Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974, 112 Minutes)

Playing as a part of Scorsese: More Than a Gangster

Scorsese’s first film following his breakthrough Mean Streets was a commercial/critical hit which landed its star Ellen Burstyn the 1975 Academy Award for Best Actress. Alice (played by Burstyn) is a suburban housewife whose life in New Mexico is upturned by the sudden death of her husband. Now, Alice and her son Tommy (Alfred Letter) must leave this life behind so she can return to her childhood home in Monterey to start again. Along their journey, they move from place to place while she saves up enough money for them to travel. First, as a pianist at a bar in Phoenix, Arizona. And then, as a waitress at a colorful, hectic diner in Tucson. The film came out of Burstyn’s desire to take on a movie where she could play “a recognizable woman” and it’s fascinating to see this lovely collaboration between Scorsese’s stylized, improvisational filmmaking, and this beautiful down to earth story of a single mother finding herself. 

Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Alfred Letter, Harvey Keitel, Diane Ladd, and Jodie Foster 

Playing Back to Back with Taxi Driver at 8 PM. Catch both for $20