Mary White 1977

     This film is based on the writings of William Allen White.  It is the true story of the relationship between famed author White and his teen aged daughter Mary.  She died in a horseback riding accident at age 16.  It is about the powerful effect the tragedy had on the life of her father.  Both Mary and her father fought against segregation and they were in favor of Women’s Suffrage.   

     In this film about Mary and her family the fact of her death is established right away.  A first‐rate horsewoman, Mary was killed in a freak accident while on a casual ride.  Her brief biography is narrated by her father sometimes directly addressing the camera and sometimes using excerpts from the editorial he wrote about Mary.  It was published in 1921 and featured in the The Emporia Gazette of Emporia Kansas.  White was also the renowned editor of The Emporia Gazette.  This film does not contain sentimentality and it is a moving story and inspirational story about Mary White.  3* (This movie was OK)

102 min, Drama directed by Jud Taylor and written by William Allen White and Caryl Ledner with Ed Flanders, Fionnula Flanagan, Tim Matheson, Donald Moffat, Diana Douglas, Kathleen Beller, Howard McGillin, Kaki Hunter, William Kuhlke, Henry Strozier, Valier Cotton, Paul Frederickson, Jack Meyer.

Note:  Imdb 7.3* out of 10* with 86 reviews, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 13 ratings.

Special Note:  In the scene where Mary drives to school, a window air conditioner can be spotted on one of the houses.  In real life, Mary was a high school junior when she died and not a senior.  The White family home was known as "Red Rocks” and it was used in filming.  The Whites were not living there at the time of Mary's death.  A fire earlier that year had destroyed the top floor and the family moved to a nearby house until repairs were completed.