A great story that inspired me as a kid and still does today. I wonder why they didn't cast Belinda Montgomery in the lead role. She's clearly a better actress than Marilyn Hassett and resembles the actual Jill Kinmont. I'm not trashing Ms Hassett. She did a competent job. It's just ironic that a better choice was available but not used.
shareThe somewhat bland Marilyn Hassett ended up marrying the director of this film, Larry Peerce. Clearly he had "a thing" for her from early on, and for whatever reason, responded to her.
Peerce gave Hassett her major roles in films (including her second shot at stardom, The Bell Jar)
In the book Other Side of the Mountain Part II that is about Jill Kinmont and the filming of the movies, Jill seemed to be very happy with Marilyn playing her. She and the real AJ however were very disapointed with the way AJ was portrayed as a gum chewing, silly teenager at first and then giving Jill angry pep talks about being a gimp ... This I am sure was the directors take on the parts, not the fault of Belinda Montgomery. If you want more insights into the real Jill and the making of the films, you may be able to get some used copies of this book on Amazon.
I remember reading the book, and the casting that Jill Kinmont had a huge problem with was Nan Martin as her mother.
shareI also know that the real Jill Kinmont didn't like the way her close friend, Linda Meyers came off as a typical teenaged pest, and the real Linda Meyers was not happy about that, either.
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