UNINFLUENCED

I was more than a little surprised to read in the quote from Ellen Burstyn regarding the lack of good roles for women “because it’s better than it was. . . . When I made ‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ that was the only woman’s picture that year as far as I remember.”

Her memory certainly failed her. Her biggest competition for the Oscar that year, and actually the favorite in the odds, was Gena Rowlands for her performance in “Woman Under the Influence,” which is generally conceded to have opened the way for so-called ‘women’s pictures’ after a 15-year dearth.

Tut, tut, Miss Burstyn.

EDITH DURR

Los Angeles