Homebodies 1974

Homebodies1974 directed by Larry Yust (Trick Baby 1972) features a marvelous ensemble of beloved character actors, Ruth McDevitt ( The Birds 1963, Miss Emily in the 1970s series-Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and a slew of made-for-television movies and popular tv series), Peter Brocco (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 1975, the ubiquitous Ian Wolfe, William Hansen (Fail Safe 1964, The Laughing Policeman 1973, Francis Fuller (They Might Be Giants 1971)Â and Paula Trueman (The Anderson Tapes 1971, The Outlaw Josey Wales 1976). With cinematography by Isidore Mankofsky (Trick Baby 1972, Scream Blacula Scream 1973, Carrie 1976 (uncredited). The film features a snappy song – "Sassafras Sunday" that tags along with the credits.

An offbeat black comedy centered around six unassuming elderly tenants being forced out of their homes, evicted from their brownstone, and victims of gentrification. Led by the impish Mattie (Trueman)…

Mattie's trajectory forces the audience to examine where the line between eccentricity and psychosis lies. – Elizabeth Erwin-Short Cuts: Senior Citizens Rage in Homebodies 1974.

They decide to exact retribution in inventive ways, against the ruthless land developers that want to drive them out and tear down the building. The cast is a curious gang of aged assassins who take down the people (Linda March as the unsympathetic Miss Pollock, Kenneth Tobey, and Douglas Fowley) who are trying to wreak havoc on their quiet lives!

TRIVIA:

Paula Trueman was nearly blind when she acted in this movie. Because of her poor eyesight, the car had to be towed to the scene with Trueman driving an automobile.

Peter Brocco spent some time with blind people to research his character Mr. Blakely