Edward Albert & Goldie Hawn get romantic in 1972's "Butterflies Are Free." |
Edward
Albert was just 20 when he starred in his first major film, Butterflies Are Free. Sadly, Albert only
lived to be 55. Edward would be 70 as of 2/20/21. This post is written as a
tribute to the appealing actor with a fascinating life.
Leonard
Gershe’s stage smash Butterflies Are Free,
which ran three years on Broadway, was snapped up as a movie for Goldie Hawn.
Producer Mike Frankovich, Jr. had showcased Hawn in her Oscar-winning role from
another stage hit, Cactus Flower.
That '70s movie poster! "Butterflies Are Free" was a Broadway smash and movie hit. |
With
Butterflies Are Free, there are
essentially three characters: Jill Tanner (Goldie Hawn), Don (Edward Albert),
and Mrs. Baker (Eileen Heckart.) Paul Michael Glaser appears in the last act, Starsky and Hutch just around the
corner, as a douche director.
Butterflies Are Free
is the story of Don, a young blind man who falls for the free spirit next door,
and fights with his overprotective mother for his own space. Don was played
onstage by Keir Dullea. The actor was 35 when Butterflies was filmed, too mature onscreen for a young guy who has
just flown from the nest. Edward Albert was 20 when he was cast. Aside from
some acting work as a child, this was Albert’s first screen role.
Keir Dullea & Blythe Danner originated Don & Jill in "Butterflies Are Free." |
Hawn’s
Jill is just 19 and an aspiring actress (Goldie was 26), who has already been
married once, and is anti-commitment. Yet, Jill literally barges in on the life
of neighbor Don Baker, a blind musician on his own. In less than two days, the
two fall madly in love, nearly break up, and reconcile! Aside from that, their
rapport and romance is charming, until overprotective Mom (Heckart) “drops by” from
a suburb near the San Francisco-set film. Mrs. Baker finds the shabby chic
apartment appalling and is on high alert when she finds Jill cavorting with her
baby boy. Don has already experienced a bad romance with a similar type, who
encouraged him to move to the city, only to dump him.
Free spirit Jill (Goldie Hawn) and blind Don (Edward Albert) get to know each other. |
As
Jill, Goldie Hawn is the hippie chick successor to Marilyn Monroe. Seemingly a
dumb blonde, Hawn’s Jill is actually pretty smart, aside from some ditzy
moments. Goldie’s role has similarities to Marilyn’s sexy neighbor next door in
The Seven Year Itch. She’s realistic
about men and relationships, and her own limitations. She’s child-like yet
wise, with a distinctive star persona. Like MM, Hawn is effortless in
navigating between comedy and drama, and Goldie’s most appealing here.
Goldie Hawn's appeal is effortless as aspiring actress Jill, in "Butterflies Are Free." |
Eileen
Heckart won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Mrs. Baker. She lost the Tony
for the same role to Blythe Danner, who created the role of Jill Tanner
onstage. Heckart is an old pro at playing vinegary but essentially likeable
characters. Eileen and Goldie ping pong the smart lines as the two adversaries.
But Heckart gets to show more, once Mrs. Baker sees that Don might get hurt
again by another fluttery girlfriend. It’s in these moments that Heckart is
most understated and affecting, as she starts to see the light, to set her son
free.
A heart-tugging moment in "Butterflies Are Free," when Eileen Heckart's mother lets go of her blind son, despite his distress at the moment. |
As
for Edward Albert, he holds his own against these two comedic pros as the blind
aspiring musician. Albert is appealing, intelligent, empathetic, and just happens
to look a bit like young Montgomery Clift. Also, he sings quite pleasantly. Edward
researched his role well, studying at the Braille Institute. After this film,
Albert teamed with many of the Butterfly crew
to film another Broadway hit, 40 Carats.
Unfortunately, it flopped, and Albert went from promising young lead to journey
man actor. If Albert was starting out in today’s show business, his diverse
talents would have afforded Edward more of a shot at stardom.
At 20, Edward Albert played the independent blind man in "Butterflies Are Free." |
Part
of the problem was Albert started out as a likeable, handsome young actor at
the height of the realistic filmmaking era, with stars like Hoffman, Pacino,
and Hackman setting a very high standard, without relying on movie star looks.
Younger actors who were more lightweight and handsome, like Edward Albert or
say, Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, Christopher Reeve, or a younger Kurt
Russell, didn’t get the top film roles. Jeff Bridges, whose background was
similar to Albert’s, was able to leave the boyishness behind and move on to
meaty roles.
Edward Albert as a boy, with parents Eddie Albert & Margo. Adopted daughter Maria is the only survivor of the immediate Albert family. |
Edward Albert was the son of beloved character actor Eddie Albert and Mexican actress Margo. Eddie was most famous for Green Acres and Margo for Lost Horizon. Like the Bridges family, the Alberts were very politically and socially active. And like Lloyd Bridges, the Alberts were blacklisted for awhile during the ‘50s. Eddie later became an environmentalist. I mention this because Edward also became strongly involved in environmental and Native American causes, and spoke with pride about his parents standing up to the blacklist. Like his father, Edward had a prolific career as a character actor rather than leading man. Later came unfortunate times for the Alberts. First, Margo died at just 68 of a brain tumor, in 1985. Later, when Eddie was in his 80s, Albert was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Edward put his career on the backburner to care for his otherwise healthy father, who lived to be 99! Sadly, Edward found out that he had lung cancer a mere month before father Eddie died. Edward Albert died Sept. 22, 2006, 18 months after his father. A sister, Maria, was the only survivor of the small Albert family.
Edward Albert's first film role, "The Fool Killer." His co-star was Anthony Perkins, who plays a possible ax murderer. Need I say more? |
Edward
Albert’s career was prolific, he was educated at Oxford, and was multi-lingual.
He also came from a great lineage (Xavier Cugat was his great uncle, and his
godfather was Laurence Olivier), he enjoyed one long, happy marriage, and
became a father to a daughter.
Edward Albert & Eddie Albert, later in life. |
Edward
Albert lived a short life, but one that was well-lived. How lucky that movie
watchers can watch him in his leading man debut, Butterflies Are Free.
Here’s
Army Archerd’s obit for Edward in Variety: https://variety.com/2006/voices/columns/edward_albert_d-1200571358/
And
here’s Edward’s actual film debut, in 1965’s “The Fool Killer.” Edward plays a
runaway boy during the Civil War era, who encounters a number of odd
characters, including Anthony Perkins!
https://ok.ru/video/2631968754356
FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB movie
page.
Check it out & join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/178488909366865/
Edward Albert & Goldie Hawn, forever young on film, in "Butterflies Are Free."
Thank you for this article! Butterflies Are Free is one of my super-faves!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. The response to this piece surprised me pleasantly! Cheers, Rick
DeleteI love this beautiful film and your wonderful article, Rick! Especially how you point out the parallels of Goldie's Jill to Marilyn as The Girl in Seven Year Itch - I never saw before but so perfect! I ADORE Eileen Heckart in this role, even more than her wonderful supporting performance in The Bad Seed...would have loved to have seen her reprise her Broadway role in the film version of Picnic too but Roz Russell got it!! And lastly, thank you for this wonderful tribute to one of the most handsome and sensitive actors of all time, Edward Albert. This was the zenith of his career, though he did not know it...His lovely plaintive voice as he sings and strums his guitar capture the entire 'hippie' generation, and he plays his role of 'Donny Dark' so perfectly...I need to write about this movie too, but your article here just says it all!
ReplyDelete-Chris
Hey Chris, I'd love to read your take on this movie. The MM connection really hit me watching Goldie in this film. And Eileen, one of a kind! Love her as George Segal's Mom in No Way to Treat a Lady, which I wrote about last summer. Albert was terrific on all counts in this movie, and sounded like a great guy off camera, too. That "Donny Dark" reference kept making me think of "Donny Darko!"
DeleteCheers and hope you are well!
Rick
Woof! I had a huge crush on Edward Albert! He was especially beautiful in this film and ‘40 Carats’ — such gorgeous eyes and lips. He passed way too soon.
ReplyDeleteSame! He reminded me of a softer, more lush Monty Clift.
DeleteEdward sounded like a very cool guy before he passed away, yes, too soon...
Rick
Great review of a film that captures the spirit of the late '60's-early '70's. Goldie Hawn was adorably ditzy and Edward Albert endearing as the blind neighbor. My favorite scene is when Goldie takes him shopping for new clothes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy!
DeleteI thought "Butterflies" caught the era in an entertaining way. And a great cast, too!
Cheers, Rick
Always enjoy your reviews and learn something new. I didn't know about the black list effecting this family and that they were environmentalist. Super cool.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful film, thanks for the great review.
Hi, Thank you! I enjoyed writing this one. The Alberts sounded like a loving family. And "Butterflies" is still a fun film. Cheers, Rick
Delete