By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: James Adolphus
Year: 2023
Running time: 119
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26084136/reference/
Michael says: “It would be difficult for me not to like a documentary about Mary Tyler Moore, an actor and celebrity that I am obviously very well aware of, have enjoyed in many TV and movie appearances, but actually not all that well-known to me as a person. BEING MARY TYLER MOORE does a great job using archival interviews with Mary, as well as voiceover remarks from dozens of her friends and colleagues over the years, not to mention clips from her TV shows, specials and films, to paint a picture of the complex, beloved actor who broke ground for women in the 60s and 70s. From her astounding break-out role as Laura Petrie in the Dick van Dyke Show, through her seminal self titled TV series, to film roles in ORDINARY PEOPLE and FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, Moore made an indelible impression of American society at a time when the role of women was rapidly changing. Mary quietly did her part advancing the cause of equality for women, while not stirring up the kind of fuss that someone more overtly crusading might. My only criticism of the film, BEING MARY TYLER MOORE, which was produced by HBO Documentary films, was its straight-forward, traditional style in telling the story. Although, the opening clips, of a young Mary on the David Susskind show, are priceless in showing how, in discussing the role of Laura, Susskind reveals himself to be every bit the backward thinking male of the time when it comes to the role of women in a most hilarious way. 3 1/2 cats”