Many may recognize Liza Minnelli from her more current role on the hit series ‘Arrested Development’ as Lucille Austero (Lucille 2), but way back in 1969 the talented actress and broadway star brought a little bit of the big screen to Sylvan Beach.

Sterile Cuckoo, a comedy released on October 22, 1969, was a role that landed Liza Minnelli and oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Some scenes of the film were done at Hamilton College in Clinton with additional scenes being filmed at Sylvan Beach, most notably The Union Chapel.

[twocol_one]According to IMDB.com, the story is about two students from neighboring colleges in upstate New York. Pookie Adams (Liza Minnelli) – is a kooky, lonely misfit with no family and no place to go. She insists on calling all those who won’t participate in her world, “weirdos,” and clings to a quiet studious Jerry, who has the ability to make a choice of living in Pookie’s private little world or be accepted by the society that Pookie rejects. Unwittingly, it is through their awkward relationship that Pookie actually prepares Jerry for the world of “weirdos” that she doesn’t fit into or wish to be apart of. [/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]

“This tourist camp is better than any set. Look at this place. We found this whole world here, waiting for a movie to be shot in it.”

– Alan J. Pakula

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The film was based on a book written three years before filming began. The author, John Nichols, attended Hamilton College.

A 21-year-old Wendell Burton, making his film debut played the role of Jerry, Minnelli’s on screen romantic interest. Director Alan J. Pakula did three weeks of rehearsals with Burton and Minnelli in Los Angeles, and then moved the entire company to Rome, NY for the filming.

What makes the work of Liza Minnelli all the more impressive is that she worked the set with more inexperienced actors, if they could even be called that…Much of it was filming scenes with college students, 80% of the films scenes, however, featured just Liza Minnelli and Wendell Burton.

Although Minnelli did not take home an academy award for her performance it is still remembered as one of her finest. She took home numerous awards for her performance in the film including best actress for the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards and Mar del Plata Film Festival.

If you haven’t yet watched Liza Minnelli in ‘Sterile Cuckoo’ you can get the movie on DVD through sites like Amazon for as little as $18.