Sally Field in The Girl with Something Extra (1973)

In this spooky Sally Field sit-com vehicle we meet Sally (Field) and John Burton (John Davidson), a newly married American couple, normal, except for one small quirk - Sally has ESP. She knows what her husband - and everyone else, for that matter - is thinking... all the time. This, of course causes all sorts of problems and were it not for Field's quirky presence, the show would have been a total loss. As it stands, it's cute in a novel sort of way.

There's never been a DVD release of this one-season show and it's practically forgotten. The only online video I could find of it was this multi-series promo for an episode. It's cued to feature the show and was uploaded to YouTube by skipeastport.

Obscurity factor: 10 (almost totally forgotten, extremely hard to find, not on DVD)

Burt Reynolds & Dom DeLuise in The End

In this dark comedy, Sonny Lawson (Reynolds) is diagnosed with a terminal blood desease and after consulting with an adolescent priest (Robby Benson), speaking with his lawyer (David Steinberg) and spending some time with the people in his life - his mistress (Sally Field), ex wife (Joanne Woodward) and daughter (Kristy McNichol) - decides to commit suicide. He wakes up in an asylum after an unsuccessful attempt, only to be confronted by Myron Borunki (DeLuise), a paranoid schizophrenic who, upon hearing Sonny's sad story, cheerfully, repeatedly and homicidally offers him help to achieve his goal.

MoviePosterShop.com

This is, arguably, the film I've written up so far that least deserves its status as obscure. It's full of pithy insight into human nature, outrageous comedy and even a few honestly sincere moments of sentiment. DeLuise gives a really hilarious, laugh-out-loud performance and Reynolds, who also directs is as charming as ever. It's wonderful to see the cameos by star after star, including Myrna Loy, Pat O'Brien, Norman Fell and Carl Reiner. Top that off with a Paul Williams theme sung by Glen Campbell that I'm rapidly becoming obsessed with and you have a terrific package.

This film is available on DVD and can be watched instantly on Netflix. The trailer above was uploaded to YouTube by MovieTrailerMonkey.

Obscurity factor: 5 (has small legion of fans, though largely unknown to general public, on DVD, available on Netflix Instant)

Sally Field & James Caan in Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)

Obscurity factor: 6

In yesterday's film Maxie, the ghost of a flapper takes over a woman's body. It reminded me of this charming little film from a few years earlier with an equally ghostly plot. I remember being enchanted by this film on HBO shortly after it was released. It's based on Dona Flor and her Two Husbands, a Brazilian comedy with Sonia Braga. Kay Villano (Field) has decided to move back into the townhouse she lived in with her late husband, Broadway choreographer Jolly (Caan). Once there, however, she's confronted with Jolly's ghost. Needless to say, this complicates her plans to remarry to Rupert, a charming, but stuffy Egyptologist (Jeff Bridges). Her friends and family start to think she's crazy because only she can see and hear Jolly. Rupert tries to humor her until he's finally convinced that Jolly does exist. Then he brings in an exorcist. Look for  Claire Trevor as Kay's mother, and Mildred Natwick in a small part.

 

Here's the trailer, uploaded to YouTube by British Secret Agent 007.

It's available on DVD as well. I was recently delighted to see it as a selection on the back of a box of Corn Flakes and diligently saved box tops to get it. Watching it again was delightful. The poster above is available at MoviePosterShop.com.

Obscurity factor: 6 (available online, on DVD, largely forgotten)