American-born Anna Vorontosov teaches school in a remote, primitive section of northern New Zealand. Her experimental teaching methods have won her the love and affection of her pupils and their parents and the admiration of the unhappily married school inspector, Abercrombie. Her personal life, however, is less secure; frightened of love and sexually inhibited, she has always been aloof with men. Eager to break down this barrier is Englishman Paul Lathrope, a somewhat irrational and immature fellow teacher who aspires to be a singer. Though Anna is attracted to him, she refuses to submit to his advances.
Acting
MacLaine's physical stiffness is genuinely fascinating.
Costume
Anna's severe dresses scream 'do not touch me'.
Director
Charles Walters
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Sylvia Ashton-Warner's autobiographical novel 'Spinster'—she hated this adaptation. MacLaine later called it her worst film.
The Maori storyline was progressive for 1961 but now reads as patronizing; Nobu McCarthy was one of few Japanese-American actresses working then.
US
