The Sterile Cuckoo

1969 "First love... if it happens to you once, you're lucky"

The Sterile Cuckoo

6.7 | 1h47m | PG | en | Drama

Two students at neighboring colleges get swept up in first love. Pookie Adams, a kooky misfit with no family or friends, clings to the quiet and studious Jerry, who has the ability to make a choice of living in Pookie's private world or be accepted by the society that Pookie rejects. Unwittingly, it is through their awkward relationship that Pookie prepares Jerry for the world of "weirdos" that she doesn't fit into.

Rent / Buy

Buy from $14.99 Rent from $3.99

WATCH FREEFOR 30 DAYS

All Prime Video
Cancel anytime

Watch Now

6.7 | 1h47m | PG | en | Drama , Comedy | More Info

Released: October. 22,1969 | Released Producted By: Paramount , Boardwalk Productions Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Cast

Liza Minnelli , Wendell Burton , Tim McIntire

Director

Roland Anderson

Producted By

Paramount , Boardwalk Productions

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.

Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Cast

Liza Minnelli

as 'Pookie' (Mary Ann) Adams

The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story Sid & Judy Halston Studio 54 And the Oscar Goes To... Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston Sex and the City 2 Dzi Croquettes Liza Minnelli: Liza's at The Palace

Wendell Burton

as Jerry Payne

Heat The Red Badge of Courage Goodnight Jackie Go Ask Alice The Sterile Cuckoo

Tim McIntire

as Charlie Schumacher

More Than Murder Sacred Ground Fast-Walking Brubaker American Hot Wax The Choirboys The Gumball Rally A Boy and His Dog Smile Jenny, You're Dead

Reviews

leethomas-11621 A study of first love. Minnelli is magnificent as the needy but snobbish, homophobic and self-centred Pookie Adams. In a five-minute phone conversation she has to show rage, joy, sorrow, fear, honesty and desperation - all in one take. I loved the natural setting, even if some may think it too pretty and gives the film a glossy finish. The romance between Pookie and Jerry isn't really analysed, largely because we don't get to know Jerry. He remains passive. But I liked this unusual aspect. The movie's momentum comes from wondering what Pookie will get up to next! Delightful theme song "Come Saturday Morning"

dougiedc In your good review of The Sterile Cuckoo your remark that Liza's mom didn't perform as real or sensitive or genuine in all of her movies. Yes, most would agree since Judy Garland's film roles centered mostly on what Judy did best - "entertaining." Other than her heart-wrenching testimony on the witness stand in Judgment at Nuremberg or trying to help a mentally retarded young man in A Child Is Waiting, in I Could Go On Singing was a showcase for Judy, both as actress and as a performer, (her scenes at the Palladium were probably as close as the movies ever get to capturing her on-stage persona), she's exhilarating and incredibly moving. And trying to reconnect with her young son left with her ex-husband is truly special. When she gets around to her drunken 'I can't be spread so thin' speech all traces of the character have been wiped clean and it's Judy, raw and emotional, on screen. This was her final film, and you can say she went out on a high.

nysie I saw this movie when it first came out on the big screen. I was a senior in high school at the time. This movie taught me more about men than most men have. When Jerry asked the jock room mate about his "first time" and the jock had to admit he was a virgin my eyes opened wide! Here he had been going around talking about all the girls he "did" and it was nothing but bluff! From that point on to this day I have always felt this movie should be required viewing for every high school senior.I had forgotten over the years that my favorite line came from this movie..."Want to peel a tomato?" How many times have I used that line?Seeing the movie again, at the ripe young age of 54 has brought back all those old memories of what it is like to be away from home for the first time, the uncertainty of life, the fear in the hearts of all first year college students.Excellent movie!

put2geder Not the kind of movie a male teen {13} would go see, much less really enjoy. I think it was the second or b movie of that 1969 Saturday matinee. The theme has a special catchy quality about it, like Lizas character, I found it very enjoyable, with eccentric humor & sadness all working in a well balanced entertaining film.