Bruce Pittman Reviews
For His Films

TO DANCE WITH OLIVIA
"... conjures up American cinema of the 1960's - those black and white pieces such as To Kill A Mockingbird that still approached racial issues with delicacy ..."

UNDUE INFLUENCE
"The best four hours of movie entertainment the small screen has seen since last spring."

TO BRAVE ALASKA
"Bruce Pittman's direction is on the money."

HARRISON BERGERON
"Best telemovie of the year. Assured, understated, elegant and intelligent"

"It's Leave It to Beaver filtered through Genet, Father Knows Best as conceived by Duchamp. ... completely engaging. ... smartly directed by Bruce Pittman."

"A Vonnegutian romp among the invidious aspects and consequences of mass culture."

"Highly original ... a total triumph."

WHERE THE SPIRIT LIVES
"Where the Spirit Lives ... is a triumph — nothing less. Moving, absorbing, beautifully acted, superbly written ... This work places Bruce Pittman among the very best TV moviemakers in the world. A powerful, even epic struggle of innocence against arrogance."

"... richly produced and its statement reverberates with topical force ... Where the Spirit Lives displays a sensitivity to native Indians that few U.S. films ever have."

"If all Canadian pics were as original, well-made and superbly acted as Where the Spirit Lives, the millions of dollars pumped into production every year by public agencies would be wisely spent. Bruce Pittman's direction bursts with talent."

"This is a devastating and perfectly tuned portrait of one spirit's survival in the face of a brutalizing dominant culture."

" ... beautifully wrought ..."

" ... a disturbing, heart rendering drama....
Michelle St. John gives an amazingly accurate portrayal of an Indian girl ..."

"St. John's mesmerizing performance remains its most indelible image."

"Weeks after you see Where the Spirit Lives, you may wake in the middle of the night with the image of Amelia's frightened, betrayed face on your mind."

MANIAC MANSION
"Not so much off the wall as out of this world."

"The result is wonderfully innovative and imaginative TV. It's a delightful comedy confection with often sad and emotional overtones that challenges and energizes the intellect.Baby Turner and Harry the Fly are among the most disturbing and endearing characters ever devised on TV. This is TV, it's to be hoped, worthy of our attention. Maniac Mansion simply shouldn't be missed."

"Maniac Mansion brings horror, family values and a crazy sweetness to comedy. Shows like Moonlighting and Twin Peaks won critical acclaim for violating the conventions of series TV. Maniac Mansion flings those conventions down and tramples on them."

"Equisite absurdity!"

"Hilarious sitcom. One of the brighter offerings in broadcast or cable this season!"

"It's a stylized, sharp edged comedy that's a bit like David Lynch on hellium!"

"Congratulations on the success of Maniac Mansion.
I look forward to seeing the show each week and it just keeps on getting better. Continued success of a first class quality production."

"Bruce Pittman, the director and Ron Oliver, who wrote the screenplay, have constructed a gourmet banquet for toddlers. From the first course to the last, it's all ice cream."

"Enriching a genre with imagination."

THE SCREAMING WOMAN — RAY BRADBURY THEATRE
"One of the 10 best programs on television."

THE LEGS OF THE LAME

"Bruce Pittman has directed this fine effort with the same skills he mastered in his earlier The Painted Door, with an economy of scale that crystallizes plot and characters. The new season's U.S. anthology series could take a lesson here."

THE PAINTED DOOR
"The acting is subtle and strong, and director Bruce Pittman's pacing sustains the tension. If this episode is an accurate gage, Global Playhouse is a gem."

CORNET AT NIGHT
"Director Bruce Pittman knows that in a half-hour format sometimes less is more, and he's able to conjure up the mood and the family dynamics by brief — but significant — exchanges.”

DREAM AND THE TRIUMPH
"Bruce Pittman brings his sparce, warm style to embody a tale of tenderness without succumbing to tears. His camera sets up each shot with an inventive touch that propels the narrative, a welcome touch in TV."

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