Midway through the month of July 2026, the Criterion Collection have added one of director Martin Scorsese’s most underrated movies. Originally released in 1974, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore was praised by critics for its story and its performances. It would also lead to a hit sitcom adaptation that would run for nine seasons on CBS. Now more than five decades later, the movie is still held in high regard and this release from Criterion does it justice.
The Movie
Written by Robert Getchell, the movie starts off in Phoenix, Arizona in the house of the Hyatt’s. Alice is wife to truck driver Donald and mother to their pre-teen son Tommy. Life throws Alice a curveball when Donald dies in an car accident while Donald is on the job. After selling her house and most of her belongings, Alice takes Tommy with her on a road trip where they plan to make their way to Monterey, California, where she used to live when she was younger. Along the way, Alice tries to go back to her passion for singing while also dealing with new challenges presented to her.
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore excels with its strong performances. Ellen Burstyn would go on to win an Academy Award for her performance as Alice and rightfully so: she is believable in every scene she’s in. Burstyn carries the emotion of the movie and she does it so well. Alfred Lutter plays Tommy, Alice’s hyperactive but sweet son. Even at his young age, Lutter gives a great performance as the precocious pre teen boy. He also makes for some of the movie’s funniest scenes, giving the movie some levity in some of the more serious parts of the story.
While Burstyn and Lutter are the two main characters, other actors stand out in this movie. Musician Kris Kristofferson gives a sweet and charming performance as David, a man who later becomes a love interest for Alice. While Kristofferson is more remembered for his music, his performance as David is strong. Jodie Foster has a small but memorable role as tom boy Audrey while Valerie Curtain charms has the quirky waitress Vera. Though of all the supporting character, Diane Ladd ‘s performance as Flo is sensational . From her first scene to her last, Ladd is a delight to watch: Flo can be outspoken and sassy while also being a down-to-earth gal.
The movie is also strengthened by its true-to-life depiction of life in the early-to-mid 1970s. In every location Alice and Tommy travel to, the location looks authentic and lived in. It’s also an accurate depiction of how women were treated during that point in time. Throughout the movie, Alice finds herself at odds with the patriarchal America that surrounds her. Even when she’s faced with the worst of situations, she stays strong and fights through.
While a good movie, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore isn’t without its flaws. Some plot points and character backstories are underwritten. Though the movie is consistent with its realism, there’s parts of the movie that feel more realistic than others. Despite these flaws, the movie is still a treat to watch throughout its near two-hour runtime.
Bonus Features
The Criterion Collection release of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore has a good number of bonus features.
– audio commentary from the movie’s stars
– a 2003 making-of short documentary featuring Burstyn and Kristofferson
– conversation between Burstyn and film critic Farran Smith Nehme (NEW)
– interview with editor Marcia Lucas (NEW)
– trailer
– essay by film critic Stephanie Zacharek
The 2003 documentary is a simple yet solid overview on the making of the movie while the new features are well worth watching. Both Burstyn and Lucas not only talk about the movie but also their careers as a whole. It’s also worth mentioning that Lucas’ interview is a posthumous feature, as Lucas passed away back in May of this year. Seeing her talk and laugh about her career just months after her passing is quite touching.
Conclusion
Criterion’s release of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is another strong release from the home video company. Movie buffs and Scorsese fans should be happy with this release as it should make for a nice addition to their movie collections.
Movie Rating: 7/10
Release Rating: 7/10
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.