accountant; (my favorite was the fortune teller. The plot moves too quickly to convey very mature feelings in a immature world of valley of the doll babies. Tom makes the potentially fatal error of falling in love with the daughter of the local vicar – he should have stayed with Micky. This movie was not sluggish and uneventful; it gets better as it progresses into the story. I would recommend this film as a sleeper and a keeper! (smile)