The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Liza Minnelli, Wendell Burton, Tim McIntire, Elizabeth Harrower, Austin Green ... see more see more... , Sandy Faison , Chris Bugbee , Mark P. Fish , Philip S. Derfler , John Hussey , Toni Shorrock , Eric Best , Becky Davis , Fred Lerner , Towyna Thomas , Frances Tobin , Tim Laurie , Margaret Markov , Anita Alberts , Warren Peterson , Paul McConnell , Adele Wynn , Cynthia Hull , Jawn McKinley

Liza Minnelli is Pookie Adams, a relentlessly kooky coed in The Sterile Cuckoo. The film's focus, however, is on Wendell Burton (likewise making his first screen appearance) as reserved young college ... read more read more...student Jerry. He is actively pursued by the unpredictable Pookie, who helps him to survive his first months in school. Gradually, however, it is obvious that Jerry is outgrowing Pookie. Both, however, have benefited from the relationship (he has gained self-confidence, she is now able to come to grips with her unhappy home life) and their parting is a tender one. Not unlike his stars, Alan J. Pakula was making his directorial bow with The Sterile Cuckoo, which earned an Oscar nomination for its theme song "Come Saturday Morning." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

52% liked it

722 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

8 critics

PG, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Alan J. Pakula

Release Date: October 22, 1969

Invite friends to see

Stats: 51 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie) The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie)
Upload a Photo | View All The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (51)

  • jjnxn
    May 13, 2011
    jjnxn
    Quiet drama with Liza very impressive in an early role before she ossified into a sequined showboat. The view of college life is dated but the emotions are as real today as they were in the late 60's.
  • moonrivers
    June 9, 2008
    moonrivers
    i loved this film...years and years ago...tender and sweet...poignant.
  • Ghw12158
    April 12, 2012
    Ghw12158
    billed as minelli's screen debut-which is wrong her debut is at the end of the musical "in the good old summertime"
  • fb1414891016
    February 23, 2012
    fb1414891016
    Critical response be damned. I know this movie had its moments. Between the writing, some well drawn up scenes of the lovers Pookie and Jerry (especially the ending), and Pookie herself (Liza Minnelli), this movie had a lot going for it. But enjoyment must factor into the revi... read moreew somehow, and I've never found myself wanting a movie to be over more than I did when watching The Sterile Cuckoo. Liza Minnelli does such a great job of playing this eccentric oddball that I found myself looking for something to throw at the TV screen, hoping it might knock some sense into her. If an actress can stir up this much emotion, even if it is negative, it means she's doing something right. The problem is that you usually want to feel this way about the antagonist, not the protagonist, so I place that blame on Alan Pakula's direction. Then there's Jerry, portrayed by Wendell Burton as a college freshman so apathetic and in need of female attention that he puts up with Pookie the entire film, tricking himself into thinking he's in love with her when in reality, there's about a thousand girls at this same college who would obviously be better choices. And don't get me started on "Come Saturday Morning." I don't care if it was nominated for Best Song at the Academy Awards, if it had been played even once more during the film, I would have hurled the DVD out of the window, discus style. I appreciate the attempt at a heartfelt college dramedy, but there was so much off-key with this movie that I found myself counting the seconds go by as the movie dragged on.

View All The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton
September 11, 2009
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

Age has not been particularly kind to it, but... [it's] carried off with far more competence and assurance than many directorial debuts have enjoyed. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 15, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

If I hear "Come Saturday Morning" one more time, I will throw something at innocent Pookie!

Nick Davis
April 20, 2004
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

Liza Minnelli starring as a free spirit named "Pookie" could get old fast--but it doesn't, and the movie is warm and engaging.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Don Druker
January 1, 2000
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 4, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
February 7, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
April 7, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Sterile Cucko... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie). Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Sterile Cuckoo (Pookie) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?