Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine makes no secret about his age, but a quick look at his recent schedule makes it easy to wonder if no one has bothered to tell the Connecticut native that he was born Ermes Effron Borgnino in 1917. As he reminded me during the conversation we had by phone from Los Angeles last Tuesday, that makes him 94.

Last year, he was featured in RED with Bruce Willis and Dame Helen Mirren and even made a stop by Saturday Night Live, although Kenan Thompson didn’t give him a chance to talk during “What Up with That?” Children who are too young to remember him as the sadistic Fatso Judson in From Here to Eternity, a leader of The Dirty Dozen, the title character in Marty, Lt. Commander McHale or outlaw Dutch Engstrom from The Wild Bunch, adore him as the over-the-hill superhero Mermaid Man from Spongebob Squarepants.

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Anyone who has ever faced old age — or watched a loved one do so — will find plenty to identify with in “Another Harvest Moon.”

It covers nearly every angle of the experience, from the perspectives of worried relatives, stressed-out caregivers and, of course, the elderly themselves.

The film is based on Jeremy T. Black’s play, which had only four characters — residents of a nursing home who gather regularly to play cards.

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Ernest Borgnine has longevity.

Ernest Borgnine (with Anne Meara) in “Another Harvest Moon”
At the age of 94 he can look back on an acting career that includes a best actor Oscar (for playing the titular lovesick butcher in 1955‘s “Marty”) and roles in landmark movies like:

“The Wild Bunch,” “Bad Day at Black Rock,” “From Here to Eternity,” “Johnny Guitar,” “The Vikings,” “The Flight of the Phoenix,” “Escape from New York,” “The Dirty Dozen,” “Ice Station Zebra” and “The Poseidon Adventure.”

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Another Harvest Moon: (2009): There aren’t many films with as much veteran acting chops as this. Heading the bill is Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine, a robust 92 or so when this was made two years ago; four-time Emmy nominee Cybill Shepherd, now 60; three-time Oscar nominee Piper Laurie, 79; four-time Emmy nominee Anne Meara, 81; and four-time Emmy winner Doris Roberts, 80 (Everybody Loves Raymond).
The film is about something almost every middle-class American experiences if they or their parents live long enough: facing the end of life in a nursing home. As Frank (Borgnine) begins having health issues, his children, Vickie (Shepherd) and Jeffrey (Richard Schiff), and Frank’s young and admiring grandson Jack (Shameless’ Cameron Monaghan), spend a lot of time visiting and trying to come to terms with a once-strong parent — a major presence in all their lives – who is dying. Also in the home are three feisty women (Laurie, Roberts, Meara) all of whom are friends with Frank and each other. They each have their own issues, personalities, hopes and worries.

This subject matter is not new, but writer Jeremy T. Black and director Greg Swartz have compressed a number of key issues into an 85-minute film without making it seem contrived or instructive. They nail many of the caretaker concerns dead-on, such as Jeffrey’s fear that Frank’s dark-skinned nurse, Paul, may try to steal Frank’s war mementos.

While there are definitely sad or sobering moments, the film is much more upbeat and hopeful than expected. There are some laughs, mostly supplied by the bickering chorus of Meara and Roberts, old hands at comedy. Tired of Roberts’ eternal optimism, Meara yells at her, “Stop, you’re worse than Christmas.” There is also a continuing element of tension due to a semi-automatic pistol hidden near Frank’s bed.
Standing out in the exceptional ensemble is Borgnine. Has it really been 56 years since this then-little-known ugly duckling character actor beat out James Dean, Frank Sinatra, James Cagney and Spencer Tracy for the Best Actor Oscar of 1955 for Marty? Almost 200 productions later, he’s still vital and completely convincing. www.anotherharvestmoon.com (three stars)

Fri, Apr 1, 6pm
Sat, Apr 2, 5pm Reception, 6:30pm film, 8pm Lifetime Achievement Awards, followed by book signing
Sun, Apr 3, 1pm & 5pm
Mon Apr 4, 6pm
Tues, Apr 5, 7:45
Wed, Apr 6, 6pm
Thurs, Apr 7, 7:45pm

Panorama’s Stuart Strutin, who negotiated the deal with producers representative Page Ostrow, president of Ostrow and Company, says, “this is a heartfelt film that will appeal to a diverse audience. It is filled with incredible actors at the top of their game.”

“Another Harvest Moon” has received three nominations from next month’s Orlando Film Festival—Best Lead Actor, Ernest Borgnine; Best Supporting Actress, Doris Roberts, and Best Ensemble Cast.

The film is an Aurora Films and SMD Entertainment production in association with Ostrow and Company. It was directed by Greg W. Swartz with screenplay by Jeremy T. Black.

MarVista Entertainment holds the international sales rights and will be active at the upcoming American Film Market.

PRESS CONTACT:
Leonard Morpurgo
(818) 760-8995 o
(818) 731-3513 m
Leonard@publicity4all.com

www.sagawards.org

Among those in attendance were such luminaries as George Clooney, Sigourney Weaver, Robert Zemeckis and James Cameron, along with representatives of all the Hollywood studios.

Executive producer Steve Delamater, producer Bobby Black, composers Rick Garcia and William Malpede and producers rep Page Ostrow also participated,  giving us by far the biggest contingent among the 145 films being screened.

The actors and director gave numerous television and print interviews, both in Sedona and Phoenix.