One of my all time favorites.

Better Late Then Never

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The charm and success of the film PAPER MOON, with Ryan and Tatum O'Neal, was so immense that within just one year it had been adapted to TV. This version, with Christopher Connelly and Jodie Foster, was actually more appealing than the original movie. Foster was utterly charming in one of her first roles to be widely seen. Since Connelly died 25 years ago and only 14 years after the series was made, many have not seen his work, nor recognize his name, but he was a very talented and funny character actor. I believe that this series was the springboard for Foster to star two years later in TAXI DRIVER, opposite Robert DeNiro, which led to many more movie deals and eventually an Oscar. I saw all thirteen of these episodes, which were repeated only once during the same season and never seen again. It was scripted television at its absolute finest, but, as the old saying goes, I guess you had to be there.

I have not seen this show since 1975, when it went out on B.B.C.-2 in a slot reserved for U.S. sitcoms ( others included 'Rhoda' and 'Chico & The Man' ) called 'The American Way'. My memories are hazy, but I do recall that it was a most charming series. However, it has been lost in the mists of time.It was a spin-off from Peter Bogdanovitch's 1973 hit movie of the same name, set in Depression Era America. Real-life father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O'Neal played 'Moses Pray' and 'Addie Loggins'. He is a con man who makes a living selling bibles at inflated prices to the recently bereaved. He is stuck with the daughter of a former lover, whom he has promised to take to an aunt in Missouri. He resents her presence initially, and she does not care for him either. But over time, a relationship develops. She helps him out in several tricky situations too. The O'Neals were wonderful together, and with the late Madeline Kahn contributing an Oscar-winning role as prostitute 'Trixie Delight', the film was a smash.Recasting took place for the series. The late Christopher Connolly, one of the stars of the soap opera 'Peyton Place' ( an actor noted for his resemblance to O'Neal ) took up the role of 'Moses', with the then-unknown twelve year old Jodie Foster as 'Addie'.The movie was in black and white. The series, obviously, could not be. Each episode began with a monochrome shot of Moses driving down a country road, and the colour seeped in.Because Moses and Addie were constantly on the road, the locations and supporting characters changed each week. In one episode, Lawrence Pressman played 'Gordon', a rival con man who threatens to break up Moses' relationship with Addie.There was no laugh track on the episodes I saw, but I suspect this was probably not the case with the U.S. showings ( as happened with 'M#A#S#H' ). If so, then it is a shame as it probably spoilt the delicate nature of the humour. Connolly was more than adequate as 'Moses', while I preferred Foster's 'Addie' to Tatum's.Like I said, I liked it, but perhaps it was a bit too genteel for television audiences, particularly in the era of 'All In The Family' and so many shows where subtlety was not appreciated. Only 13 episodes were made. It has not resurfaced since then, not even Foster's successes in 'The Accused' and 'Silence Of The Lambs' has provoked any interest in 'Paper Moon' ( I wonder if she herself might be blocking reruns/a D.V.D. release? ).It would be nice to see it again after all these years though.