The 1995 miniseries A Woman of Independent Means, which spanned most of the early 20th century, offered Sally Field an exceptionally juicy role, and today still stacks up well against the best of Field's work. Here she plays the indomitable Bess Steed, whose adult years begin happily when she marries her childhood sweetheart (Tony Goldwyn) and settles in to high-society life in booming Dallas, TX. But after her husband dies of influenza during the great epidemic of 1918, Bess must endure hard realities. Faced with repeated adversity—including an unhappy second marriage, and the death of her oldest son—Bess draws on substantial inner strength. Field strikes a perfect balance as Bess, displaying both her tough and tender sides with equal effectiveness, while eschewing melodramatic flourishes. Based on the bestselling novel by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, A Woman of Independent Means will also seem familiar to fans of Edna Ferber, whose epic yarns abounded with sweet young things who discover their true mettle after losing or being left by the charismatic men with whom they invariably fall in love. Goldwyn makes a strong impression as first husband Robert Steed, while supporting players Ron Silver, Jack Thompson, Charles Durning, and Brenda Fricker all have fine moments. Ultimately, however, it's Field who carries the near-four-hour miniseries on her slender but quite capable shoulders. DVD extras include text bios of the cast and Hailey. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
A Woman of Independent Means
A&E, 2 discs, 234 min., not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 23, Issue 5
A Woman of Independent Means
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