Her Name Was Ellie, His Name Was Lyle (1967) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
3 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
6/10
Getting Personal with John Pleshette
wes-connors20 November 2011
In Manhattan, seventeen-year-old student John Pleshette (as Bruce) tries to get some penicillin from a store clerk, but is refused the drug because he has no prescription. Embarrassed about seeing a doctor, Mr. Pleshette has a genital sore and suspects it's syphilis. He avoids showering after basketball with the guys, preferring frequent showers at home. Pleshette also avoids girlfriend Lynne Lipton (as Laura) because he really loves her and doesn't want her to know he had a one night stand with waitress Amy Taubin (as Ellie), who has had sex with several different partners...

Finally, Pleshette goes to the health center, but most of the sexually active young characters in this short drama find it difficult to fess up, putting many lives in danger. This film was made to warn people about the dangers of "free and easy" sexual relations, but it also provides honest information on how infected persons can get medical help. Pleshette, the episode's leading character, and the cast handle the assignment well. Pleshette (Suzanne's cousin) is perhaps best known for his long-running role as cul-de-sac neighbor Richard Avery in the "Knots Landing" dramatic serial.

****** Her Name Was Ellie, His Name Was Lyle (1967) Lothar Wolff ~ John Pleshette, Amy Taubin, Lynne Lipton, David Cumins
9 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Actually, a lot different than I'd expected.
planktonrules11 September 2013
The story is about some guy (Lyle--John Pleshette). He's got some symptoms of an STD and it turns out he's got syphilis. Eventually, he goes to the health department and gets treated and the health department folks DON'T lecture him but treat him and treat those who have been exposed to the disease.

When Turner Classic Movies showed this old public service documentary, I was sure to program my DVD recorder to copy it. That's because I love old STD films--mostly because they are so doggone funny! While the films are SUPPOSED to warn folks of the dangers of these diseases, too often they are filled with misinformation and scare tactics--making them unintentionally hilarious. This is exactly what I expected with "Her Name Was Ellie, His Name Was Lyle". Shockingly, however, it turned out to be a well made and informative film--one that is neither shocking nor trying to scare the pants off teens.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Victims of the Sexual Revolution
sol121813 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Bruce knows he's got syphilis but doesn't know where to turn for help. With no doctor's perception to get the medication that he so badly needs Bruce tries to steal it from a local pharmacy only to get caught by the clerk working there. Given a second chance and told to go to the nearest public health clinic Bruce's worst fears are realized: He' got it, syphilis, but it's in the treatable stages. It's now up to Bruce to track down who gave it to him and have her or him treated before it spread to other unsuspecting persons.

Bruce's life has been turned upside down since he caught the disease with him avoiding his girlfriend Laura in fear of giving it,if he didn't already,to her! Tracking down the girl Ellie, in a midtown Manhattan diner, who gave him the disease Bruce want's her to get not only help in curing herself from it but reveal to the health authorities everyone she slept with over the last two years so they can get help as well. That's before it gets out of hand and even worse Ellie's sex partners end up spreading it to other unsuspecting victims! With the clock ticking and lives on the line both Bruce and the health authorities check out all those that Ellie had sex with but the one they can't contact is Lyle who's, as we later see in the movie, a big time ladies man doing his "thing". Without him realizing that his "thing" has put dozens of people's, those women he has sept with and who slept with someone else, lives in jeopardy.

Made at the height of the "Sexual Revolution" in 1967 the film pulls no punches in showing how dangerous unprotected and casual sex really is. Unlike many films back then that not only made it look hip and with it but also made those who were not participating in it made to look square or like some kind of weirdo who's behind his or her time in what's cool in society. As the years went by since the release of "Her name was Ellie, His name was Lyle" and countless lives were destroyed both psychically and mentally we now see just how right on target the film really was.
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed