This is one of those films which was forgotten by the end of 1988 simply because it came out very early in the year in theaters and mid-year on VHS, getting a lot of attention for the fact that it was the last script of John Huston, directed by his son Danny and featuring in a sweet supporting role his Oscar winning daughter Angelica. It also co-starred two actors from the elder Huston's cannon of veteran stars, Robert Mitchum and Lauren Bacall. But it's the presence of Anthony Edwards as the charming title character who has seemingly magical powers to cure, something that stirs up the fury of pompous local doctor David Warner who demands Edwards' arrest.

The film opens hysterically with Edwards dealing with his bratty charges who get exactly what they deserve, then being welcomed into Mitchum's home in spite of daughter Tammy Grimes' objections. Other daughter Huston is magically entranced by him, and indeed, she is a gentle beauty and a far cry from her tougher roles, showing her versatility. Bacall is a broke socialite who now runs a boarding house and comes to Edwards defense several times during the film. Her character is delightfully down to earth and absolutely wonderful. Harry Dean Stanton, Mary Stuart Masterson and Virginia Madsen are very good in other supporting roles. It's a beautiful production with great photography, a gorgeous musical score, and certainly a movie that can be called a modern classic.

Danny Huston, son of legendary director John Huston, directs this adaption of the whimsical Thornton Wilder novel with young Anthony Edwards in the title role. John Huston was to have had a prominent role in this production, but his own mortality caught up with him.

As it was Huston missed a pretty good picture to be in even if was directed by his son. Robert Mitchum took his place as the recluse millionaire kept as such and infirm by his greedy relatives led by daughter Tammy Grimes.

Edwards is the ingenuous young Theophilus North who is a Yale graduate and spending the summer in Newport looking for odd work here and there maybe for a permanent spot with one of the millionaire folks who summer there. He's a scholar without any particular career ambitions, but he has one natural talent although most would consider it a curse. He charges static electricity more than most and gives out some nasty shocks when he touches people.

Through an interesting combination of circumstances, Edwards gets the undeserved and unwanted reputation of a healer. That's the basis of the plot and a lot of the action that follows.

Mitchum does quite well in a role you would not normally consider him for. However I can see how John Huston would have owned this part had he lived to finish it.

Lauren Bacall is also in the film, playing another Newport society swell. It's too bad that she and Mitchum did not have any good scenes together.

Mr. North is an interesting and feel good kind of film. Nice family entertainment as well with an interesting moral about folks who have a vested interest in the status quo.

This was a New Age-type tale which turned me off quickly, thanks to some Bible-bashing right in the beginning of the film by Anthony Edwards and Robert Mitchum, both downgrading the value of reading "The Book."

From there, the lead character demonstrates his amazing ability to heal people because electricity runs through his body and can be transmitted to those people he touches.

Hollywood takes that stuff seriously but makes fun of the Bible? Give me a break. Sad to see a good cast (this also includes Lauren Bacall, Harry Dean Stanton, Anjelica Huston, Mary Stuart Masterson, Virginia Madsen and David Warner) wasted on tripe like this.