as Reeve--but close & cute enough to sell it — was supposed to be a tad older — her smoker's voice was a nice touch to the working girl (who in fact smoked a lot on the screen — it was the 70s, after all).

I thought she did a great job selling toughness w/ femininity — the established working girl who didn't need a man, but in fact yearned for one still. (She definitely didn't come off as Tom, & wasn't supposed to.)

Problem was I think a lot of us Mormon boys identified too much w Clarke — & saw in her the girl moms & pops by all means taught us to stay far away from.

Just my two cents. Her, Reeve & Hackman were magic, imo. I could eulogize Kidder all day. She didn't do much after that movie for a lot of the reasons you guys cite (Hollywood was very tough on +35 women, & still is). But she carried enough charisma & talent things probably shoulda gone different for her.

mutu.