Daniel Petrie's "Rocketship Gibraltar" was shown recently on cable. It is an elegiac tribute, in many ways, to the great Burt Lancaster, whose last movie this was. The film's message seems to be telling us how impressionable children are as they interpret facts told by a grandfatherly figure.
When we first meet Levi Rockwell, he appears not to be well. His upcoming birthday is the occasion for a family reunion. We watch as the clan descends to the patriarch's home in Long Island. The adults are all self-absorbed in their own little dramas. The eight grandchildren take the occasion for reacquainting themselves with Levi. In turn, the grandfather tells them his views on dying and how he would love to be buried at sea, which he loves more than anything in the world. The film last sequence is amazing, as we see the children take charge of the situation.
Burt Lancaster is fine. It seems he must have known his own end was near as we watch him looking mistily toward a family that love him, but are somehow distant. The children, especially a sweet Macauley Culkin, are delightful to watch because being so young, they still know of malice, and other evils they will learn later on.
The film is sad and uplifting at the same time. We, in turn feel grateful Levi, the great writer has been given his last wishes.
When we first meet Levi Rockwell, he appears not to be well. His upcoming birthday is the occasion for a family reunion. We watch as the clan descends to the patriarch's home in Long Island. The adults are all self-absorbed in their own little dramas. The eight grandchildren take the occasion for reacquainting themselves with Levi. In turn, the grandfather tells them his views on dying and how he would love to be buried at sea, which he loves more than anything in the world. The film last sequence is amazing, as we see the children take charge of the situation.
Burt Lancaster is fine. It seems he must have known his own end was near as we watch him looking mistily toward a family that love him, but are somehow distant. The children, especially a sweet Macauley Culkin, are delightful to watch because being so young, they still know of malice, and other evils they will learn later on.
The film is sad and uplifting at the same time. We, in turn feel grateful Levi, the great writer has been given his last wishes.