The Belle of Amherst  (1976)

Theatrical Release Information:
The Belle of Amherst

The life of poet Emily Dickinson is thoughtfully re-created in this one-woman show starring Julie Harris. As the actress reads from the poems, letters, and diaries of the poet, a picture emerges of a highly sensitive, yet troubled soul. Dickinson lived during the 19th century and was the granddaughter of one of the founders of Amherst College. As the performance reveals, the poet's writings became more experimental as she grew older. Though it would be almost impossible to create a program that could review even a large percentage of Dickinson's poems (she wrote more than 1,700), this one does reveal some of the reasons why her writings focused so much on the themes of nature, love, and death. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide