Watch Stone Pillow

Stone Pillow is a heart-warming drama that showcases the struggles faced by homeless people. Released in 1985, the movie was directed by George Schaefer and starred the legendary actress Lucille Ball in her final movie role. The movie follows the story of Florabelle (Lucille Ball), a homeless woman living on the streets of New York City. She finds herself struggling to survive with no roof over her head, no steady job, and no family or friends to support her. She has to fend for herself, facing daily challenges like finding a safe place to sleep, scrounging for food, and evading the dangers of life on the streets.

Florabelle's journey takes a positive turn when she stumbles upon the New York City Mission Society, a homeless shelter run by Barbara (Daphne Zuniga), a young social worker. While initially hostile towards Barbara and the shelter, Florabelle gradually forms a bond with the other homeless women there and begins to see the shelter as a temporary respite from her difficult life.

Through her interactions with the other residents of the shelter, Florabelle begins to share her own stories of loss and hardship. Her own past is revealed, and the audience sees a vulnerable side to a person who, up till now, they may have seen as just another homeless person on the street.

The movie also sheds light on the harsh realities of life as a homeless person. We see how some are forced to turn to prostitution or drugs to survive, while others are preyed upon by opportunistic criminals. We also see how homeless people are often ignored or mistreated by the general public - Florabelle is turned away by store owners, has her possessions stolen, and is even physically attacked at one point.

These difficult themes are tackled with sensitivity and care in Stone Pillow, making it a poignant and powerful reminder of the struggles faced by those living on the streets.

Alongside the challenges faced by Florabelle and other residents of the shelter, the movie also focuses on the impact that individual acts of kindness can have. Barbara's tireless work at the shelter is shown to make a real difference to the lives of the homeless women there. The small acts of kindness shown to Florabelle - a hot meal, a kind word, a warm bed - give her hope and remind her that there are still good people in the world.

Lucille Ball's performance in Stone Pillow is a particular highlight. Known for her comedic roles in TV shows like I Love Lucy, Ball brings a serious and nuanced performance to the role of Florabelle. Her character is complex, showing moments of sadness, frustration, anger, and even joy throughout the movie. Her final scenes of the movie are particularly moving and provide a fitting tribute to her storied career.

Overall, Stone Pillow is a touching and honest depiction of life on the streets. It is a movie that confronts difficult themes with sensitivity and care, while still managing to find moments of hope and kindness. Through the character of Florabelle, the movie highlights the humanity of those who are too often overlooked or ignored in society. It is a powerful reminder that we are all connected, and that acts of kindness can make a real difference to those who are struggling the most.

Stone Pillow is a 1985 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.