''Pieces of Dreams'' is a 1970 drama film, produced in the United States. It was directed by

Daniel Haller Daniel Haller (born September 14, 1929) is an American film and television director, production designer, and art director. Life and career Haller was born in Glendale, California on September 14, 1929. He studied at the Chouinard Art Institu ...

and is based on the 1968 novel ''The Wine and the Music'' by

William Edmund Barrett William Edmund Barrett (November 16, 1900 – September 14, 1986) was an American writer, best known for the 1962 novella ''The Lilies of the Field''. Life Barrett was born in New York City November 16, 1900, to John Joseph and Eleanor Margaret (F ...

. The story follows the internal struggle of Father Gregory Lind, a Catholic priest who falls in love and starts to question his relationship with the Church.

Plot

Father Gregory Lind (

Robert Forster Robert Wallace Forster Jr. (July 13, 1941 – October 11, 2019) was an American actor, known for his roles as John Cassellis in ''Medium Cool'' (1969), Captain Dan Holland in ''The Black Hole'' (1979), Abdul Rafai in ''The Delta Force'' (1986), ...

), is a Catholic priest struggling with his life in the priesthood. He wishes to change parishes, but is denied the transfer time after time. The story starts with him arriving at the local hospital after being informed that one of his charges is dying after trying to steal a car. He meets there Pamela Gibson (

Lauren Hutton Lauren Hutton (born Mary Laurence Hutton; November 17, 1943) is an American model and actress. Born and raised in the southern United States, Hutton relocated to New York City in her early adulthood to begin a modeling career. Though she was ini ...

) – a widowed and rich social worker from the local Community Center. Together they decide to find out more about the deceased teen. The pair checks up on Estella Rios (Kathy Baca), the boy's pregnant, underage girlfriend. They don't agree on what should be done about her and later Father Lind finds out from Mrs. Rios (Miriam Martinez) that Pamela took Estalla to probably get an abortion. This leads to more arguments between the two, but they lose importance when the girl ends up in a hospital and miscarries. The social worker breaks down and Father Lind ends up having sex with her, after taking her back home. To forget the act and the woman, he spends some time away from her, but in the end goes back to Pamela and they go on a romantic weekend in the mountains. To clear up his confusing feelings about his love for the widow and priesthood, Father Lind visits his family, hoping for support. He receives none from his mother (Edith Atwater) when he informs her about his wish to leave the life of a priest, and is forbidden by her from doing so. Feeling angry and betrayed, he takes a vacation and goes to work in a hospital in Santa Fe. Unknown to him, one of the priests from his parish pays a visit to Pamela to force her to leave Father Lind alone, accusing her of trying to destroy his future. The social worker disagrees and goes to see the priest, but they end up in another argument, when the woman forces him to choose between his love for her and priesthood. After spending some time back at his parish in Albuquerque and thinking, Father Lind visits the Bishop (

Will Geer Will Geer (born William Aughe Ghere; March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor, musician, and social activist, who was active in labor organizing and other movements in New York and Southern California in the 1930s and 1940s. In Ca ...

), to inform him about his wish to leave the priesthood, because he is in love. The Bishop is unable to change his mind. Father Lind, no longer a priest, goes then to see Pamela and tell her that he chooses her and they end up staying together.

Cast

as Fr. Gregory Lind *

as Pamela Gibson *

as Bishop * Ivor Francis as Fr. Paul Schaeffer *

Richard O'Brien Richard Timothy Smith. known professionally as Richard O'Brien, is a British-New Zealand actor, writer, musician, composer, and television presenter. He wrote the musical stage show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' in 1973, which has remained in conti ...

as Mons. Francis Hurley *

Edith Atwater Edith Atwater (April 22, 1911 – March 14, 1986) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Career Born in Chicago, Atwater made her Broadway debut in 1933. In 1939, she starred in ''The Man Who Came to Dinner''. Her film career i ...

as Mrs. Lind * Mitzi Hoag as Anne Lind * Rudy Diaz as Sgt. Bill Walkingstick * Sam Javis as Leo Rose * Gail Bonney as Mrs. Tietgens * Helen Westcott as Mrs. Straub * Joanne Moore Jordan as Bar Girl * Miriam Martinez as Mrs. Rios * Kathy Baca as Estella Rios * Eloy Casados as Charlie, the Jailed Boy * Raimundo Baca as Gunshot Victim * Robert McCoy as Employment Agency Interviewer

Release and reception

US rating

The film was rated PG in United States. The rating has been changed to PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual material and some language in 2011.

Home media

The film was released on DVD on March 12, 2012.

Accolades

References

Future reading

Hanson. Peter. 29 March 2012. ''Pieces Of Dreams''. Blogger.

Lukeman. William. 18 August 2012. ''Pieces Of Dreams: Stuck between pretty & girtty''. Amazon.

External links

* {{Daniel Haller 1970 films 1970 romantic drama films American romantic drama films Films about Catholic priests Films based on American novels Films directed by Daniel Haller Films scored by Michel Legrand Films set in New Mexico Films shot in New Mexico United Artists films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films